News Briefs : December 7

All Stars lead premiership

The All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen has opened up a one win lead at the top of the trainers' premiership after their mega Grand Prix day at Addington on Sunday. The Rolleston-based barn had five winners - all Group 1s - to be on 90 wins for the year. Second is Steve and Amanda Telfer with 89, after their sole win on Sunday came with B D Joe in the last of the day in the Summer Cup.

Purdon passes $2m

By driving four winners on Grand Prix day Mark Purdon passed $2m in stakes earnings in 2022. He has now won $2,032,512 from 129 drives and 32 wins. That puts him second behind the country's leading driver Blair Orange, who has 166 wins and $2,288,850 from 1130 drives. Purdon's UDR (strike-rate) is .4462, compared to Orange's .2473. With his dominant win with Akuta Purdon claimed his 12th NZ Derby as a driver, equalling the record held by the late great Maurice Holmes.

Dunn goes past $15m

Ten-time Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn has now won more than $15m in stakes money this year. He has had 294 wins from 1526 starts, accruing a total $15,077,534, to be the leading stakes earner in North America, with Tim Tetrick second on $14,196,107. Aaron Merriman has the most wins with 817 (from 3824 drives) and stakes earnings of $8.4m.

Graeme Mee back on tools

Popular southern Clerk of the Course Graeme Mee has returned to the job after being hospitalised with serious injuries in March. He was helping in the shoeing of a young horse at Mosgiel when he was kicked in the head. He was back at the Forbury Park Trotting Club meeting at Wingatui last week and appeared in good spirits, saying "he'd lost eight months of his life and it was his job to catch up." He also thanked all the well wishers, friends and family who had supported him this year.

Gold Coast to be Harness HQ

The Gold Coast will become the home of harness racing in Queensland with a multi million dollar facility to be built in Norwell. It's expected to host more than 200 meetings a year and will replace the existing facilities at Brisbane's Albion Park. Racing's expected to start at the Queensland Harness Centre in 2026.

Son Of Patrick popular with bidders

The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7pm tonight. Among the lots is Son Of Patrick, a well-performed four-year-old who has won eight from 40 for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. It's stated he'd be a "nice horse for Christmas carnival racing" or in Victoria. At last look he was at $35,000. There are 10 lots in all.

Club News : Hawea Picnic Trotting Club

The very popular Hawea Picnic races will be back on December 28. It is always a very relaxed family friendly time in picturesque Central Otago. Entries close on December 18.
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