News

The Auckland session of the 2026 National Standardbred Yearling Sale saw 133 lots go under the hammer at the Karaka Sales Centre on Monday.   Following a record Sale in 2025, the aggregate...

An exciting win by Debbie Lincoln (NZ) saw young sire Lather Up get his first Group One winner ahead of the 2026 National Yearling Sale. Bred by Woodlands Stud, Debbie Lincoln is out of winning...

Studholme Bloodstock has been a staple of the New Zealand Standardbred sale scene for more than 50 years, but there has been a changing of the guard at the Coes Ford farm over the last few...

Laura Smith will head to Canterbury Agricultural Park next week with a strong hand to retain her leading vendor crown at the Christchurch session of NZB Standardbred’s National Yearling...

The 2026 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale is just around the corner with the cream of New Zealand's yearling crop on offer, including some of the Northern Hemisphere’s best trotting...

With NZB Standardbred Group One alumni featuring the likes of current racing stars Arafura (NZ), Marketplace (NZ) and Republican Party (NZ) to name a hot few, buyers will be keen to...

Southern breeders are hopeful their wave of success at the New Zealand Harness Racing Awards can continue at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales. Both horses and horsepeople from...

- By Michael Guerin, HRNZ It's a fortnight until the first of the 2026 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale will be held, at Karaka (February 16), and today we highlight Woodlands Stud's...

NZB Standardbred graduate Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) was recognised for his outstanding season when crowned 2025 NZB Standardbred Horse of the Year at the Harness Racing New...

Pacing-bred squaregaiter Rakero Blaze (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) returned to winning form last Saturday when taking out the Listed Club Menangle Bay Johnny Trotters Handicap (2300m) at...

Rakero Rocket (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven) has gone from strength-to-strength since arriving in Australia last month, and he continued his upward trajectory when winning the Listed Club Menangle PJ...

She may be only twenty-four, but Jamie Bartlett has made a strong impression on the standardbred industry and is now presenting her first draft of yearlings at the upcoming NZB Standardbred...

Hillbilly Blues (NZ) (What The Hill) continued his meteoric rise at Cambridge Raceway last Friday when winning the Group Three Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes (2200m). The victory came just over...

Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) bounced back to winning form at Cambridge Raceway last Friday when victorious in the Group Three Cambridge Pacers Flying Stakes (2200m).
The Barry Purdon and Scott...

Leeston pacer Pinseeker (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) got his season off to the perfect start at Omakau on Friday when winning the Group Three Ranfurly Transport LTD Central Otago Cup (2000m). “They...

Consistent square-gaiter Hillbilly Blues (NZ) (What The Hill) made his first tilt at stakes level a winning one when taking out the Group One Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot (2700m) at...

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) ended his outstanding season on a high at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve when defending his crown in the Group One Auckland Trotting Cup (3200m).
It...

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Greased Lightnin (NZ) (Vincent) was able to end his year on a high when taking out the Listed Majestic Horse Floats Mobile Pace (1700m) at the inaugural...

Christmas came early for Kentuckiana Lodge last Friday when their star pacer Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) won his second consecutive Group One Invercargill Cup (2700m). The Cran and...

Southland raider Mor Moonlight (NZ) (One Over Da Moon) made her trip north to Ashburton count on Sunday when taking out the Listed Mainland Repairs Mobile Trot (1700m). The three-year-old filly...

Nigel Fahy is well known for his dedication to standardbreds and can now found as Farm Manager at the renowned Breckon Farms. We caught up to learn more about the emerging industry leader, while...

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) continued his golden run of form for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety at Addington Raceway last Friday when taking out the Group Three Summer Cup...

Group One redemption looms for Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) following his pleasing victory in the Group Two Franklin Cup (2700m) at Alexandra Park last Friday night, where he showcased his superb...

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) ticked off a major career milestone at Alexandra Park last Friday night when breaking through for her maiden elite-level...

Inland Revenue has released updated guidance confirming how new investors can qualify for tax deductions when purchasing high-priced standardbred yearlings at the 2026 National Standardbred...

Exciting juvenile Showmethetanlines (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) continued his upward trajectory at Menangle last Saturday when winning the Listed Rod And Fran Fitzpatrick Tatlow Stakes (1609m).
The...

New Zealand-bred mare Kiss (NZ) (Always B Miki) continued her dominance in Australia last Saturday when taking out the Group Two Vicbred Super Series (4YO Mares) Final (2240m) at Melton in the...

Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Got The Chocolates (NZ) (Art Major) have built one of the most exciting rivalries in harness racing, and they took it to another level at Addington...

Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen won many Group Ones when training in partnership, and the pair reunited at Addington Raceway last Friday to add another elite-level victory to their tally.
Cullen,...

A strong 320-lot catalogue has been assembled for NZB Standardbred’s 2026 National Yearling Sale held at Karaka and Canterbury Agricultural Park next summer.  With 133 yearlings set to go...

Mister Smartee (NZ) (Always B Miki) led home a New Zealand-bred first four when taking out the Group Two James Brennan Memorial (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night. In another dominant...

A burgeoning rivalry is developing between NZB Standardbred graduates Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Got The Chocolates (NZ)(Art Major), giving an injection of excitement to the New...

Kyvalley Ray (NZ) (Bold Eagle)continued his upward trajectory when sealing his first elite-level victory at Addington Raceway last Friday when taking out the Group One Sires’ Stakes Series 2YO...

Celestial Sea (NZ) (Always B Miki) has put herself firmly into Group One New Zealand Pacing Oaks (2600m) calculations later this month following her maiden elite-level victory at Addington Raceway...

Franco Sinatra (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) was pitch perfect at Addington Raceway on Tuesday when taking out the Group Two Junior Free-For-All (2600m).  He began well off his front-row draw and...

Gun juvenile Jumal (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) dominated discussions ahead of the Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes 2YO C&G Final (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, but his flag was...

Penny Black (NZ) (Sweet Lou) continued her purple patch of form in Western Australia when taking out the Group Two Norms Daughter Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The...

NZB Standardbred graduates will lead the charge in trying to defend the Australian invasion at Addington Raceway on New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.
The green and gold representatives of Leap To Fame...

The Lazarus Effect (NZ) (Lazarus) continues to go from strength-to-strength, with the four-year-old gelding breaking through for his first stakes victory in the Listed NZB Standardbred Yearling...

Multiple Group One winner Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) has put himself firmly back into Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) calculations after winning the 100th edition of the Group Two Kaikoura...

The $500,000 Listed Majestic Horsefloats ‘The Ascent’ 3YO Trotters Slot Race (1980m) is looming for Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) following her victory in the Gr.3 Neumanns Tyres Vipal...

The Australian raiders are coming and Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) looks to be New Zealand’s best defence heading into the Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) at Addington...

Betterthancash (NZ) (Art Major) continued his resurgence when making it back-to-back wins in the Listed St Johns Park Bowling Club Les Chant FFA (1609m) at Menangle last Saturday. “This horse...

Bettor Fortune (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) continued his golden run in Australia’s golden state when breaking through for his maiden stakes victory in last Friday’s Group Three 3YO Western...

Penny Black (NZ) (Sweet Lou) continues to go from strength-to-strength in Western Australia, adding another victory to her tally when winning last Friday’s Group Three Westinghouse - The...

Northern raider Greased Lightnin (NZ) (Vincent) made his southern trip worthwhile at Addington Raceway last Friday when securing his first stakes victory in the Listed Sires’ Stakes Sophomore...

Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety are hoping it will be a case of third time’s a charm with Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m)...

Group One performer Princess Sadie (NZ) (Muscle Mass) has been knocking on the door of a stakes victory for some time and last week she achieved that feat when taking out the Group Three The Dark...

Betterthancash (NZ) (Art Major) caused a major upset in the Listed Kevin Robinson FFA (1609m) at Menangle last Saturday when downing hot favourite and fellow Kiwi-bred Hi Manameisjeff (NZ) (Art...

Got The Chocolates (NZ) (Art Major) did just that at Addington Raceway last Friday night when winning the Group One Dakins Group 3YO Flying Stakes (1980m). The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained...