ADDINGTON LEADS WAY WITH BREEDERS’ BONUSES Tuesday, August 20, 2013 The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is delighted to announce a new breeders bonus scheme for members of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association (NZSBA). Breeders have long been asking for bonuses and we are pleased to be in the position to respond positively to this request. The NZSBA is a driving force for breeders accordingly the NZMTC decided to partner with them to reward their members efforts in breeding a winning racehorse. The scheme which starts on 1st January 2014, is open to any member of the NZSBA …
Jellignite a $100k earner
(MY) JELLIGNITE TOPS $100K IN AUS Former Mark Jones pacer Jellignite has joined the $100,000 earning club with his latest Australian racing in Queensland. Jellignite (Courage Under Fire-Badjelly The Wytch) and younger brother Badjellys Courage, are both now racing in Queensland after starting their Australian careers in New South Wales. Jellignite, who has a 1:52.4 best winning mile at Menangle, NSW, recorded a more leisurely 1:55.6 for the 1609m for a first-up Queensland victory at Parklands (Gold Coast) on July 19. This was his 13th win from 57 starts, while he ticked over the $100k total with a subsequent second …
Stakes boost for industry
HRNZ ANNOUNCES $1.5M STAKES BOOST Media Release 31 July 2013 $1.5 million additional stakes for harness racing industry At the annual harness racing conference held over the weekend in Christchurch it was announced that an additional 1.5 million will be injected into stake money for the harness racing industry over the coming season. An additional $1.5 million will be distributed to clubs for the 2013/14 season which is an increase of 5% on the 2012/13 season. While the Board did consider a number of options for the utilisation of this additional funding, including the introduction of payments to all starters …
Holme Fire second in Mot. workout
HOLME FIRE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT Last season’s smart 3YO filly Holme Fire showed improvement with a second to the in-form El Fuego in the 1-win and faster mobile 2200m heat at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, July 27. “She hadn’t raced for a year but she went terrible second-up. She wouldn’t win a maiden the way she went the other day,” said trainer Mark Jones. “That was a bit better today. She might just have a few more runs here and we might send her to Aussie _ I’ll just have to see how she’s graded over there,” he said. …
The Met & Auckland stakes releases
THE MET 10%-PLUS INCREASE The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is pleased to announce that budgeted total pay-out of stakes to owners, trainers and drivers for the 2013-14 season will total over $7.2 million, an increase of over 10% on 2012-13. Chairman of the NZMTC David Rankin said: “this increase is in line with Addington’s five year Strategic Plan as it is important to the NZMTC to maximise sustainable long term returns to our stakeholders balanced with maintaining and enhancing our infra-structure.” The stakes increases will be distributed throughout all grades from maidens through to …
YOR Racing win with Curve
YOR ! NO CURVE-BALL Mark McNamara, the voice of Canterbury racing and part-time horse syndicator,was rewarded for an elusive first win with the YOR ! Racing With Mark Jones Racing Syndicate when Curve delivered at Forbury on Thursday, June 6. He admitted it was a big relief to finally reward the 120-strong syndicate with a win after a previously luckless run since the syndicate was formed in September. “About a third of them have been first-time owners. They have been really good, the people in the syndicate,” said Mark McNamara. “They’ve been happy to hang on to both ends …
HRNZ Media notes, July 17, 2013
HRNZ MEDIA BITES, JULY 17, 2013 Bit Of A Legend to add new spin to trainers’ race It looks highly likely that Bit Of A Legend will race twice this Friday night at Addington. The star three-year-old will first go around in a three-horse Breeders Crown heat then saddle up again in the feature handicap of the night some two hours later. Should he win both that would mean he’s won 10 races for the season. What could turn out to be three wins for Dalgety would edge him that much closer to Mark Purdon in …
Gallop in Jewels costly
EARLY GALLOP COSTLY Mobile racing again proved a problem for talented squaregaiter Master Lavros in the $100,000 Methven & Mt Hutt Trotting Clubs 4YO Ruby Trot at Ashburton on June 1. The big trotter bounded into a gallop after the opening 100m, losing any winning chance, but made a good recovery to finish fifth to winner Cyclone U Bolt (Blair Orange), who was recording back-to-back Jewels wins for Melbourne owners Meg and Merv Butterworth. Cyclone U Bolt finished best from the trail to outfinish his Mark Purdon-trained stablemate Escapee, with Stent, third, in a NZ allcomers trot record …
HRNZ handicapping changes
Media ReleaseFri, July 12, 2013 HANDICAPPING CHANGES – Age Group Concessions and Formal “Drop Back” The Handicapping sub-committee met on Wednesday 10th July. The sub-committee comprises John Lischner (Chairman), Erin Crawford, Pat O’Brien, Steve Phillips, Brian Rabbitt, Kevin Smith, Mark Jones, Ken Barron, Darrin Williams. Also present (filling in for apologies of David Butcher and Hamish Hunter) were Rob Lawson, Jason Broad, Edward Rennell and Andrew Morris. Observing were Ray O’Connor and Colin Hair. Considerable feedback had been received around Handicapping issues in the lead up to the meeting and the HRNZ Board had at its …
Addington to open new bar/bistro
NEW BAR & BISTRO COMING TO ADDINGTON A new bar and bistro at Christchurch’s Addington Raceway and Events Centre, located within the new hub of Christchurch will be open for business soon to the general public. In response to heavy demand for restaurants and bars in this increasingly popular area of Christchurch, the brand new facility named “Spectators” will be located on the ground floor of the Metropolitan Stand at Addington, adjacent to AMI Stadium and CBS Arena. Spectators will be open 7-days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner catering for a wide range of customers with ample easy …