The Tom Fox Seddon Shields Memorial Trotters Series confirmed

The fourth annual Seddon Shields Trotting Series has been given the go-ahead for 2026-27.

The series for R46 and faster Trotters will kick off at Kaikoura (November 1-2) and will culminate in a $30,000 final at Addington next March.

To be eligible to contest the Final all horses must have a minimum of three race starts at 11 qualifying meetings and/or 10 designated feature races across Seddon Districts meetings hosted by Kaikoura, Westport, Reefton, Nelson and Marlborough

Designated Feature Races and Final are as follows:

Kaikoura  -  November 2 - $17,500
Westport - December 26 - $15,000
Westport - December 28 - $17,500
Reefton - December 30 - $17,500
Nelson - January 8 - $15,000
Nelson - January 10 - $17,500
Marlborough - January 15 - $15,000
Marlborough - January 17 - $17,500
Westport - March 5 - $15,000
Reefton - March 7 - $15,000

Final: Addington - March 19 - $30,000

This year the Series will be known as the Tom Fox Memorial following his death in September.

Fox was a well-known popular trainer-driver from Nelson who trained from his base in Richmond for many years. Among the best horses he trained and drove were Dutchy (jointly bred by his father Ces and long-time friend Jack Reedy) who won eight races including a number of Group races, and Mapua Magic, who won the Sapling Stakes in 2009 and who went on to a successful career in Australia. In partnership with his wife Vivienne they later bred and owned a number of horses trained by Jamie Gameson. 

Previous series have been named after other stalwarts of harness racing in the top half of the South Island - Bob Rochford in 2024-25 and Trevor Craddock last year.

To see the field for the opening race in the series at Kaikoura on Monday click here