Walt

Maybe all the new owners had $10 on 😊

I agree Brodie. Far too short for me but horses can make a monkey out of us. Not a strong field. Is drawn well so may get an easy uncontested lead and that be all she wrote. I wasn't overly impressed with her trial run. Will watch closely. Maybe this is a very good example of "follow the money trail" Cran has another one racing that is beautifully bred out of Adore Me. "Named All You Need Is Me" She's at 3's. Won a trial but didn't win it in a manner that says thanks for coming first up. Twista at 6's seems better value but both will probably come out now and win by a cricket pitch

Mike Berger – a life in harness racing 12 January 2024 in New Zealand, Top 4 byBruce Stewart 0 The curtain is coming down on the wonderful harness racing career of Cambridge trainer Mike Berger. Mike Berger at his Cambridge stable Over a span of forty three years he’s won more than 700 races including a New Zealand Cup, a Taylor Mile, two Easter Cups and a New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes. His exit is partly due to the current rating system which he’s not a great fan of and rather than carry a bitterness towards an industry he loves, he feels it’s time to do other things. “I absolutely hate the system, it just doesn’t work up here. It’s like snakes and ladders. You win one, then your money’s all gone running round the track to get competitive again. The whole system is clogged up. If you win a maiden, all of a sudden you’re higher rated than a horse that’s won six races,” he said. Berger who’s been based at Cambridge Raceway for over twenty five years, says he couldn’t have stayed in the sport as long as he has without the support of his family. “I’m hopeless at book work and my wife Brenda has done that all the way through. She’s been a big part of the business and I couldn’t have run it without her. I’m pretty proud of my two girls, Melanie and Monique. They both went to Uni and got their degrees. They missed out growing up, because you’re working all the time.” Mike got into the sport as a young lad. He lived close to Ardmore where there were a number of stables. One stable was Graham Reeks. “I was just mucking out there and he got me in the cart a few times at the end.” He left school when he was sixteen. “My parents weren’t keen on me going into a stable and I had to do an apprenticeship, so I did car upholstery and canvasing for a year. But the urge was too strong so I packed my bag and went down to Normandy just out of Hawera and worked for Doug Grantham.” At that time Grantham trained Marie Gibbins (Emory Hanover) which won eleven races including a New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes, Thames Pacing Cup and Northern Oaks. He worked for Grantham for twelve months. “I then looked after thoroughbreds on the boat which went from Auckland to Sydney which took three and a half days. They gave me an air ticket to get home which was valid for twelve months. I loved it over there and only came back because I had to use the ticket.” Berger moved around stables when he had his junior driver’s licence and said he didn’t drive a lot. His first winner was Dan Que (Out To Win) for Roy and Barry Purdon at the Franklin meeting in April 1978. Mike Berger (Trish Dunnell Photo) After a stint at Kumeu, Berger worked for Mike Stormont before heading off to Canada where he worked in various stables for fourteen months. On returning home he had a short stint in the wine and spirits industry before harness racing came calling again and he took up a job at the Purdon stable. “I went to work of Roy and while I was there Barry came into partnership. They were so great to work for. Just a great atmosphere.” Mike gained his training licence in 1980 and trained privately for Graeme Mackie. “One of my first training winners was for him – Trade Direct. I liked the driving but I thought do I want to get the experience of driving or the ten percent as a trainer. The decision was pretty easy.” Trade Direct won five races for Berger. After sharing stable space with a number of other trainers Berger was offered a stable block at the Morrinsville track where he took out his open licence. “I did a lot of breaking in and pre-training. I was pretty lucky starting off, Roy Purdon and Peter Wolfenden sent me horses.” In 1988 he and Simon Pavlovich formed a training partnership. “He was working for me. We had a young team, he was working really hard, and I thought we would have a reasonable season so I asked him if he wanted to go into partnership.” Between 1988 and 1990 the partnership trained thirty five winners. “Simon’s father passed away and his mother wanted him to return home and help with the family holiday camp in Queenstown. That was the finish of the partnership but we stayed pretty good mates until he passed away.” Berger then went into partnership with Warren Rich and the pair ran two stables between 2000 and 2003. “We had a few Asian clients who had come out from Hong Kong when things were changing. They bought a property at Pukekohe. I didn’t want to have all my eggs in one basket so Warren looked after the Pukekohe base and I stayed at Morrinsville.” In that time they trained 109 winners including a New Zealand Cup with Gracious Knight in 2002, Easter Cups with Facta Non Verba (2000) and Gracious Knight (2002) and a City of Auckland FFA in 2002 with Facta Non Verba. Facta Non Verba Facta Non Verba turned out to be Berger’s best horse, winning twenty seven races. He remembers the day he bought the gelding’s mother Saieda Girl (Surmo Hanover). Saieda Girl went on to win seven races for Berger and was successful at stud – leaving Fact Non Verba, Barries Chev (1), Westshore Lad (2) and Saieda Bint (7). Berger has no hesitation in labelling Facta Non Verba as his favourite. “He was very highly strung and he lacked high speed but he was tough.” By his career end he’d achieved twenty seven wins, sixteen seconds, fourteen thirds and had won $532,035 in stakes. He won a Group One Easter Cup, Group One City Of Auckland FFA and Group Two Franklin Cup. The horse also campaigned in Australia where he won six races. “When he was finished you couldn’t really rehome him because he didn’t have the right nature to be a riding horse. A guy tried him as a cart horse for weddings but that didn’t work out. A good friend of ours Scott Eagleton at Seaton Park near Matamata took him, and they used him to run with the weanlings. He looked fantastic, got feed and rugged in the winter and lived to a good age. That was pretty cool.” Berger’s favourite moment with Facta Non Verba was his winning of the City Of Auckland FFA. “He sat parked for the last bit and just dished it up to them. He was so tough.” His other open class horse Gracious Knight, (Tuapeka Knight) was owned by The Happy Valley Syndicate which was made up of a group of businessmen from Hong Kong. They bought his dam, Kind Hearted (Rashad – Big Softie). “She had a Tuapeka Knight foal at foot and was in foal to Soky’s Atom. I think they paid two and a half thousand for the package. It turned out the mare wasn’t in foal, so they got a free return to Soky’s Atom. The foal at foot turned out to be Gracious Knight.” Gracious Knight Gracious Knight won twelve of his forty nine starts and was placed twelve times, winning $383,155. His wins included the 2002 New Zealand Trotting Cup in which he beat Facta Non Verba by a neck and the 2002 Group One Easter Cup. “He had lameness issues and Warren and his partner did a lot of work on him.” The 2002 New Zealand Cup was the pinnacle of Berger’s career. Berger’s training success continued with the likes of Hot Shoe Shuffle, Coburg and V For. Of V For he said “He had a bit of speed and he was one of the first crop of Christian Cullen. He ran a few placings against some real good horses. He got a lovely trip behind the Aussie horse (Romeo’s Legend) in the Taylor Mile. He was a nice horse because I had a half share in him (laughter).” V For’s other owner was Selwyn Taylor who Berger still trains for. “The first horse I trained for him was Blue Twirl. He’s bred from her all the way through. There haven’t been any super stars, but it’s been a consistent winning family.” Blue Twirl was a Vance Hanover mare which won five races. She left Sahara Storm which won six and at stud left V For. One of Sahara Storm’s daughters Sahara Starlight left ten win mare Saharazona which is the dam of Barbarossa which won four races for Taylor and Berger. Over the forty three years other good winners in Mike’s colours have been Bettor Spirits (14), Supreme Ruler (10), Max Factor (9), Lusty Mac (9), Stand Sure (9), Kevs Choice (8), Spirit Of Anzac (8), Skipper’s Reign (8), Lucky John (8) and Suidelike Meisie (8). Philip Butcher has had a great association with the stable, driving 148 winners. “His driving complimented my training. I rate him as good an all-round horseman as anyone I know. He was a very patient driver and he drove a horse to its ability. He probably got wins out of horses that wouldn’t have won for other drivers.” Todd Mitchell (94) also reined plenty of winners for Berger. “We had a run with The Wizard but then he became too popular. He’s a terrific horseman.” Other successful reinsmen for the stable have been Tony Herlihy (62), David Butcher (41), Maurice McKendry (35) and Aaron Vallender (25). Mike is proud that he’s been able to mentor young people in the sport who have gone on to carve out their own careers – the likes of Kyle Marshall, Philippa Wakelin, Stevie Noble and Scott Iremonger. Berger’s last training partnership was with Matthew White, over two seasons and eleven wins. Mike says retirement isn’t too far away now. Instead of carting horses south to the Manawatu he says he’ll be heading south to see his grandchildren at Marton. He’s excited about that. by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

Looking out the lounge window at Tahuna beach this morning it's a cracking day for harness racing.

Ruakaka has a lot of talent and if right, can loop the field and leave them standing. Trial form says that is exactly what will happen. Bob won the lesser grade trot by a cricket pitch with The Present Maker at this meeting last year. Very confident Ruakaka will do the same. A big margin victory very much on the cards. The way Alta Meteor won at the Mot last start was impressive. Had them covered a long way out and Tim has many options today. I'm picking he will come calling for the top at some point and will get it. Race in the back pocket from that moment on.

That first race today has several good winning chances. I can see Scarlett's Legacy staying very handy from the draw. Lobbing the trail is probably her best option but the moment you hand up, you lose control. In a competitive field so there may be several lead changes so you could go from the trail to four back on the fence so it will be interesting. Perhaps Gavin will hold the top. A win is getting closer based on her last start third and her trial win in December when she beat subsequent first up winner "Don't Tell Jenny".....Just A Diva ran third to Don't Tell Jenny and then she won her next start so the form is very good.

If Ruakaka repeats his trial form, he'll win for fun. If Alta Meteor repeats his last start dominant win at the Mot, he'll be winning the Nelson Cup.

My picks for the first day of the Nelson trots tomorrow. R1 # 1 ....SCARLETT'S LEGACY. R2 # 8 .....HEARTBREAK HOTEL R3 # 11 ...KAYSAN'S ROCK R4 # 10....ROCKNROLL DIVA R5 # 9 ...TWISTA R6 # 13...RUAKAKA (Good day for Bob) R7 # 6 ...OOGA CHAKA R8 # 9....ALMIGHTY FEAR (Good day for Gavin) R9 # 9 ...ALTA METEOR R10 # 9 ...RON MCKINLEY R11 # 13..ROCK BAND BEST ROUGHIE : R10...FOURTH AMENDMENT

https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs/racebook/231201rb.htm

100% John Dunn describes Nelson as one of his favourite tracks. A multiple NZ Cup winning driver who's a legend in the game describes Nelson as a great track that he rates very highly. There is little doubt that Sunnys Sister is easily the best horse in the field. "On paper" she could give her main rivals Almighty Fear and Idle Stuartia a good start and still beat them but as you know, they are not racing on paper. I can see Blair from the pole using his draw so he is strong place chance. If Gavin's stable perform earlier in the day with Scarlett's Legacy and Heartbreak Hotel, my confidence with Almighty Fear will increase. Heartbreak Hotel has the game to win comfortably but he is a trotter and is having his first race day start. I'll say this, if he trots all the way, he wins easy. That probably sums up Sunnys Sister as well.

You're welcome. I'm happy to acknowledge I'm not the best punter around but have no issue finding winners. There are several tomorrow I'm confident will win

I learned the truth today. Far king awful and left a lump in my throat even with the passage of time. He never actually got to race. He copped travel sickness......then water and insurance linked together. You were right about how understandably distressed the family was. Unfarking believable Chief with any horse but even more so with such a superb horse who as you say was a gentleman of a stallion.

Hey Chief, You mentioned Single Lord being a gentleman and the Hill family being very upset at his premature demise. Did you know how that came about? Was my fav horse out of Nelson and for good reason. He was a beauty

Looks good Gammalite. Been out this morning for a look at the track and everything looking peaches and cream for Friday. Can you put me down for whatever the last team left is please. Feeling lucky...haha, that's a euphemism of course for....delusional.

Good size fields Shad. Not the big numbers of yesteryear but full fields in comparison to Auckland. I watched Archie race on the Coast as Murray Pash like other locals especially enjoys Nelson. His father in law was Noel Berkett and I'm fairly confident Archie races in his colours. Lady Eastburn etc enjoyed Nelson. I didn't mention Cardwell Bay in my preview but she is a contender in that field for sure. Would prefer Archie to have a show of form before he get's any of mine.

Last five races on Friday's card. R7.......Franco Hoffman will be at good odds but is drawn well and in good form. The stable and driver in outstanding form. Place only for me. Bryce's Meddle is a genuine winning chance from the draw. Really like Ooga Chaka for ex Nelson boy Tim Trathen. Has a stack of ability and Bob Butt doing the driving. Bob will very likely have a big day. Tim enjoys winning @ Nelson and showed that by winning a double with Dadndave in 2019. Coincidently, this race was the first of Dadndave's double so perhaps Ooga Chaka will repeat the dose. Beach Flybye will derive great benefit from his first run in 6 months and he will keep on improving. Classic Linc looks a good place bet. Watermelon Sugar is good enough to compete here so needs to be covered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R8......Idle Stuartia looks a strong place bet from the draw. Boys Invasion is only a place hope. Same applies with Zsa Zoe Sunny's Sister has just got better and better and has ten metres on his biggest danger, Almighty Fear. Should win. Almighty Fear is in great nick. His fourth on NZ Cup Day said he was ready to put his hand up. He's won two since and has a chance here to beat Sunny's Sister. Looking forward to this race. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R9.......The Nelson Cup. Fernetti is in great form but I wonder if too much too soon. We will see. Lone Wolf won well last time out so deserves to take his place. Having his first stand start could be a concern. Live on Legend was my pick for this race a month ago but his Westport run has dented my confidence. Is clearly good enough to win. When I saw Alta Meteor win the Christmas Cup @ The Mot, I said there's your Nelson Cup winner. I think he's a good thing. Mighty Looee won a double here last year and then won a decent race @ Addington. If he rocks up, he's a big danger. Donmaro has won his only race @ Nelson but is only a place hope to my eye. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R10....Country Gold will gain considerable benefit from his first up second for five months. John Dunn from the pole gets my attention. Blue Rock Dancer has a strong Nelson connection. Had an excuse last time so I won't be leaving him out of my exotic bets. I wasn't surprised by the win of Topaz @ The Mot but was surprised at how easy she got the job done. Has to be considered. Fourth Amendment is a contender I won't leave out of trifectas and trebles etc. Two placings from two previous runs here. Ron McKinley made up good ground very late @ The Mot. I like the horse. A genuine upset chance. Leave out at your peril. Follow on the circuit. He'll be winning either here or over the hill at Waterlea. Bondi Lustre is a contender here. Plenty to like about his win four starts back in November. God Of Thunder was asked to do a lot in his first race for almost ten months. Not surprisingly he threw out the white flag. Will benefit from the run and will likely snare a win over the circuit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R11.........hopefully the lucky last. Delightful Reality looks a good hope after her Auckland win. Absolute Dynamite was strong in victory @ Rangiora. Great quinella chance here. Rock Band was a very easy winner @ Auckland in June and is not here for the scenery. I'm confident he's ready to win first up. On top for me. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

R4.....Not a fan of this race but each to their own. Refine will likely start fav and deserves a win but she is not drawn well so will need favours.. The Real McCoy has been knocking and Gavin Smith will likely have a good day so he's in it with a shout. Rocknroll Diva is a 5 race winner but is drawn poorly. She finished off well @ The Mot. If she has any luck, she could be there at the finish. Baltimore Jill is no world beater and is not drawn well. That aside, didn't get a lot of luck in the home straight @ Reefton and Blair driving. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ R5...Misty Blue was nice first up behind Moments Like This and that race will be a good form race. Wallflower ran second in that race and she's in Race 1. On Top Of The World has poor form but she ran a nice second in early December in a trial behind Lethal Speed who has since gone on to win. Blair is driving and is good enough to my eye to win this. All You Need Is Me is a trial winning filly out of the wonderful Adore Me. Has to be considered. Courtney Rose has nice trial form and Bob Butt has a very good record @ Nelson and his stable is firing. Kawatiri Creek in solid form and a win is coming...just when? Twista was very good at Alexandra Park recently running third behind a decent horse and her trial win in early December impressed me. She looks a strong chance. Bet On Polly ran a good fourth first up for the Dunn stable. She didn't get a lot of room late and John Dunn takes over the driving. Not drawn well but she is a threat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Race 6.....Grand Eagle is in the right stable with the right driver and in the right form to go well here but is up against a couple of nice horses. Bella Lindenny is a decent mare and she beat High Noon recently @ Westport. Blair didn't need pull the ear plugs and High Noon won at his next start. Randel Huston P won his only race at this meeting last year. He began so brilliantly from the unruly that day he was in front inside the first 300 and never looked like getting rolled. The White's wouldn't take him to Nelson unless he was ready to race. The horse I think will win is Ruakaka. His trial form for Bob Butt has been outstanding. His last trial last week was very impressive winning and did so like he could go around again. This is his race to lose. Clear top pick. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will do an early bird preview for Nelson three races at a time. There will be numerous factors to be considered that are unavailable at this time such as the money trail and stable form on the day. Nelson is a track where the same stables and faces tend to have big days. The Dunn stable for example dominated at this meeting last year. The track is in superb order and the weather forecast for Friday is a scorcher. Rain forecast for the second day on Sunday but hopefully that won't arrive until Monday. If I see or hear anything helpful on the day will post it on this thread. If the first race on Friday is any guide, there will be some competitive and enjoyable racing with good prospects of making a few quid. R1.....Scarlett's Legacy getting close to a win. Nice third @ Rangiora last start and she beat Don't Tell Jenny in her trial prior to that. Don't Tell Jenny won @ The Mot on Sunday. Gavin Smith often goes very well @ Nelson. Wallflower ran a superb race against the very good Moment's Like This @ Ashburton and has run a decent enough trial since. Dalgety stable will have her ready. Gatecrasher getting close. Won a trial and then a nice second @ The Mot. Moose Morowski is from the family of Lord Moose and Diamond Moose who both won their share. Brings solid enough trial for into the race. Chica Bella has very nice trial form for this. White stable usually go well @ Nelson. Crackasky for Trevor Casey has solid trial form and Blair driving. Reiver ran a very good third @ Methven three starts back and if luck goes his way can be in the finish at a price. Hi Life ran a very nice second last start and is from the powerful Dunn stable. Bad draw but is a place chance at least. Will narrow things down on Thursday but at this stage, Scralett's Legacy, Wallflower and Gatecrasher look good. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R2.....Orlando Express kept giving in his trial for second. From the Dalgety stable Ready Set Jet has been going nice trials and Bob Butt has a very good at Nelson. Popnrock ran a solid third in his last trial for the Tomlinson's giving them a good hand in the race. Stablemate Harmonia won her last trial nicely and Sheree knows where the finish line @ Nelson is. If Heartbreak Hotel trots all the way this race is his to lose. Really impressed with his trial form. Gavin Smith trained so potentially an early double. Based on what I've seen, only bad luck beats him. Gavin won with Almighty Fear @ The Mot on Sunday so the stable in strong form. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Race 3.....open race with numerous chances. Bromac Times ran a solid trial and Blair driving. Take A Selfie got my attention running behind Bromac Times in the same trial. Same stable and same syndicate won with Don't Tell Jenny first up @ The Mot in late December. The money trail will tell a story worth taking notice of. Gem N Em has been running solid trials. Will keep improving. Racingmissgracie has been running good races for the Hope's and looks a solid place chance. Kaysans Rock has got my attention for sure. Impressed with his trials and Blair driving. At this stage, my money is going on him. I'm Rockin has looked good in his trials. Has ability but not helped by the draw. Got Ya Now has good trial form but again a difficult draw. Unless there is something I've missed, Kaysans Rock looks a very strong chance of winning this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will look at the next three after I've had a swim in the pool and enjoyed a couple of cold ones. It's hard living in Nelson

The Gavin Smith horse Gammalite was Red Moon Rising...just getting rolled by the Terry on Dibaba...she later beat Dream About Me in the Mares Championship @ Addington

Fair enough Brodie. My input was not about the incident on the Coast in particular. More just a general aspect of the way individuals including ourselves handle certain situations. No dirty laundry being aired. As an aside, I put forward a question. Some years ago politician Trevor Mallard punched another politician Tau Henare in the face. Is it reasonable on a political forum to discuss that incident?

That makes sense. I only said 1980 as I know she was born in 1977 and Hec referred to her as a filly so I assumed she must have still only been 3. Whatever year it was, we know it was a huge loss to everyone concerned and of course the industry. Most would have happily paid plenty for a horse out of Powley. Unfortunately I can't find any of her runs on Youtube. The Dimple, The Twinkle, The Fantasy etc were all gems

Well said Gammalite. I know who the two people involved are but don't know the circumstances so will make no comment about the incident. I'd normally add the word "alleged" but there is no dispute that a reasonably serious incident occurred. As an aside, it's been my experience that we all have a modus operandi on how we deal with things, including potential conflict. Most of us are articulate enough and can easily communicate our perspective without resorting to violence or threats of violence. There are times where that just won't get the job done. The other party is overly aggressive and is not capable or interested in robust debate. Alcohol is usually involved in those cases and or a power imbalance exists between the two people. The aggressor knows they can take the other person out and the "victim" is already back peddling and is unable or unwilling to flee. The aggressor in such circumstances needs to have a meaningful consequence to correct their conduct -modus operandi. That consequence can be loss of reputation or employment, loss of liberty or even getting toweled up themselves by someone going into bat for the "victim". ...or of course, serious reflection via education. If these consequences don't eventuate the aggressor will likely just keep resorting to their usual method of operation. When incidents occur, the opportunity to learn and evolve from them should never be missed.

Seems it was 1980 Michael....I'm copying and pasting below a piece I just read. "Retired Wingatui trainer Hec Anderton can recall the day when his family and the Powell clan booked out all the available accommodation at the Globe Hotel in Riverton for an Easter racing carnival. ''We used to have some wonderful times at Riverton. Sometimes we would be based there for 10 days to take in three days' racing at Easter,'' he said yesterday. Hec's late parents, Alice (nee Powell) and Hector, were household names in racing with their dual New Zealand Cup winner Princess Mellay, ill fated filly Powley and Kumai, one of the greatest winter gallopers to look through a bridle at Wingatui and Trentham. Champion filly Powley who tragically succumbed to a dreadful ordeal on an Inter Island crossing on Cook Strait, when returning from Trentham, was named after Hector Anderton's wife, a sister of trainer Ashley Powell of Captain's Command fame"

Did anyone tune in to the Cromwell meeting yesterday? Thoughts? Just love grass track harness racing in the summer. I did homework on Friday and found it very predictable meeting to find winners. Was going to put my picks up but didn't want to end up with egg on my face. Race 1....Bullit Train ran a slashing race at his previous start. Always like a trotter in form. I thought he was a 7-2 shot but paid $7.60. The trifecta with the fav Storm Cloud running third was around $1400. The horse that ran second at long odds Hail Stone told me everything I needed to know about stable form with me already thinking stablemate Nubliah Chamay was a good thing in Race 7....he won by over 5 lengths. R3...I felt Mayson Shard had a strangle hold on an ordinary lot and she also won by 5 lengths. R4...I felt Sally Lindenny would need to lose the plot to get beaten. R8...Hacksaw Ridge looked a shot's eye and so it proved. R9...You just wanted to keep putting it on Fernleigh Blackbird and she won for fun. R10....Da Vinci looked in great form to take the Cup and so it proved. This race reminded me of the Saturday grass track Cups I grew up loving. R11...Really liked the way One Two Menny ran second two starts back on the grass at Wingatui. Made up A huge amount of ground in the straight. I thought he was about a 6-1 --8-1 chance yesterday but won and paid $16. R12....I couldn't see Mr President getting beaten. First start in the South produced a slashing second behind Millwood Indie was great form here. Only surprise was the $550 price for the treble and $1200 price for the quaddie. I don't want to sound like a Monday punter but I hope they are as predictable at Nelson.

I hope you're right. It's a sacrilege to bin the Easter Cup. I was mortified when I realized what they'd done. Removing such an iconic race off the calendar is a huge step in the wrong direction. Auckland seems to be lurching toward oblivion. The fact they would allow the great Cardigan Bay to be dug up to make way for a farking carpark blew my mind. Is nothing sacred to these people? Cardy did more for harness racing in one season than all of that lot could do in three life times. Even the Auckland Cup racing on New Years Eve has be consigned to the history books. We went to almost every Auckland Cup night for decades and made a night of it. Harness Racing must be in great shape to bin so many time honoured traditions and replace them with a limp noodle by comparison. The reason nobody has answered your question about January 1st could be related to it being another change for change sake.