News Briefs : June 17

A winning farewell for the People's Horse, a 4pm start at Addington and the latest news from the USA all feature in this week's News Briefs.  

Santanna Mach's winning farewell 

Trainer Michael House has always said he wanted to finish Santanna Mach's career on the right note. That, as it turned out, was Sunday at Addington when the 12-year-old produced a telling late burst to win the Hagley Windows and Doors Mobile Pace. It was his 26th win. With 280 starts he retires as the seventh most raced standardbred in this country, with the dual-gaited Take After Me being number one with a combined 420 starts. Bred and raced by retired Whakatane accountant John Rennie, Santanna Mach is also a history-maker. He is the first and only horse to have raced at every active harness racing venue in the country. His total, after first time meetings at Ruakaka and Taupo this year, stands at 31.

4pm start at Addington

Addington's meeting this  Sunday (June 21) will have a later than usual start.  With five domestic racing meetings on the day broadcasting demands have seen the meeting move to a 4pm start as it is the only venue with lights. The meeting now also coincides with the Warriors' NRL match against the Cowboys at One NZ Stadium. 

Trots Talk change 

Radio show Trots Talk will have a change of format for the next month while the FIFA World Cup is on. Instead of being broadcast on Sport Nation between 9 and 10am on Sunday it will be a podcast available through the HRNZ website. The show, hosted by Greg O'Connor, will focus on Friday night racing and content will also include the upcoming Queensland Constellation Carnival and the Kiwis involved in it.

Harrison gets 100 wins  

Alicia Harrison has joined the open driving ranks following her 100th career win. It came with the Nicky Chilcott-trained Katies Princess at Alexandra Park on Friday night. As a junior driver she had 99 wins in this country and one win in Australia during the 2018 Australasian Young Drivers Championship. Her best season so far was the 27 wins she had in 2021 while her first winner was No Way Else for Arna Donnelly in 2017.  

500 trotting wins for John Dunn  

With Tyron Everest's win at Addington on Sunday John Dunn secured his 500th victory with a trotter. Overall Dunn has had 1899 wins from just over 14,000 drives over the past 25 years. Among his highest profile successes of late have been with Got The Chocolates and It's Tough while in the trotting gait none were better than 34 race winner, two-time Horse of the Year, million dollar-earner and multiple Group 1 winner Sundees Son. It was Tyron Everest's first win at just his second start. It was also Dunn's 67th victory this year. He is second in the premiership behind eight-time champion Blair Orange on 78. Robert and Jenna Dunn also lead the trainers premiership with 76 wins. Orange meanwhile has had his 3100th career win with Share A Dream's victory for trainer Regan Todd at Addington on Sunday. He is the fourth most successful driver ever in this country, trailing only Tony Herlihy (3743), Maurice McKendry (3445) and Ricky May (3208). 

BB is back 

The USA's representative at last year's World Driving Championship around New Zealand, has returned to race day driving after suffering a brain injury, broken jaw and broken wrist in a spill at Saratoga in New York on April 12. The 23-year-old made his comeback at The Meadowlands last week, 60 days after the accident, and won with just his second drive back, American Story. Meanwhile James MacDonald, who won his second WDC here last year, has won Canada's premier race for the three-year-old pacers, the North America Cup with Odds On Mr Mamba in Ontario. Second was Brandon Blvd driven by Kiwi star Dexter Dunn. Dunn also had five winners on the night at the Meadowlands over the weekend including one with Super Chapter who won in 1:49.6, the equal quickest time for a trotter this year in North America. Dunn has 218 wins and over $2m in stakes for the year, with Jason Bartlett well clear with $5.1m in stakes and 293 wins.   

Newbies down south 

Emma Adams has become the latest junior in this country to make her driving debut.  The 23-year-old drove Sure To Rise, a Lazarus gelding she also part owns,  at Invercargill's meeting last Thursday. They finished in ninth place. She follows her mother Kirsty and grandmother Gay McClymont into the sport. She has been working for Kirstin Green for over two years, as does another new name in the south Olivia Thomas, who has now had eight drives.

July 12 for standardbred competition 

July 12 is the deadline for those wanting to enter the HRNZ Standardbred competition for 2026. It is open to all standardbreds registered with Equestrian Sports NZ. Entrants have to submit their results from relevant ESNZ competitions (between August 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026). Entries must be in by July 12. First prize is $500, with $300 for second and $200 for third. For all  enquiries contact natalie@hrnz.co.nz

Club News : Addington 

Hororata winter fund-raiser 

The Hororata Trotting Club will hold a winter fund-raiser at Addington (Silks Lounge) this Friday, June 19. Tickets costing $120 per person include dinner and all drinks. Auctions and raffles will be held throughout the night with many items up for grabs including  jewellery (diamond earrings worth $1200), a weekend in Wanaka, a round of gold at Shirley Golf Club, service fees to Pebble Beach, Lather Up and Royal Aspirations, food vouchers,  homeware, hair straighteners  and more. Contact Lisa:  lhowson@hswaccounting.co.nz