News Briefs : March 15

Luk Chin goes back to back

It's been two awards in two weeks for Luk Chin (pictured above, second from left). Firstly the 80-year-old, who works fulltime as an anesthesiologist and medical consultant, was a joint winner of Harness Racing New Zealand's Unsung Heroes Award along with Tony Thomas and Andrew McKerrow. Now he's received a Lifetime Legacy Award at the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards at Palmerston North. Dr Chin, who trains his team at Tamahere in the Waikato, was a joint winner of the award with timbersports star Jason Wynward and Reuben de Jong (Highland Heavies). Dr Chin was also a hit on the stage at Saturday's gala dinner at Awapuni Racecourse with an entertaining acceptance speech!

Orange crushes it

Blair Orange has gone to the top of the drivers' premiership after reining home winners seemingly at will over the past week or so. This country's champion driver for the past five years had three wins at Manawatu yesterday, one at Reefton on Sunday, three at Invercargill on Saturday, five at Westport last Friday and two at Oamaru last Wednesday. He has a total of 16 winners this month alone and 39 in 2023, taking him past previous leader John Dunn, who is six behind on 33. Robert and Jenna Dunn lead the trainers' premiership with 36 wins, 10 ahead of Michael House.

Top mare off to be a mum

Group 1 winning mare Callie's Delight has been retired and will now head to the broodmare paddock. And the seven-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight went out on a high, winning her final race, last month's Group 1 Standardbred Breeders Stakes at Addington. She finishes her racing career with 12 wins from 61 starts and $190,072 after starting out with John Dickie up north and finishing with Bob Butt on the beach at Woodend.

Daughter of Lazarus a winner

Two-time New Zealand Cup winner Lazarus has sired his first winner in the southern hemisphere. His 2YO daughter Stylish Lazarus was successful at Bathurst last week. Trained by ex-pat Kiwi Jack Trainor and driven by another young gun in Cam Hart, the promising filly won by 11 metres in a tidy mile rate of 1:59.1

Milestone for McDowell

Canterbury-based trainer Chris McDowell trained his 50th winner when Wind In The Wire won at Reefton on Sunday for driver Sam Thornley. McDowell first took out his licence in 2009 with his first winner being Town Icon at Nelson two years later. His best season wins wise was the nine victories he had in 2017-18. He's also had 31 wins as a driver.

Teal auction closes tonight

A selection of Teal-themed scarves and snoods is currently up for auction, thanks to southern racing identity Art Bloxham and the Robin Dundee Club. There are 10 items for sale, with bidding closing at 10 pm tonight. Prices vary, with one lot attracting a top bid so far of $300. All proceeds will go to the annual Teal Pants campaign raising funds towards ovarian cancer research.

To view the auction click here

Gavelhouse update

The latest gavelhouse auction closes from 7pm tonight. A total of 12 horses are for sale including four-race winner Sir Brigadoon, who was at $4600 earlier today, and Love Potion who has won one from eight for Tony Herlihy. He was at $1900 at last look. To view the auction click here