Todd Macfarlane’s new job – “all the best were beginners once”

[Wandering Eyes]

Todd Macfarlane has seen a bit in his time in harness racing, and now is looking forward to imparting some of that knowledge to the next generation.

He’s just taken up a new part-time role with Harness Racing New Zealand supporting youngsters, mainly cadets and junior drivers, in Auckland and the Waikato.

“I just want to support what Roddy’s doing and help out where I can.”

Roddy Butt was employed earlier this year as HRNZ’s new Development Co-Ordinator, based in Canterbury. 

Macfarlane says nurturing young talent is the key to ensuring the sport’s future.

“All the best were beginners once,” he says.

“We need to attract more people to the sport and when we’ve done that we have to retain them.”

With over 500 driving wins and 200 training successes to his credit, the 53-year-old brings a mountain of experience to the position.

Included in his CV was a career high with Special Force. He won the 1999 Inter Dominion Trotting Final at Alexandra Park before finishing seventh in a heat of one of the world’s great races, the Elitloppet in Sweden.

“It was an amazing day, it was just such a show and the atmosphere was unreal.”

He also won the 2012 Group 1 Northern Derby with Ideal Scott, a Harness Jewels with Cyclone U Bolt and trained and drove Mac De Stroyer who won 11 including the Group 2 Noel Taylor Mile .

These days he’s not an active as he once was, though he’s still had over 80 drives (and eight wins) in 2024 and tries to keep his finger on the pulse of the industry. He wants to get alongside anyone needing advice or guidance.

“I’m always available on my phone and I go to most race meetings,” he says “it could be an issue in the stipes’ room or something to do with the rules or they might just want someone to chat things through with.”

“And if I don’t have the answers then I certainly know people who do.”

Macfarlane expects the job will involve around eight hours work a week and it will juggle it alongside his other racing commitments and his day job. He runs an asbestos collection and disposal business, or ACDC for short.

“I love harness racing and it will be nice to help out where I can.”

 

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