Secrets, Lies and Invasions of Castles
What you see above is the lawyers for the New Zealand Racing Integrity Board’s response to trot owner Tim Vince and his non- harness racing participant neighbour’s complaint about officials of the RIB trespassing upon their properties to conduct surveillance operations for reason unknown. The RIB declare that integrity chief and former copper Neil Grimstone […]
Letter From a Reader
Hi Peter I enjoy your stories, but your story on Phil Williamson is completely false in my opinion. Phil is the cleanest trainer we have in New Zealand without a doubt- even a big anti cheat name in NZ has his horses with Phil. I could be wrong of course but I wouldn’t back him […]
The Einstein Approach to Harness Racing
Veteran Southland trainer Phil Williamson has been having the best season of his life strike rate wise. Many have wondered how and why. Everyone wonders why healthy young seeming superstars suddenly drop dead in their emerging prime. Perhaps Einstein was right the whole time. E = MC 2.
Meet Phil ‘Sticks’ Holden, The New Boss of the NZ Trots – He Has to Back a Winner One Day Doesn’t He? – If Not Then God Help Us All (First Published June 2023)
Phil Holden was born ad raised in Invercargill, a cold rugged town in the deep south island of New Zealand, where the early settlers were whalers and Scottish immigrants, and people to this day still roll their R’s. Holden completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing at the well-respected University of Otago in the mid […]
Once Were Warriors – Now The North Island are Nil
Auckland harness racing’s woes continue with just 63 horses slated to start tonight at the metropolitan meeting at Alexandra Park, on a card where only 5 of the 8 races boast a field of eight or more runners. Two of the races have miserable fields of just 6 starters, with another having only 7 horses […]
Now That the Incas are Dead, the Conquistadors Arise
The INCA affair in New Zealand has been a long running saga that has claimed plenty of victims. A supposed police investigation into alleged corruption, race-fixing and recreational drug use in the harness racing industry that commenced in 2018 on the flimsiest of grounds and saw numerous licensees charged with various race rule and even […]
Have You Ever Seen a Bigger Win in Your Life?
Four weeks ago we told you we’d seen the best 2YO pacer on either side of the ditch in an obscure race at Winton. Dreams Are Free is it’s name. This was the story below. Want to See a Real Good 2-Year-Old? – Here It Is Well last Sunday at Winton Dreams Are Free raced […]
A Most Unhappy Big Spender
New Zealand’s biggest trot owner Steve Stockman of Stonewall Stud (pictured at top) is rumoured to be more than somewhat upset about the ‘he’s grown a leg’ performance of Cya Art to run a close 2nd to the champion Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Group 3 Junior FFA on Cup Day at Addington. Stockman – […]
NZ Cup Day Overview and Tips
Race 1 – Saunders Brown Handicap Trot 3200m The favourite Masterly is a quality square gaiter but he has a terrible habit of trotting roughly over the final stages, which has cost him victory in a lot of races that he looked like winning, his last start defeat at Addington at the hands of Eurostyle […]