News Briefs - August 26

The death of a southern stalwart, Dexter's golden run in the USA and a finals spot for The Trots all feature in this week's News Briefs.  

Vale Murray Faul

Well-known for his "Windermere" horses, Murray Faul has died in Invercargill, aged 97. As well as being a successful trainer he was also on the Invercargill Harness Racing Club committee for a staggering 81 years, including 40 as treasurer. He trained 36 winners between 1984 and 2014, with his best horse being nine-race winner Windermere Girl. Windermere Lad was his last winner in 2013 while his first was Nardins Belle at Invercargill in 1984. Another huge achievement came in the gallops code - he bred Koiro Corrie May who finished second in the 1985 Melbourne Cup, then Australia's first $1m race. A celebration of Murray's life will be held in September, with HRNZ wishing to send its condolences to the Faul family.

To see more on Murray Faul's life click here

Dexter D on a roll 

Thanks to classy performers like Brandon Blvd and Apex, star Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn has moved into second on the list of stakes-earners in North America in 2026. He has now driven 184 winners with stakes totaling $US7.9m, just shy of leader Jason Bartlett ($8m). Dunn, a five-time USA Driver of the Year, has been on a red hot streak of late helped by the country's two highest earning horses, Hambletonian winner Apex and Brandon Blvd. The latter's latest success came in a $300,000 race in Pennsylvania over the weekend. He has won $US895,695 this year with Apex next on $739,716.

Milestones for Hackett and Wigg 

With Merle Mary's win at Cambridge last Friday Crystal Hackett produced a major milestone - her 200th winner. It was her 43rd win this year, 13 shy of her personal best tally of 56 last year. Her first was with High In The Sky, trained by her parents Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, in June 2021 with her biggest wins coming with her Group 1 double with Mach Shard in the 2024 Messenger and Taylor Mile. On Sunday afternoon Cheree Wigg had her 50th success as an amateur driver when the Bruce Negus-trained Monkee Major won at Rangiora. It was her fourth win this year with her first win coming with Speak Up at Cambridge in 2015. Negus trained the trifecta in that race (with Foliejon Star and Mouton Cadet) and then produced a quinella later in the day with Hoppy's Smile and The Seamstress. 

Premiership update 

Eight months into the season the race for the respective premierships look clear cut. Robert and Jenna Dunn have 93 wins in the trainers' premiership and are 23 wins clear of last year's winners Steve and Amanda Telfer, while Blair Orange has 106 as he goes for his eighth consecutive drivers premiership. He is 29 ahead of John Dunn and in the junior drivers Carter Dalgety has 67 wins, 19 ahead of Wilson House (48) though Dalgety is temporarily off the scene as he follows the All Blacks in South Africa.  

Dual Group 1 glory 

Young Aussie gun Angus Garrard had a night to remember at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday. Before then the 23-year-old hadn't secured a Group 1 win in 40 attempts. He then produced two in the space of a few hours with Pure Grunt and Mullum Showgirl in the Qbred Triad Finals for the 3YO Colts and Geldings and the 2YO Fillies respectively. Garrard, who won last year's Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park, recorded his 1000th career victory at just 22 years old. 

The Trots makes Best Awards finals

The Trots, HRNZ’s new public-facing brand for harness racing, has been named a finalist in the Designers Institute of New Zealand’s Best Design Awards. Created with Auckland agency The Goat Farm, the brand aims to connect harness racing with new and younger audiences while retaining strong links to the sport’s 140-year heritage. The wider brand project also includes Firsties, HRNZ’s event concept for introducing first-time racegoers to the trots. The Trots project is a finalist in the Small Brand Identity category, with the winners to be announced in Auckland on October 9.

Club News : Addington trials 

Owing to the Addington track being re-surfaced on September 8 the trials on that day will be held at Ashburton. Rangiora will also hold a trials meeting on September 9.