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i agree with you about the need to showcase the sport. No argument there. You need your high end races . its just how you do it and whether you get the balance right as far as promoting and looking after all sectors. i belive HRNZ and the mainsteam harness media's fail on both fronts because they over focus,almost to the point of obsession sometimes ,on the high end races like slot races,the age group races,the highend trainers and they also focus too much on junior drivers, prioritising them over the hard working grass roots participants.. so your talking about showcasing,well all within nz hraness racing are deserving of show casing,not just 10%. Harness racing is also losing the good will they have with so many who have supported them in the past. People may not realise it,but i believe thats been happening,Its being driven by poor decision making. And the average joe bloggs will be observing the silence of the people who are deemed the special ones and who are riding the gravy train. Rugby is nz's main sport. Nz rugby's 2025 vision:reimagining rugby. "we're future focussed, while respecting where we have come from.Lessons from throughout rugby's strong history,as well as more recent events,have formed our direction in a way that will look after the entire game from grass roots level to the international performances.We intend to grow rugby at the heart of our communities as we know that the strength of grass roots flows throughout the game." Thats a message your always seeing the successful unions stating.Thats not what you get in nz harness racing. Anyway gamma,enjoy the showcasing of the likes of the slot aces. nothing wrong with that if your into them. personally my interest in those type of races continues to decline ,mostly because i view the money hrnz have thrown at those sectors will negatively impact the sport in the future. Why would i bother showing interest in all the pre race media hype about something which is a reminder of how hrnz prioritse the high end.

Once bigger that the Auckland Cup! Once one of the bigger betting races each year! 1st 10,000 Pound race in NZ. Two famous winners come to mind! 1976 Show Gate! Queen of the South! 1927 Nighmarch wins it as a 3 year old, later to be the first to win Cox and Melb Cup in a season! For 2026? A full field of 22 have paid up! A very tough betting race!

tick, it would be rather disappointing and more that purple prose will be used if they don't go around in the first!

Opie Bosson 4. Insatiable - Race 6 2. Never Too Much - Race 2 4. Our Approval - Race 10 1. Purple Prose - Race 1 5. Stonybreck - Race 9

Chucking money into something that is going to lose money to my mind , is not a winner! Cambridge chucked money into the slot race when they can not afford it, in fact they are broke and no way on earth will they trade out of it! Gamma, you need to realise that the only reason harness is functioning at the moment is due to the money that Entain has Chucked in and it isnt going to continue indefinitely. Totally agree harness racing is very poorly promoted in NZ, HRNZ would rather boost the stakes now and have nothing to show at the end of the 5 years? it is very puzzling how someone who is not on the HRNZ payroll is the biggest promoter of harness racing in NZ?.?? They just do not get it but then again while they are getting big salaries then what is the problem?

Which you plan for by allowing a contingency in your budget

Having claimed a first Group One victory for Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay with Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Ellerslie last Saturday, Lance Noble is hoping to add to that tally back at headquarters on Champions Day. Noble was familiar with Group One success from the early stages of his training career, initially in partnership with his mentor Jim Gibbs, then with fellow Gibbs protégé Roger James and most notably from his own stable with triple Group One-winning racemare Viadana (NZ) in 2013-14. In the decade since he was appointed private trainer for the Lindsays at their well-appointed Karaka property, further elite success had eluded Noble, albeit by narrow margins on a number of occasions. Jaarffi was one of those Group One placegetters, having gone down by a short head to Provence in last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at the inaugural Champions Day and second again behind Kingswood (Roaring Lion) in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. “Since the Zabeel Classic the plan was to target two more Group Ones, either go to Te Rapa for the Herbie Dyke Stakes or wait for the Ōtaki-Māori Classic and then to the Bonecrusher Stakes on Champions Day as her grand final,” Noble said. “In the end we decided on the two Ellerslie races as she does go well there, and it was great for Sir Brendan, Lady Jo and everyone to see her get up and win on Saturday. “She’s tough and not the easiest to deal with, but that tough streak stands to her on raceday, as we saw on Saturday after she’d had a pretty tough trip. “She’s come through it well and all going to plan she’ll be there next week for what might be her last start; after all she’s six years old and as a Group One winner she’ll be another valuable addition to the Cambridge Stud broodmare band.” At the other end of the spectrum, Noble is also looking forward to the Group One debut of talented two-year-old Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) in the Sistema Stakes (1200m). The daughter of champion stallion Snitzel and the Noble-trained Vernazza (NZ), winner of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and runner-up in the Sistema Stakes at her next start, displayed her share of family talent when winning the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 31. That confirmed a tilt at the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, but a heavy track deniedLiguriathe chance to emulate her dam in the biggest race on Noble’s former home track. “I was looking forward to heading back down to Matamata with what I considered a strong prospect for another Breeders’ Stakes, but it wasn’t to be,” Noble said. “The track was already heavy when we decided to leave her in, but later in the morning as we were heading out the gate, I got word that the track had a further downgrade. “I said to myself ‘this is crazy’, so I rang the stewards and pulled her out. It was the right decision, she went to the trials at Avondale last week and won really well. She’s all set, so here’s hoping for another big day.” In the meantime Noble will line up a lesser light in his select team at the closest racecourse to his Karaka base, Pukekohe Park, on Wednesday afternoon. Kakasisisi (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes), a three-year-old filly by Yes Yes Yes from the Frankel mare Kakariki (NZ), lines up in the fifth race on the twilight programme as what her trainer describes as a “top three” chance. “She went well enough for fourth in her first two starts but then got in a bit of trouble last time, but she’s been working well and I think she can get some of it,” Noble said. View the full article

Favorite Iron Honor is a major contender in the Gotham Stakes, contested as a one-turn mile at Aqueduct. Balboa is a live longshot. The winner will receive 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby starting gate.View the full article

Godolphin's undefeated Bella Ballerina leads a list of 89 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), May 1 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

I'm expecting you to post your best shot here!

for other horses, yes!

YEE HAAA Yes. As some might know! Over the years I have taken the photo of many many 100's of NZ Jockeys, but strangely never one of Opie, until now that is! Wingatui on Saturday! I be a pig in muck!!!

Cromwell built an event centre?

Well if you buy a slot that's too bad, you pay ya money, you take ya chances but question is will anyone or enough next time be so keen ?

This is the EXACT problem with NZ Harness at the moment !! you've hit the nail on the head. Harness racing Suffers from too many folk Not wanting to SHOWCASE it. Every other Sport has Show case events for it's very best. examples : NRL has State of Origin for it's Millionaire participants , which people love more than the week to week product. they don't need to have it but it Showcases the sport. Tennis and Golf put on 'Majors' for the very best to assemble and showcase their sport. etc The Race by Betcha, the TAB trot( and the Interdominion Championships) are 3 of the pinnacle events of our sport and you don't want to have them because someone at HRNZ has to put in $200,000 ? that's hard to believe you think like that. It SHOWCASES our Sport to TWO nations . Queensland puts in $1,500,000 to run the Interdominion to run it for the next 2 years. QLD already had 2 of the last 3 of those Contests with Leap To Fame winning both. QLD travels along the same as NZ harness (on a Entain funded budget via Ladbrokes) but can still come up with a few Bucks to run the Show Case . I'm proud of them. whereas you guys just go "Waste of money" . But it's Important to SHOW CASE your sport. And appreciate the best of the best. any sport. at least once a year. We only get 2 nights of Trotting on National free to air TV in Australia . Hunter Cup night (recently where we had the Great Southern Star for trotters that Keayang Zahara won , and Victoria Cup night (October) the Interdominion doesn't even get a run on TV . That makes me feel ill , as it's the TRADITIONAL SHOW CASE of our sport with both Pacing and Trotting Championships involved. The last Interdominion Grand Final on TV was Beautide at Menangle 10 years ago . Now that's hopeless at Showcasing your sport , and just like you blokes , most participants and observers 'don't care' if it's Run or Not anymore as a direct result. I weep about that. tiz very sad for the sport. A sad state of affairs when you can't enjoy a SHOW CASE of your own sport .

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a relative of Thunder Snow. 7.10 Kempton, Cond, 3yo, 8f (AWT) HIDDEN FORCE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the chosen one from Charlie Appleby's armada for this important “European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes won in the last two years by the stable's future stars Notable Speech (Dubawi) and Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath). Off the mark over seven furlongs here in December, Godolphin's son of a dual Group-placed half to the luminary Thunder Snow (Helmet) encounters three rivals including last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Tadej (GB) (Ardad {Ire}). The post Appleby Puts Forward Hidden Force For Key Pointer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Tehama and Humboldt County Fairs have submitted summer race date applications to be considered at this Thursday's California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting. Tehama's proposed fair racing meet would run from Apr. 29 to May 26. Humboldt's requested dates would go from Aug. 5 to Sept. 1. There remain, however, several outstanding financial, bureaucratic and logistical questions about the proposed race meets that need to be rectified and a tight timeline to rectify them (particularly for Tehama County), according to a racing board staff analysis. The race date applications follow on from January's CHRB meeting, when the board took issue with the race-date proposal (for 19 weeks of fair racing between three different fair tracks) put forth by the Bernal Park Racing Management Company (BPRMC) under owner-breeder George Schmitt. The CHRB tabled the proposal, arguing it violated multiple sections of the horse racing law and CHRB Rules. Instead, the board asked the three fairs involved in that request–including Alameda County Fair–to resubmit their race date requests independent of Bernal Park Racing. Tehama County's revised proposal outlines a $2.5 million line of credit “along with an account balance statement showing $500,000 in available funds to cover fair meet operations” provided by Bernal Park. The track hasn't conducted live fair racing in over 40 years. As such, it's in the process of making some major modifications to the facility to get it up to par with state and federal safety requirements. The track must pass an inspection before the next board meeting on Mar. 11. A safety steward visited the track on January 23 and noted at the time there remained “a large number of updates/improvements that need to be made to the track before it can pass an inspection.” Tehama also has a tight deadline of Mar. 2 to submit a complete license application. The draft application Tehama submitted to the CHRB on Feb. 4 was missing several key components including occupational licenses; letters adopting vet emergency procedures, inclement weather, and concussion management; along with an AmTote contract, and ADW agreements and approvals. The staff analysis also raises questions about the financial feasibility of the proposed meet under Bernal Park's role as a financial guarantor, which they describe as being “unprecedented” and “not contemplated in the Horse Racing Law, Food & Agricultural Code, or CHRB Regulations.” “Staff estimates that conducting a 4-week fair meet will cost between $3 and $4 million. Some of Tehama's cost estimates seem too low. Staff has not seen payroll estimates, nor has staff been provided with a list of all Tehama's race operations employees. In addition, Tehama's estimate for the time and cost of completing updates to the track so that it can pass an inspection also deviates from what the CHRB estimates. Tehama estimated needing only $55,000 and four weeks to get the track ready to pass an inspection. The CHRB estimates that the track updates will cost around $1 million and take several months to complete,” according to the staff analysis. Humboldt County's revised proposal includes a $3 million line of credit agreement with Bernal Park Racing beginning Aug. 1. The racing board staff question whether these funds are a separate line of credit to that extended to Tehama, or whether Bernal Park intends to “reuse” the same line of credit. Unlike Tehama, Humboldt County Fair annually operated a fair meet up until 2024, which was done under the auspices of the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF). Once again, the board staff raise questions over Humboldt County's new contract with Bernal Park Racing, the latter of which they argue lacks “experience operating race meets and its past submissions to the Board have been inconsistent and untimely.” Efforts remain ongoing for Tehama, Humboldt, and Alameda County Fair (and other counties) to form a Joint Powers Authority, similar in effect to the way CARF managed and oversaw fair racing in the North. Racing last occurred in Northern California in 2024. A recent TDN analysis of the fate of former NorCal horsemen and women since the closure of Pleasanton for Thoroughbred stabling last March found a significant number of barns had either left the state (for tracks like Emerald Downs in Washington or Turf Paradise in Arizona) or called it quits altogether. The overall impression among barns that maintained a footprint in the state was one of an average 50% decline in both earnings and starts. Proponents of a renewed racing program in the North argue it's needed to better support a NorCal breeding industry, as well as to provide better opportunities to keep and lure back horses to the state. On the flip side, proponents of the current consolidated program argue this existing system is needed to shore up the fragile California racing industry as a whole. Any overlapping calendar in the North, they say, would siphon off and dilute valuable resources (both equine and financial) needed to maintain recent upticks in things like purses and field size in the South. The post Tehama And Humboldt Request Summer Fair Dates, Questions Remain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

That's a good question. I don't know how many clubs built them. (from the cheep seats) Cromwell Southland RC

Explora headlines a packed field of 10 3-year-old fillies in the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 1 at Oaklawn Park, Road to the Kentucky Oaks race.View the full article

That's a good question. I don't know how many clubs built them.

You would like to think so. Not much detail was given in the interview, and it did seem a bit up in the air to me. Even building a house unearths extra funding requirements, and once you start living in the house there are always aspects that could be better.

sounds like the right pitch to give you the inside running in any job interview you may have with cambridge,auckland or HRNZ. But seriously,what you suggest is the same type of thinking that exists at hrnz and the nz media and the high end trainers. If hrnz see participation levels low in certain areas,e.g. 2 year old racing, They throw more and more money at them in the form of higher stakes,bonuses,next gen promotions,etc ,etc,etc. As to the trotiting slot race. Seriously,the media and HRNZ hype is all a joke from my perspective.Only hrnz,the media , the high end trtainers and gamma gives those races a second thought. Nobody else cares in the real world no matter how much they hype them up.. Actually thats not quite true,what most do give some thought is wondering why the media and hrnz are obsessed with those type of races,when no one else is.

With the GI Preakness moving to Laurel for this year's running, attendance will be limited to just 4,800 patrons, according to a spokesperson for 1/ST Racing. The story was first reported by Matt Hegarty in the Daily Racing Form, who provided 1/ST with a list of questions regarding this year's race. Though 1/ST had turned over Laurel and Pimlico to a quasi- public organization now running racing in Maryland, 1/ST maintained the rights to the 2026 Preakness. Over the two days that encompass the GII Black-Eyed Susan and the Preakness, the estimated attendance in 2025 was 63,000. Many of the Preakness attendees traditionally spend their afternoon in the infield. But Laurel is not equipped to handle a crowd that large and is also undergoing renovations as it converts to a year-round training center. The race will be run this year at Laurel while construction is ongoing at Pimlico. The middle jewel of the Triple Crown is slated to return to Pimlico in 2027. The 4,800 tickets will cover the two-day event, starting with the May 15 Black-Eyed Susan card. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday and can be purchased at www.preakness.com. Tickets will range in price from $246 for general admission to $1,698 for the Turfside Terrace. A total of 1,000 general admission tickets will be made available to the public. 1/ST will also offer “luxury suite experiences.” The price for the luxury suites was not revealed. Hospitality options will include temporary facilities along the rail from the finish line to the final turn offering VIP experiences, curated food and beverage and premium track views. In response to questions Hegarty posed to 1/ST, the company pitched that a Preakness at Laurel will be a historic event. “Preakness 151 weekend will offer the opportunity for horsemen and women, racing fans and guests to experience the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park for the first-time in the history of the event,” the 1/ST spokesperson wrote. “1/ST, in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, will curate a day of world-class racing, hospitality and entertainment in consideration of Laurel Park's layout. Preakness 151 will feature added Luxury Suites, a replica Turfside Terrace and the build out of the highly coveted Finish Line Suites, adding distinct experiences from other race days held at Laurel Park. “1/ST, in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, looks forward to continuing the tradition of the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park while the long-term, state-led redevelopment of Pimlico Race Course is underway. We are committed to providing Preakness 151 guests with a thoughtfully planned experience and will make investments into the event that takes into consideration Laurel Park's footprint, capacity and available amenities.” The post Admission To Preakness At Laurel Will Be Limited To 4,800 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Kyle Cameron doesn’t know what to expect at Addington today. The Fernside-based trainer-driver will take two of his own to the races in Style Council (R1) and Special Edition (R5) and also drive Natives Inferno (R2), Prince Teka (R4) and Hez A Loch (R7). “You could easily see a few of them run in three or none of them run in three,” says Cameron, “but at least we’ve got a bit of hope.” In Race 1, the Diamond Racing Lot 54 Shares Available Mobile Pace, Style Council will be driven by Blair Wilmott in the Amateur Drivers’ race, after a last start third at Motukarara on February 15. “There are plenty of horses who have won plenty of races in that race, “says Cameron, “it’s a bit of a lottery though he is a live chance.” In the next Cameron links up with a “real head-scratcher” in Natives Inferno for trainer Austin Thornton. “He came out travelling last week and broke,” says Cameron. That was at Motukarara on February 15. “If he could put in a clean round he’d be a winning chance.” “But it’s a big ‘if’!” Taking on start number 224 is 10-year-old Prince Teka for trainer Gerard McCrea in Race, Diamond Racing Lot 90 Shares Available Mobile Trot. Cameron is his regular driver. “He’ll get on the speed and he’s not out of that race.” “He doesn’t have the speed he had three years ago but he can still run overall time but just can’t sprint,” says Cameron, “any cheque would be a good one with him.” Cameron is not hopeful about Special Edition’s chances in Race 5, the ownthethrill.co.nz Check It Out Mobile Pace, after drawing the outside of the front line over 1980 metres. “She’s drawn nine and that makes life tough for her, she’ll need a lot of luck.” In Race 7, the Diamondracing.co.nz Proven Winners Pace Cameron will drive Hez A Loch for his father Ian. A winner at Methven two starts ago he will make his first appearance on the grit. “I’ll be looking for one run and see if he can show what he showed at Methven,” says Cameron, “last time at Mot (Feb 15) he felt good but I made a mid race move to sit parked and it didn’t suit him.” Addington’s eight race midweek programme starts at 4.16pm. View the full article

Ronal no longer licenced.