HARNESS RV SUCCESSFUL DEFENDING CASE Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) defended an action brought against it by Sportsbet Pty Ltd (Sportsbet) in the Federal Court of Australia. The case ran over two weeks (in March and August 2011). Sportsbet challenged the Victorian legislation under which HRV charges a race field fee. Sportsbet also challenged HRV’s ability to charge a fee based on turnover.HRV charges approved Wagering Service Providers (WSP’s) a race field fee of 1.5% for the use of HRV race fields for wagering purposes.Sportsbet’s fundamental argument was that the fee is discriminatory, not least because Tabcorp (who pays substantial amounts in …
Sires Stakes extra for 3YO trotters
SIRES STAKES EXENSION FOR 3YO TROTTERS As lead ups to the Hutton Racing Stables Sires Stakes 3 Y.O. Trotters Championship, a Prelude will now be run in each island. Victorian, Michael Taranto , who also sponsors the Seelite Windows & Doors Sires Stakes 2YOTrotters Series, was keen to see more opportunities for the 3-year-olds and with his support the Board felt the time was right given the increase in the number of trotters paying up for the series. With the Championship being run at Auckland, the inclusion of a Prelude at Addington was seen as providing …
Countdown begins to Lindauer Race Day
100 DAYS TO LINDAUER RACE DAY The countdown is well and truly on to Cup Week in Christchurch. It’s less than 100 days to go to Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day on 13 November 13. Tuesday, August 8, marks 100 days to Show Day in Canterbury on November 16, the date for Lindauer Race Day at Addington Raceway. Highlights on Lindauer Race Day include the Group 1 $200,000 Hellers Dominion for our leading trotters and the Group 1 $150,000 Woodlands New Zealand Free-For-All staged over a mile for Australasia’s best pacers. Complimenting these elite events on …
NZ FFA reduced to 1609m
MET CHANGES FFA DISTANCE TO 1609M The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club is to reduce the distance of the Woodlands New Zealand Free-For-All on Show day, 2012, to 1609m (metric mile). The Group One NZ Free-For-All was previously been run over 2000m (or 1 1/4 miles), but the Met wants to turn the feature Cup week sprint into a mile dash, following improvements to the camber at the 1609m start point. The NZ Free-For-All has been run over one mile eight consecutive times, but 85 years ago. Racing Manager Brian Rabbitt said: “Cup week in Christchurch is the …
Aust. announce trot only sale
HRV ANNOUNCES PREMIER TROTTING SALE Harness Racing Victoria has announced that the southern hemisphere’s first ever trotters-only yearling sale, the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale, will be conducted on March 24, 2013, at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. The announcement was made by the Minister for Racing The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine during the Seelite Windows & Doors Redwood Carnival at Maryborough on Sunday. The inaugural Australasian Premier Trotting Sale, which is a collaborative venture between HRV and industry stakeholders, has already attracted an incredible list of entries. The trailblazing initiative is the latest step toward highlighting the trotter, which …
Master Lavros finishes 3YO season
MASTER LAVROS WAITS FOR NEXT TERM Fans of promising 3YO Master Lavros won’t see the giant-sized squaregaiter racing again until the new season. Burnham trainer Mark Jones made the most of a penalty-free age group concession win with the Sundon gelding on the first day of the Marlborough winter meeting, Friday, June 15, 2012, before wrapping up his short winter campaign. “If I won another with him, it would mean I would keep going to try and win another after that,” he said. “I just want to look after him. I want him to come back in the low …
Tough for Holme Fire in Jewels
TOUGH FROM DRAW IN JEWELS Holme Fire, who performed as well as she could from her outside front row draw in the $150,000 Silk Restaurant Sky City 3YO Fillies Diamond at Cambridge on Saturday, June 2, has remained in the north for further winter racing with caretaker trainer Michelle Wallis. Driver David Butt eased her back to last early, then hopped on the three-wide train tracking up Cheer The Lady over the last 1200m. She fought on wide out for sixth, being race-timed in 1:55.8 for the mile. Fortune favoured the in-form Mark Purdon/Grant Payne-trained mare O Baby, who …
Qualifier under offer
LOVES THE SHOW QUALIFIES, UNDER OFFER Loves The Show, who qualified for the Mark Jones stable when running into third for trials driver Kimberly Butt at Rangiora on Tuesday, July 3, is under offer. “It was good to give Kimberly a drive to help get her raceday licence. She drives good and they got on great together,” Mark said. Loves The Show, a 2YO Bettor’s Delight filly named after the popular public response phrase to the weekly Australian racing show, Off The Rails, improved three back on the outer behind eventual winner Ajaye (David Butt) over the final lap. …
Suerte wins for Melbourne owners
SUERTE WINS PREMIER DAY, MAY 12, 2012 Suerte showed a good sense of timing to deliver for the Mark Jones stable in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, on premier day at Addington, Saturday, May 12. The Butterworths flew to Christchurch after their former Southland trotter Knapdale girl was withdrawn from a feature trot final in South Australia on Saturday. They had a stellar day with a winning Addington treble. Didjamakem Bolt and Best Deal Yet, two other Southland purchases, now racing for the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, were also in rampant form.Blair Orange, successful …
Rockabella racing well in NSW
(MISS) ROCKABELLA SHINES IN NEW SOUTH WALES Former Overport Lodge mare Rockabella has commenced her New South Wales racing on a strong note for Queensland owner Greg Brodie, notching an early treble. The 4YO Art Major-Calypso Beach mare was too good again at Bathurst on Wednesday, clearing out by 17.3 metres to win a $A5000 C1-2 mobile 2130m pace. Starting a dominating $1.30 favourite for trainer Paul Russo and driver Ashlee Siejka, and racing as Miss Rockabella in Australia, she settled back, improved three wide over the final lap and won as she liked. She rated 2:03.5 …