Two double-headers in busy harness racing week

[Wandering Eyes]

A harness racing week, complete will two double-headers, gets underway today with action at Cambridge and Addington. They will be followed by Winton and Auckland on Thursday.

Today’s seven-race meeting at Cambridge starts at 4.24pm, with the first of Addington’s eight races at 4.14pm.

Addington’s meeting features Heat 2 of the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series for the 5YO and older R35-39 Pacers at 7.37pm.

The series, now in its second year, will have 10 heats in all before the $30,000 Final at Addington on May 16.

To be eligible to contest the Final a horse must have had at least one start in a heat of this series, and a minimum of two race starts within the qualification period of April 13 – May 11. All heat winners will automatically qualify for the final provided they have had two starts within the qualification period.

The first heat, the Carrfield Grain and Seed Canterbury Plains Challenge Mobile Pace at Methven on Sunday, was won by Evidently. 

Trained by Peter Holmes and driven by Jim Curtin, Evidently got in the one-one before peeling out at the home turn to overhaul the pace-making Normie Stead, who finished third, behind Sweet Glory.

In today’s race a big 14-horse field will line up at 7.37pm with the country’s leading trainer Michael House starting two bright prospects.

Wilson House will drive Didjashoutthebar following an unlucky third at Addington last Wednesday when blocked for room late while Hit The Lights will start one the second row for the country’s leading driver Blair Orange.

To see the field click here

Last year House had four runners in the inaugural Canterbury Plains Challenge Series Final won by the Tom Bamford-trained and Carter Dalgety-driven Ebury Street.

House currently has 62 wins in 2025, 32 clear of Steve and Amanda Telfer while Orange and Wilson House are one-two in the drivers’ premiership with 65 and 48 wins respectively. 

On Thursday Winton will host its Cup meeting which will also feature the $70,000 Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace and Alexandra Park has its Oaks and Derby Preludes night.

Action returns to Addington for its Easter Saturday Premier race meeting highlighted by the two $30,000 Racing Rewards Showcase Races for the 4YO and older R35-57 Pacers and Trotters.

With no racing on Easter Sunday, Banks Peninsula holds what will be the last grass track meeting before the winter break at Motukarara on Monday.

This week’s racing : 

April 15 – Today – Cambridge 
April 15 – Today – Addington
April 17 – Thursday – Auckland 
April 17 – Thursday – Winton 
April 19 – Saturday – Addington 
April 21 – Monday – Motukarara 
April 22 – Tuesday – Cambridge 

 

 

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