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Both Clubs are seriously in the shite financially and getting worse. Cambridge appears to be far worse than what I understood, and not looking great either! Winston really needs to step up to the plate and put it in the hands of a statutory manager as HRNZ are just not performing! The big stake money that ATC are being given would be better utilised in paying the interest on the debt and reducing the stakes up there! Is there anyone that has any confidence in HRNZ’s ability to govern harness racing in NZ? I wouldnt think there would be too many as things will come to a head and it will not be pretty for the industry!  

The Maryland Million announced Feb. 18 two new Maryland Million Races running March 22, each offering $10,000 in bonuses for Maryland Million-eligible horses.View the full article

The reformatted Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby returns to Dubai Feb. 20 but without Six Speed, the colt making the most noise this season at Meydan Racecourse, leaving the race wide open.View the full article

Million-dollar earning Gigante, named 2025 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year, headlines a slate of award winners whose connections will receive hardware for their efforts March 14 at Colonial Downs. View the full article

The Trackside commentator internship programme continues to pay dividends for racing’s future, with Dan Fogarty stepping into a full-time role as the commentator for the Southern region. Fogarty (23) called the Southland Guineas thoroughbred meeting at Ascot Park in Invercargill on Saturday, and followed that up with the Gore Harness Racing Club grass track meeting on Sunday. Fogarty’s dulcet tones will become familiar for meetings broadcast from Southland and Otago, as he picks up the role from contractor Craig Rail. “Dan has followed in the footsteps of our premier Canterbury racecaller Matt Cross who also gained opportunities through the Trackside commentator internship,” Entain Australia and New Zealand’s Head of Live Racing, Kyle Bettler, said. “His ability to switch effortlessly between codes, his professional calls, and his ability to find a winner for punters means now is the right time for him to step into a full-time position.” Fogarty will move permanently to Invercargill later this year following a long-planned holiday to the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also been confirmed that Craig Rail will be returning to New Zealand following a brief period back in his native Australia and will be available from mid-March. “Craig has been a contractor throughout his tenure with Entain and will remain on our books providing important commentary and studio support on an as-required basis,” Bettler said. Central Districts greyhound racing commentator Mark ‘Roso’ Rosanowski will finish up in his role at the end of February due to the proposed closure of the New Zealand greyhound racing industry later this year. Mark Rosanowski will step down from his role ahead of the proposed closure of New Zealand’s greyhound racing industry. Photo: Supplied Rosanowski has been an ever-present part of the greyhound racing industry for more than 30 years and has performed many other presenting roles outside of his greyhound commentary during that time. “Roso’s passion and knowledge cannot be understated, and he has also been a tremendous role model and mentor for other commentators and presenters in the Trackside stable,” Bettler said. Rosanowski, in departing Trackside, reflected on the people in the racing industry he has met across the decades. “I have considered it a privilege getting to know the people across all aspects of racing,” Rosanowski said. “I’m indebted to entrenched industry participants who accepted me coming in from the outside, not part of an established racing family, and being able to talk and interview people, some of whom I had considered idols. It’s an industry like no other, and I have loved being a part of it ever since heading along to the races as a youngster more than 50 years ago. “The past 10 years or so of greyhound commentating has been one of my career highlights, and a culmination of the passion for greyhound racing that I first discovered at QEII Park in the 1980s. “I’m thankful to have been involved in all three codes at various stages and witnessed some of the best equine and canine performances of the last three decades first hand.” “To all the Trackside presentation team and especially the crew on the other side of the camera who worked long hours to make me look and sound as good as possible, a heartfelt thank you,” Rosanowski said. View the full article

Aksil (NZ) (Ace High) had connections in two minds early on before time revealed the exciting three-year-old’s propensity to stay. The son of Ace High will have the opportunity to star in that role at Ellerslie on Saturday when he tackles a middle distance for the first time in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). A strong effort will lock in a return for a crack at the ultimate age group staying test, the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 7. “We thought he may have been a Karaka Millions horse over a mile, but the more we did with him the more we realised that probably wasn’t his go,” said Katrina Alexander, who trains the gelding with husband Simon. “He’s just needed a little bit of extra time to furnish and learn how to race, he certainly now looks the type of horse that needs this distance.” Aksil has collected a brace of wins and a placing from his four appearances and has progressed well since his most recent victory on the track over 1600m. “Last time at Ellerslie, he pulled up well and didn’t blow out a match. He wasn’t fazed at all and he’s trained on well, I don’t have a worry about the extra distance,” Alexander said. “As he has grown and developed, he’s showed in the way he races that he wants to relax nicely and has that turn of foot when needed.” As a son of a Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner and the Savabeel mare Savasong (NZ), who was successful up to (2100m), he certainly has the pedigree to be a headline staying act. That possibility was acted on by OTI Racing when they bought into Aksil at the end of last year. Alexander also has her fingers crossed that stablemate Astarte (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will gain a start in the Myracehorse Handicap (2200m). The Sacred Falls mare posted consecutive runner-up finishes before the five-year-old broke through over 2100m at Tauranga. “She’s four on the ballot unfortunately, but her form is super and she is working extra well,” she said. “It’s a bit frustrating and we’re really hoping she gets a run, if she doesn’t then she might have a freshen up.” The stable also has high hopes at Taupo on Sunday for Cambridge Stud’s Rioja (NZ) (Almanzor), an acceptor for both the Property Brokers – Tokoroa Maiden (1100m) and the Giltrap Agrizone – Taupo (1200m). “I think she is well up to three-year-old company, but to be sensible we’re probably leaning toward the maiden,” Alexander said. “The open three-year-old is a sharp field and if she’d had a run under her belt then I wouldn’t had any queries, especially as she had drawn one. “Cambridge Stud have got their other horse (Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain)) in that, so the maiden is the sensible way, but we’ve left her in the other one in case the field really drops away.” By Almanzor, Rioja was put aside after finishing third in her spring debut and recently won an 800m heat at Ellerslie. “She trialled early on against some nice sorts like Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) and she’s got a ton of speed, but she is a very economical galloper with a lot of upside,” Alexander said. “In her work, you’d swear she wanted to stay so it will be interesting to see how she develops. She’s built like a sprinter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets a bit further. “She’s a joy to train, she loves her work and is a filly with a ton of character.” View the full article

Gamma, the real reason Alexandra Park is racing is due to the subsidised stakes from Entain cash splash, and it will finish! I would say they would have very few meetings where they make money and this is only going to make it even dire! It was surprising to see some very good prices paid for yearlings at Karaka as there is nothing surer than significantly reduced stake money in the North in 2 years! It is indeed possible that if they continue to race up there they will be racing for half the current stakes and less. Gamma, we are not putting the boot into anyone whatsoever, just trying to find out what is happening up there as They keep the public in the dark. It is a given that things ate extremely dire for Auckland and Cambridge at the moment and yet they say nothing and carry on, all the while racing up an interest bill of $115,000 approx each and every week!! And yet they run races for big stakes with only a few horses in them? Seriously, How can this continue?? Financially crippling and debt continues to grow!    

Personal opinion,  we need as many people as possible on track to get a connection with our horse's young and old. In later life if we have sowed the seed I'm sure the younger generation may come back as owners but our biggest current ownership opportunity is the 50 up age group that have disposable income and that's where I'd be targeting. 

The Maryland Millio announced Feb. 18 two new Maryland Million Races running March 22, each offering $10,000 in bonuses for Maryland Million-eligible horses.View the full article