News Briefs - February 5

Sad news about harness racing writer and enthusiast Don Rae, two new races at Winton and Addington, and the yearling parades down south all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Vale Don Rae

Breeding authority and harness racing enthusiast Don Rae has lost his battle with cancer. The 67-year-old lived out a lifetime dream when he was registered as an official owner of a horse in the IRT New Zealand Cup last November, thanks to the kindness of Tact McLeod's owners Trevor Proctor and Diane Dynes. They hosted Don for the day at Addington. At the time Rae said he was "blown away by their open heartedness and generosity". A life long harness racing fan, Rae researched pedigrees and wrote extensively on breeding and racing-related matters and also took part in the TV Show Mastermind in 2016 where his specialist subject was The New Zealand Trotting Cup. His funeral will be held next week.

Sorority to debut at Winton

A brand new race for the three-year-old pacing fillies will debut at the Wairio Trotting Club’s meeting at Winton this weekend. The $30,000 Sorority is restricted to fillies who have yet to win a Group 1 or earn $100,000 in stakes money. Though light on numbers this Sunday it is just a starting point with hopes it will grow in years to come. The Sorority marks the beginning of a stakes season in the southern region which will culminate in Diamonds Day at Invercargill on April 27.

To find out more about the Sorority click here

New 2YO race at Addington

Due to the large number of two-year-olds at the trials and workouts at the moment, a new $15,000 2YO race has been programmed for Addington on Friday, February 14.  It will have a preferential barrier draw based on : winning stakes then sex (fillies drawn inside colts and geldings). The race will be part of the Love at the Races race night on Valentines Day.

Near clean sweep for the juniors at Hawera

What a couple of days out the Next Gen of our drivers had at Hawera. Junior Drivers won 17 of the 20 races on both Friday and Sunday. On Sunday the six winning drivers were Zev Meredith (Rewiri Hill), Harrison Orange (Tina Ace, Golden Line, Boudica), Neita Balle (Conrad H), Crystal Hackett (Kourtney Kardash, High Energy) Alicia Harrison (Akatea), and Wilson House (State Trooper). Alicia Harrison's win with Akatea came in the third heat of the Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series. It was her first win in over a year after having an extended spell on the sidelines after needing surgery on her shoulder. The Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial series for the junior drivers is nearing the halfway mark and it's turning into a close run thing. Orange has 34 points, one ahead of Hackett with Harrison (26), Meredith (22) and Hanara (17) rounding out the top five.  Hackett, Harrison and Hanara have been the three heat winners so far. They will be seven heats in all, with the next being at Methven (Hororata meeting) this Sunday (February 9) before Banks Peninsula on February 16 and then Cromwell on February 21 and 23.

Plenty of dash for KK

Kourtney Kardash has had a ripper of a start to 2025. The Bettor's Delight five-year-old has won four from four this year after going back to back at both Otaki and Hawera. Trained by Shane Butcher, the mare has won all four in convincing fashion, with her second Kapiti victory being by more than four lengths. Kourtney Kardash has now won six from 32 starts and just over $70K in stakes.

Cullen hits 300

Hayden Cullen has had two milestones in the last two weeks. Last week it was Hayden and wife Amanda's first win in partnership when We Walk By Faith won at Addington on January 24. Now Cullen has racked up his 300th career success number with Crunch Time winning at Addington last Friday. He has had 79 on his own account and the rest in partnership.

Yearling parades heading south

The last of the on-farm parades before the National Standardbred Yearling Sales will be held around Southland next week. The SBSR Yearling Tour will be held on Monday February 10 and Tuesday February 11. On Monday the tour commences at Shard Farm at 2pm, and then takes in Price Bloodstock and others before concluding at Beaudiene Breeding at 6pm. On Tuesday the day starts bright and early at Ascot Park, Invercargill, with final viewing at Tuapeka Lodge in Lawrence from 12.20pm. SBSR will offer 40 yearlings at the sales, which will be held in Karaka in Auckland on February 15 and in Christchurch on February 18. The parades kicked off in the North Island before the Canterbury parades were completed yesterday, after two days of viewings at nine different venues.

For more info click here  

Club News : Wairio

The Wairio Trotting Club are planning a great day for all when they host their annual Cup Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Sunday (9 February). The feature races are the $25,000 Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup over 2400m, the SBSR/Diamond Creek Farm/Caduceus 3YO Fillies Sorority, the first heat of the Southern Belle Series supported by the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn and the Wilbur Ellis NZ Ltd Gold Chip Final Handicap Trot. The club has also planned a wonderful day of family entertainment with a popular favourite – the Heads/Tails Game with a $250 Prezzy Card up for Grabs. Mr Whippy will provide the first 100 ice creams to kids for free, plus there are pony rides, sack races, a lolly scramble, mini jeeps and a bouncy castle. All the kid’s entertainment is free. There will also be a Punters Club operating plus the chance to win rides on the EH Ball ITM Mobile Barrier throughout the day and several Kidz Kartz heats. The first race is timed for 12.15pm and admission is free.