News Briefs : December 31

Wilson House's big month, training milestones and some harness racing history in the USA all feature in this week's News Briefs.  

Big month for Wilson House 

What a December it's been for Wilson House. After reining home 13 winners during the month he is poised to win his first Junior Drivers Premiership later tonight when the Auckland Cup meeting concludes the 2025 season. After winning with The Mandalorian at Reefton yesterday he has 94 wins for the year, four ahead of defending champion and closest rival Carter Dalgety. He also had his 200th career success when Racey Krusa won at Gore on December 27. Now his total stands at 205.

2200 for RJ 

Robert Dunn also achieved a significant milestone when he trained his 2200th winner at Motukarara on Monday. It came in fine fashion with son John steering Captain Tyron to an impressive win. Dunn has been training since the late 1970s and has 1692 on his own account, five in partnership with Paul Black and 503 along with daughter-in-law Jenna Dunn. This year RJ and Jenna have had 109 wins to be third overall, two behind Michael House with the record-breaking partnership of Steve and Amanda Telfer on 169.

50 trainings win for Ben Hope 

Ben Hope chalked up his 50th training success when he drove Jack's Eyre to victory at Westport on December 28. It was his 35th win in partnership with his father Greg. He has 15 wins on his own as well. Since that victory the father-son combo have also produced two more winners, Love Walked In at big odds at Motukarara on Monday and Mike's Eyre at Reefton yesterday. 

Leap To Fame - Kingman rematch 

A change of plans with Leap To Fame could see him take on arch rival Kingman in the $50,000 Group 3 Shepparton Gold Cup on January 17. The race is already a confirmed target for Kingman, who has beaten Leap To Fame in the two times they have raced each other - the IRT New Zealand Cup and the Victoria Cup. A surprise appearance by Leap To Fame at Albion Park this Saturday night has paved the way for the Shepparton showdown.
“We’ll see how he goes this week, but it opens the door for us to go to Victoria earlier than we’d initially planned," says trainer-driver Grant Dixon. 

BB's 2000 winners 

Brett Beckwith, the USA's representative at November's World Driving Championship around New Zealand, has become the youngest driver ever in North America to drive 2000 winners. The 22-year-old brought up the history-making win at The Meadowlands in New Jersey driving former Kiwi Belmont Major. He was bred by Donna Williamson and had six wins here before heading to North America in 2021.

More frocks in 2026

The annual Frocks at the Trots is back in 2026. The annual fashion parade is a feature of the Teal campaign to increase awareness of ovarian cancer and to raise funds for research. Heats will start at the Amberley Trotting Club's meeting on February 6 and then head to Gore (Feb 15) and Auckland (Feb 27) before the finals at Addington on March 13. For more information contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz