Six harness racing finalists in Excellence Awards

Harness Racing will be represented by six finalists at the 2025 Entain Industry Excellence Awards in Auckland later this month.

In all, 28 finalists have been named across nine award categories.

Harness racing's six are :

Samantha Ottley and Crystal Hackett (National Racing Woman)  
Zachary Butcher (Equine Licence Holder Excellence)
Nathan Purdon (Leadership Excellence)
David Branch (Administration and Innovation Excellence)
Shannon Armour (Care and Welfare Excellence)

Drivers Sam Ottley and Crystal Hackett are finalists in the National Racing Woman category.

Ottley made history in 2024 when she became the first woman in this country to drive 100 winners in a 12 month season. She's also the country's most successful female driver ever and the first in this country to get to 800 career wins. Hackett, one of the country's leading drivers, had an epic 2024 that included dual Group 1 success with Mach Shard in the Dawson Harford Messenger and Taylor Mile.

A finalist in the Equine Licence Holder Excellence category, Zachary Butcher had his 1000th winner in 2024. It was a year that also included victory in the $1m The race at Cambridge's Night of Champions. In 2024 he earned $2.8m in stakes, second only to seven-time premiership winner Blair Orange.

From the sport's most successful family, Nathan Purdon is a finalist in Leadership Excellence. He is one half of Purdon Racing and in 2024 they won 44 races and over $2m in stakes though the exploits of such stars as Oscar Bonavena, Don't Stop Dreaming, Chase A Dream and Rubira.

Cambridge Raceway's Chief Executive David Branch is a finalist in the Administration and Innovation category. Among his achievements is the highly successful Cambridge Night of Champions. It's a fresh take on racing in this country with an emphasis on big races on-track and top level entertainment off it with an emphasis on attracting a younger crowd to the races.

The versatile Shannon Armour is a finalist in the Care and Welfare category. The Invercargill-based Armour is a young mum and full-time worker who is trainer, a regular clerk at race days in Southland, and very active in HRNZ's re-homing programme.

The awards are open to anyone under 40 and the winner of each category – and the supreme Entain Excellence Award winner – will be announced at an awards night at Tote On Ascot at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, June 29.

Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall supreme winner receives an extra $5,000 and a $5,000 educational package. Flights and accommodation are supplied for each of the category finalists.

To see the Entain media release click here