The voting breakdown at the 2025 HRNZ annual awards

Some unanimous decisions, some close calls and some surprising results - that's how voting ended up for the annual NZB Standardbred Harness Racing New Zealand awards.

The awards dinner was held on January 31 at Addington Raceway. Until now  the voting for the "Top Horse Contenders" has been kept under wraps.

But,  as has become the way in recent years, all votes are being made public - and there are some interesting results.

For instance, after their epic battles on the track, Marketplace was a runaway winner in the 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding of the Year, getting 24 votes compared to Got the Chocolates' one.

Other good head-to-heads were in the 5YO Entire or Gelding of the Year. Bet N Win got 13 votes ahead of Cup week star Gus (10) in the Trotters category while Republican Party got 18 votes in the Pacing category, with Leap To Fame next on seven.

Republican Party then beat New Zealand Cup champion Kingman for Pacer of the Year on his way to winning Horse of the Year with 18 votes, well clear of Gus (2), Kingman (2), Marketplace (2) and Leap To Fame (1).

Breckon Farms - winner of HRNZ's Contribution Award  

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Contribution awards are often handed out to people in their twilight of their working lives.

But Ken and Karen Breckon are not winding down. Not by a long shot.

They have ambitious plans for Breckon Farms (and their other business interests) and are only thinking about improving pedigrees and expanding their boutique breeding operation in the years ahead.

The high profile breeders, owners, syndicators and sponsors were honoured with a contribution award at the recent  Harness Racing New Zealand annual awards dinner.

"It's a great acknowledgement of not only what we have done but the immense contribution and passion shown by the people who work here," says Ken Breckon.

They got a similar accolade at last year's New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.

Very much a team effort Ken is the "pedigree tragic" along with Breckon Farms Manager Nigel Fahy while Karen's principal roles are administration and staffing.

"They ask me for my opinion as well," adds Karen quickly.

"Karen sticks to a very good business plan and if Nigel and I deviate from that - believe you me we are reminded sternly," Ken laughs.

It's clearly a dynamic that works.

In 2025 for example Breckon Farms-bred horses won 114 races in this country, including 11 Group and Listed features.

Breckon Farms is one part of their business portfolio.

There is also the family business Hydroflow Distributors Ltd he co-founded with his late brother Peter in the late 1980s. Hydroflow now employs 150 staff throughout NZ and Australia, with branches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Melbourne.

These days he is Executive Chairman, having employed a Chief Executive in his place around eight years ago.

And next to their state of the art breeding operation at Ohaupo they have also recently purchased a dairy farm.

"I don't do cows but I do do horses," laughs Karen.

"Breeding and racing has never been my career per se but it's a huge passion," says Ken, "40 per cent of my time is spent with Breckon Farms and the dairy farm."

Last year the farm hosted functions including a delegation from the United Arab Emirates as well as the drivers and entourages involved with the World Driving Championship.

With Breckon Farms they are thinking big.

"We want to be the best of the best," says Ken.

They will have a draft of 35 yearlings heading to the NZB Standardbred National Yearling sales at Karaka on Monday (February 16). 

"We were maxed out at 35 or 36 because of the limited size of our stables, but with the new barn facilities are now in a position to prepare 50 yearlings of quality. In 2027 we will be close to this number," says Ken.

In 2025 they were the top vendor at the yearling sales with $2m worth of sales, including a Captaintreacherous - Bettor Twist colt that went for a record-equalling $360,000.

Not that is purely a numbers game.

"We are always lifting the bar - investing in our broodmares," says Ken.

Unbeaten superstar Millwood Nike is a case in point. She was bought by the Breckons in 2024.

"You have to keep upgrading your pedigree or you get left behind," says Ken.

Syndication is another component with great potential. That area of the business is run Breckon Farms' Marketing and Promotions Manager Rob Carr.

"We are always hustling to get new people into syndicates," says Karen.

"Most syndicates have made money and we still have original people from our first syndicate 11 years ago involved but we always have wriggle room to get newbies involved as well," says Ken.

"And most of those syndicates have won a Group 1," says Karen.

With sons George and Andrew involved in both Hydroflow and Breckon Farms the Breckons' "contribution", while significant already, is only set to continue and evolve for generations to come.