Eight young riders took part in the Hastings edition of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s special Ride To Time programme last week. Ride to Time is a joint initiative between NZTR and the New Zealand Pony Club Association and aims to teach Pony Club rid
Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival will this year offer more than $100 million in prizemoney and bonuses for the first time in its decorated history. The announcement comes with today’s annual release of the feature race programme for the international
Despite fighting the after-effects of a 30-hour travel schedule during his return to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, leading South Island trainer Michael Pitman is still buzzing about his experiences over the past two months. Pitman and the owners of
(By John Jenkins) Hastings thoroughbred trainer Paul Nelson claimed the most satisfying winning double of his long and illustrious career when taking out Saturday’s $50,000 Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle with No Change and $50,000 AHD Hawke’s
(By John Jenkins) Valante pulled off an emotionally charged win when he out toughed his rivals in last Saturday’s $40,000 Orora Kiwi Packaging Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga. The seven-year-old gelding, trained at Cambridge by Graeme Lord, is part-owned by w
In a coup for the King family’s Brighthill Farm, Group One performed son of Frankel, Eminent, will retire to their Tauwhare property for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8,000+GST. Eminent becomes the first son of the a
“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” said Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament on Thursday. The Bill, which comes into force on July 1, opens the starting gate for the
(By John Jenkins) A stallion that is lucky to be still living let alone standing at stud, is starting to prove a hit as a sire of winter gallopers. Fabulous, who stands at Peter McKenzie’s Strathcarron Stud near Levin, was represented by the impressive
Crown Prosecutor will spearhead a team of horses Cambridge trainer Stephen Mash intends basing at Ruakaka over the winter months. “I’ll be sending horses up there at the start of July to get through the winter,” Marsh said. “At this stage I haven
(By John Jenkins) Comeback jockey Mathew Gillies achieved a dream double when taking out both the $50,000 Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdles and $50,000 L J Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase at Awapuni on Saturday. Gillies, 33, was born in Palmerston North and has h
(By John Jenkins) An outstanding training performance by Sylvia Kay and an equally game ride from rookie apprentice jockey Bridie Ansell saw Dr Watson score an upset win in the $35,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki 1200, feature flat race at today’s Wellingto
(By John Jenkins) The owners of The Puketapu Lad, who broke through for a maiden win at Otaki on Thursday of last week, are so devoted to their horse that they have even invited him in for a drink at their local pub. Sean O’Connor, who manages the See Y
(By John Jenkins) Jumps jockey Mathew Gillies made a welcome return to the winner’s stall after an absence of more than two years when he guided Wilijonmcbride to victory in today’s Signature Homes Hurdle at Te Rapa. Gillies, 33, won the jumps jockeys
Roz Southey couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek comment when describing the thrill of Zed Em’s amazing win under 70kgs when leading home a New Zealand-bred trifecta in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool on Thursday. Southey and her hus
(By John Jenkins) Two successful Hastings trainers, Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal, have joined forces in a partnership and will have their first runners together at Te Rapa this Saturday. Nelson said the necessary paperwork was completed last weekend a
(By John Jenkins) Little known Hawke’s Bay-based thoroughbred stallion Playmaker was represented with his first winner when Rekohu Diva scored a three-quarter length victory over 1200m at Otaki last week. Rekohu Diva is owned by her breeder Sarah Gregor
Racing Minister Winston Peters says the Government will introduce two new pieces of legislation this year to revitalise the domestic racing industry. Cabinet this week considered its response to the ‘Messara Review of the Racing Industry’ as well as a
It could not have been scripted any better. Champion mare Winx bowed out in the most fitting of styles at her beloved Randwick racetrack yesterday, winning her third Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and bringing up a magical 100 Group 1 victories fo
(By John Jenkins) Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh picked up one of the most satisfying wins of his career when Felaar got up for a last stride victory in today’s Listed $75,000 Royston Hospital Hawke’s Bay Cup at Hastings. Marsh, 37, said it was a hug
(By John Jenkins) Dick Bothwell, one of the true gentlemen of New Zealand thoroughbred racing, died yesterday aged 72. Bothwell, who always had a beaming smile and loved to socialise with his peers, trained from his Stratford base for more than 40 years b