News Briefs - May 7

Kango's retirement, the countdown to the Industry Excellence Awards and a harness racing establishment going under the hammer all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Kango retires  

Multiple Group-winner Kango has been officially retired after a racing career that netted 14 wins from 76 starts and earnings of $556K. The Arna Donnelly-trained son of American Ideal's last race was a seventh in the Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge on March 28. A noted and rugged front-runner among his biggest successes were the 2023 Roy Purdon Memorial, the 2021 Franklin Cup and the 2022 Kaikoura Cup. He was bred and raced by Bruce and Marie Brodie. Donnelly wrote : "You flew the flag season after season and even when the going got tough you never flinched .. you'll always be my champ."

Nominations close May 18 

There are under two weeks left to get your nominations in for the Industry Excellence Awards, powered by Entain, set to be held on June 29. Winners of the nine awards categories will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The supreme winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win, and a $5,000 educational package. These awards are designed to recognise the future leaders and rising stars under 40 of New Zealand racing codes. Category winners last year included Jo Ferguson (nee Stevens) and Chanelle Dickie, from within and around the harness racing industry. To nominate someone for the awards, simply visit https://entaingroup.com.au/industryawards/. Nominations close at 5pm on Sunday, 18 May. If you have any questions about the nomination process, check out the FAQs on the link above, or email [email protected]

Win 10 start 100

Times Are A Changin marked her 100th start in the best possible fashion at Rangiora on Sunday. The Barry Ward-trained seven-year-old mare took out race 1, the Resonate Health Mobile pace to chalk up career win number 10. Driven by John Dunn, she paid $24 for the win. Based at West Melton, it was Ward's 145th success, his first coming with Lobell Star at Forbury Park in 1987. Most of his horses are named after famous bands and singers, with The Times They Are a-Changin' being a Bob Dylan anthem released in 1964.

30 group 1s for Cran
 
Cran Dalgety brought up his 30th Group 1 success when Republican Party dealt to his rivals in the Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap Pace at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Bettor's Delight six-year-old was four back the fence before heading to the front. From there it was game over as he chalked career win number 21. It was Dalgety's second Group 1 for the night after Fugitive took out the Breckon Farms Yong Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes 2YO Mobile Pace. Of Dalgety's 30 Group 1s he's won 20 on his own account, nine with wife Chrissie and one with Nathan Purdon. Christen Me is the most successful with six Group 1s, followed by Republican Party and Krug, both with four.

Change of venue and date for Northern Pacers Final

The Northern Regional Pacers Final will now be held at Cambridge on Thursday, May 15. Originally the race was going to be held at Alexandra Park on ANZAC day but didn't go ahead because of insufficient entries. The Final will be programmed similarly to the Auckland edition but with a $27,500 stake and a lower rating limit of R45 to try to attract more intermediate grade pacers. The race will still have a maximum back mark of 30 metres and be run over 2700m.

Utilisation roadshows head north

The last of the HRNZ roadshows explaining the latest initiatives by the Utilisation Reference Group will be held today (Wednesday). They will be at the Clubhouse at Cambridge Raceway at 1pm and then at the Pukekohe Training Centre at 7pm. Zoom calls will be arranged for other trainers including those in the Seddon Shields areas and the Central North Island at dates and times to be advised. The roadshows started at Invercargill, with the latest at Addington Raceway on Monday night.

Finals fortnight for Sires' Stakes

The  NZ Sires' Stakes'  finals fortnight begins with the IRT 3YO Trot and Magness Benrow 3YO Fillies' at Auckland this Friday. It's time to get excited.

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Helium wins first race in USA

A seven race winner in this country, Helium has had his first overseas win. Bred by Trevor Casey, the Sky Major five-year-old headed to the USA in March this year. His first win came in 1:50 at Miami Valley in Ohio. He is now trained by Dan and Christi Noble, who have had a lot of success with NZ horses in North America.

Auction for harness racing establishment tomorrow

The eight hectare property currently owned by dual code trainer Jackie Burrows and her family will go under the hammer tomorrow (May 8). Located in Canterbury between Rolleston and West Melton the property includes a 760 metre oval sand training track, a four bedroom house and other accommodation as well as 19 paddocks. The property will be auctioned at 11am at Harcourts Grenadier in Moorhouse Avenue.