#South Island

The 2023 harness racing season might still be in its infancy, but Prebbleton horseman John McDermott and his bonny mare Supreme Gem (Christian Cullen) have made every post a winning one thus far. In the span of eight days, three daughters of Supreme Gem have chalked up race wins at South Island meetings, giving McDermott and his wife Christine…

Why do we keep destroying our harness racing Industry in New Zealand by allowing ridiculous standing starts, especially in maiden trot fields? What century are we in? Who is our handicapper? This is the 21st Century and we are supposed to put on an exciting, modern and fair race for all to enjoy. The handicapper has a lot to answer for - lacking…

Good Morning Bloodstock is Martin Stevens' daily morning email and presented here online as a sample. Here he ruminates on a once familiar part of jumps racing in Britain and Ireland that is now almost extinct - subscribers can get more great insight from Martin every Monday to Friday. All you need do is click on the link above, sign up and then…

It's crunch time in the Bunnings NPC with just four teams remaining to challenge for the title of 2022 champions. The first semifinal pits traditional rivals Wellington and Auckland against each other at Sky Stadium on Friday night. The action moves to the South Island on Saturday with Canterbury hosting the Bay of Plenty Steamers at Orangetheory…

Good gates and luck in running have proved vital the recent midweeks at Ipswich and I am expecting much of the same again. The tight track favours front-runners and on a good surface with the rail out between six and eight metres, I want to be on those that can take luck out of the equation.

Friday nights feature at Addington Raceway will see a handy bunch of eight three-year-old's greeting starter Ricky Donnelly and the IRT mobile barrier for the eighth running of the Sires Stakes Harness 7000. The $40000 Listed event over the 1980m is a unique concept in that it presents the runners and their connections with an opportunity to race…