YOR Racing win with Curve

J Scott Former News, Latest News

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

J Scott Latest News

    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

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  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

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  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

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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 …

Master Lavros unlucky in Rowe Cup

J Scott Former News, Latest News

MASTER LAVROS UNLUCKY   Promising intermediate-grade squaregaiter Master Lavros was luckless in his first open class attempt in Stig’s Rowe Cup at Auckland on Friday, May 3.  Trainer Mark Jones stepped the big Sundon gelding brilliantly off the unruly to be in the first four rounding the first turn.  He crossed to the markers four back, then was shuffled five back after early breaker and eventual winner Stig strode to the top for David Butt with 1200m left.  Master Lavros was badly held up until the closing stages, running into fifth late behind Stig, fast late finisher Springbank Sam, Boizel, …

Saveapatrol wins Autumn Futurity

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  SAVEAPATROL WINS FUTURITY   Saveapatrol, backed down to $1.30 win favouritism,l comprehensively delivered in  the $25,000 Caduceus Club Of Southland Autumn Futurity at Invercargill on Saturday, March 24. Even from the outside of the front row and easing back to last early, the robust Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco geldingl was clearly a class above his rivals. Trainer Mark Jones had him on the move mid-race, taking control a lap out from Treasure Hunter and Deano Robyn.  Saveapatrol left his rivals gasping turning for home, putting three lengths on the pack.  He knocked off a touch inside the final 100m, with …

Offtocullect first for sire

J Scott Former News, Latest News

OFFTOCULLECT 1ST FOR SIRE   Offtocullect _ who came from the outside of the back row to credit Gotta Go Cullect with his first siring win at Forbury Park on Thursday, March 8 _ will be given time to mature by trainer Mark Jones. “He’s a nice tough two-year-old, but at this stage we’ll give him a break,” Mark said of  the winning debutante. “There’s been a bit of interest in him, so he may be sold.” Offtocullect, after improving mid-race to lead over the last lap, was under seige from a sprint lane run by trailer Ahorsewithnoname in the …

Jackaroo Bromac _ good autumn form

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  SECOND COUNTRY FINAL WIN   Mark Jones notched his second Canterbury Regional Country Cups Final training and driving win when he reined favourite Jackaroo Bromac to score in the $25,000 Woodlands Stud-sponsored Final at Rangiora on Sunday, April 7. The Burnham trainer earlier set former smart racemare Crystal Star to win the 2010 Regional Country Cups Final when it was formerly held at Addington. Jackaroo Bromac stretched his unbeaten sequence to three since joining the Overport Lodge team with another comprehensive victory. From the inside of the 10m line, the McArdle entire settled just worse than midfield but Mark …

Swedish trotter for Southern Star

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            HRV, Media Release, Thursday, June 27, 2013   SWEDISH CHAMPION FOR GREAT SOUTHERN STAR   Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) is excited to announce that Swedish Three and Four-Year-Old Breeders Crown Champion, Yield Boko, is on his way Down Under to tackle Australasia’s best Trotters in the 2014 Great Southern Star. The winner of 22 from his 50 race starts, stakes earnings of more than AUD$800,000 and a fastest lifetime mark of 1:55.1 over 2140m, Yield Boko boasts credentials which rank him as one of the greatest Trotters ever imported to race in Australia. And …