News Briefs - February 4

Michelle Wallis and Wilson House make Rural Sports awards finals, a good start for Team Teal  and a new round of Racing Safety Development funding all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Wallis and House make Rural Sports finals

Harness racing will be represented by Michelle Wallis and Wilson House at the annual NZ Rural Sports awards at Palmerston North next month. Michelle Wallis is a finalist for the RX Plastics New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year after a personal best 2025. Her training partnership with husband Bernie Hackett netted 57 wins for the season, surpassing $1m in stakes for the first time. Their season culminated with Hillbilly Blues winning the Group 1 National Trot at Alexandra Park on New Year's Eve. Wilson House is a finalist for the Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year after 94 wins for the 2025 season. He clinched his first Junior Drivers Premiership after a fierce battle with Carter Dalgety. Among his victories was his first win in a Listed race when The Present Maker won at the Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December. The Rural Sports Awards will be held at Awapuni Racecourse on Friday, March 13.

Four wins so far for Team Teal  

Team Teal, HRNZ's annual fund-raiser to support ovarian cancer research and awareness, has got off to a good start with four wins at Oamaru last Sunday. Every time a female driver (and her teal pants) win a race over the next six weeks money is raised for the cause. Sunday's winning drivers were Sheree and Kerryn Tomlinson, Sarah O'Reilly and Colleen Negus. Next stop is Cambridge today, starting at 5.11pm.

Two training milestones

There have been milestones for two training partnerships over the past week. Nathan Delany and Ray Green recorded their 50th training success in partnership when Spiritual Bliss recorded the stable's third win at Alexandra Park last Friday. Spiritual Bliss has now won five of his seven starts since venturing north to Lincoln Farms. Their other winners last Friday were Johnny Lincoln and Lincoln Wave. And the father-son combo of Carl and Jeremy Markham had their first win together when My Skatjie had his second win at Oamaru last Sunday.    

New trainers for top trotters

Two top trotters are on the move. Former Rowe Cup winner Love N The Port has gone from Phil Williamson in Oamaru to Brendon "Benny" Hill in North Canterbury. A New Zealand Cup winning trainer with Monkey King (twice) Hill doesn't have many trotters in his barn with Love N The Port having a career record of 11 wins from 64 starts. Now eight, his Rowe Cup victory was in 2023. And Tyron Eros has gone from Robert and Jenna Dunn's stables at Woodend to Gerard O'Reilly in Ashburton. The five-year-old was a Group 1 winner as a 2YO, with his last win being in September 2024.

More accolades for J Mac

James Macdonald, who won the World Driving Championship around New Zealand last November, has been crowned Canada's best driver for the fifth consecutive time. The Ontario-based Macdonald won the O'Brien Award after a 2025 that saw him record 369 wins.

Racing safety development fund

Clubs are invited to apply for funding from the Racing Safety Development Fund. A total of nearly $1m is available for distribution for funding over two rounds for the 2026/2027 financial year. The Fund continues to support projects that improve safety in the racing industry and raise the quality of facilities at racecourses and other racing venues. Priority will be given to applications endorsed by the Racing Integrity Board and/or a code or club welfare/safety officer. Applications to the fund can be made through the Department of Internal Affairs’ online system from Feb 17 and should be completed and submitted by March 30, 2026. Further information on the application process is available on www.communitymatters.govt.nz

Parades now over for yearling sales

The on-farm parades are now complete for the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales. Two days of parades were scheduled for Canterbury this week but they were all held on Monday because of the poor weather forecast for yesterday. The sales will be held at Karaka on February 16 and then in Christchurch two days later. Altogether around 300 yearlings will go under the hammer.

Club News - Wairio

The Wairio Trotting Club have a great day of racing and family entertainment planned when they hold their annual Cup Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Sunday (8 February). The feature races are the $25,000 Transport Services Ltd Wairio Cup (2400m), the $15,000 Jimmy Dillon Gold Chip Final Handicap Trot and the opening heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series supported by the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn for a stake of $15,000 over the mile. 

In addition, the club has organised a great day of entertainment including the popular heads/tails game in which one player will win a $250 Prezzy Card plus lucky losing ticket draws for a $20 betting voucher on virtually every race. For the children there are free mini jeep rides and a bouncy castle while Mr Whippy will be on course with the first 100 ice creams for the kids free plus there will be a lolly scramble and children’s giveaways. A Punters Club will operate on course so be in early to get your ticket and there will be several Kidz Kartz races early in the day.

The first race is timed for 12.10pm and admission is free!