Republican Party is Horse of the Year

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

A four-time Group 1 winner in 2025, Republican Party has been named harness racing's Horse of the Year.

The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained star was given the top gong at tonight's annual NZB Standardbred HRNZ awards at Addington Raceway in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 300.

Republican Party won nine races from 16 starts during the year, including the Group 1 Auckland - Invercargill Cup double for the second time in a row.

He'd earlier taken out the 5YO Gelding or Entire of the Year award, beating, among others, Merlin and Leap To Fame and was then named Pacer of the Year.

Katrina and John Price (Price Bloodstock) who bred Republican Party were named Breeder of the Year.

The 4YO Entire/Gelding Pacer of the Year was taken out by Australian visitor Kingman who won two from two in this country, the greatest race of them all, the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Group 1 Christian Cullen.

Trotter of the Year was Bet N Win. Trained by David and Stacey White, Bet N Win won six from 14 on both sides of the Tasman in 2025, highlighted by victory in the Reharvest Group 1 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.

He'd earlier been voted 5Y0 and older Gelding/Entire of the year, ahead of Australian Gus who created such a big impression during Cup week with his double in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and the Free For All on Show Day.

The winner of the 4YO category was one of the big movers in the trotting ranks in this country in Hillbilly Blues. He won seven from 18 in 2025 including the Group 1 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot on New Year's Eve at Alexandra Park.

One of the night's most eagerly-anticipated categories was in the 3YO Colts/Entires after Marketplace and Got The Chocolates were involved in an incredible rivalry throughout 2025. They won five races each in 2025.

In the end it was Marketplace, who won the Group 1 New Zealand Pacing Derby, who got the nod.

Philip and Glenys Kennard, who are in the ownership group of Marketplace and Bet N Win and other top-liners, were named Owners of the Year.

Trainers of the Year Steve and Amanda Telfer (Stonewall Stud) were recognized for their record-breaking year. They had 171 wins in 2025, eclipsing the old 12-month mark set by Roy and Barry Purdon in 1993-94.

The Newcomer to Training award was won by Benjamin Butcher, who had eight winners in 2025 in what was his second season of training. He has also driven over 300 winners.

Blair Orange secured his eighth consecutive Drivers Premiership with 168 wins while Wilson House (94 wins) got his first in the Junior Drivers' Premiership and Monika Ranger won the award for having the best strike-rate of any junior driver. She finished 2025 with 23 wins from 129 drives and a UDR of .2980.  

Cadet of the Year went to Southlander Riley Black ahead of Stonewall Stud stable driver Nikita Burton while Bailey Anderson was named Stablehand of the Year and the year's Unsung Hero and Outstanding Contribution awards went to Richard Bromley and industry heavyweights Ken and Karen Breckon.

The Moment of the Year, which was decided by public vote, went to Jim Curtin for winning his 100th race at Westport's Patterson Park with Transtasman Bubble on Boxing Day.

To see the full list of tonight's winners click here