News Briefs - August 6

A record-breaking season at Addington, a good trial for Captains Mistress' full-brother and a remarkable driving feat in the USA all feature in this week's News Briefs.

25th $1m turnover at Addington

A record-breaking last 12 months was completed in style at Addington on Friday night. It marked the 25th time that $1m or more has been wagered at an Addington meeting over the past 12 months (August 1, 2025 - July 31,2026). It beat the old record of 18 set in 2016-17 and 2019-20. Friday's total was $1.096m, up 20 per cent on the corresponding meeting last year. Cambridge also had a good result last Friday, with turnover at $771K, up 151 per cent on last year's Thursday meeting.

Project Stamina - Guerin Report on Trackside

A two-part Guerin Report special on Project Stamina and other important issues facing the racing industry, will be broadcast next week. Hosted by racing journalist Michael Guerin, the Report will be on Trackside 1 on Monday and Tuesday at 8pm. HRNZ Chair Grant Jarrold will feature in the Report.

Hackett early favourite in Junior Driver Championships

The market is out for this weekend's McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Driver Championships. They will be held over seven heats at Alexandra Park on Friday and at Ashburton on Sunday. 2024 champion Crystal Hackett is the bookies' favourite at $3.50, ahead of defending champion Carter Dalgety ($5).

To see more details click here

Well-related colt at trials

Faith And Fear, a full brother to Captains Mistress, has been showing a bit of the family's ability at the trials. At Rangiora last Wednesday, the two-year-old colt cleared out to a five length win for co-trainer Hayden Cullen. The $160,000 purchase from the 2025 National Yearling Sale, Faith And Fear qualified in February. Captains Mistress has been a sensation in 2026 winning 12 from 13, including her epic win over Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion Pacing Final, and $1.2m in stakes.

More success for Shartin

Kourtney Legacy, a 2YO daughter out of champion Kiwi bred mare Shartin, has been in winning form in the USA, taking out an Indiana Sire Stakes race at Harrah's Hoosier Park in 1:51.6. By Capt Midnight, Kourtney Legacy has won two out of three lifetime starts. Her victory was one of seven winning drives on the night for John De Long. Shartin N, the 2019 USA Dan Patch Harness Horse of the Year and the fastest pacing mare in history, had a glittering harness racing career with 46 wins. Bred by Grant Crabbe at Prebbleton near Christchurch, Shartin had a best time of 1:46.4.

Fourth win this year for SS

Swedish Starlet has posted a new personal best in her latest win in North America. She won at Plainville Massachusetts in 1:49 flat. Getting home by a neck, It was her fourth win this year. The Kiwi-bred mare had two wins in this country in 2022 for Southland trainer Brett Gray before exported to Australia and then to the USA.

Orari to host BPTC meeting

The Banks Peninsula Trotting Club's next meeting has been moved from Motukarara to Geraldine. The club's home track is currently under repair and with the club not able to guarantee its readiness in time for the September meeting the decision has been made to transfer it to Orari. It will be held on the same day as scheduled - September 20. An inspection of Motukarara will be held in mid August to assess its immediate racing future.

8 from 8 in USA

You would have thought Nathan Williamson's six-win day at Winton on Sunday would be hard to beat but how's this for a day out? Just 18, Kevin Detweiler went to the Fayette County Free Fair in Indiana last week thinking he had a couple of good chances. He ended up sweeping the eight-race meeting with eight wins! The teenager clearly has some skills. The record in this country for driving winners at the one meeting is seven, jointly shared by Doug Watts at Reefton in 1954, Tony Herlihy at Alexandra Park in 2001, and Dexter Dunn at Forbury Park in May, 2015.  

Club News - Addington

Tickets are now on sale for both New Zealand Cup day and Show Day at Addington. There are options galore for race-goers on the country's biggest race day on Tuesday, November 10 with everything from the high end hospitality packages to the Public Village (General Admission) at $30 each.  To see more click here