The 2014/15 season was the 125th year that official records of harness racing meetings have been maintained in NZ.
The original Turf Registers commenced with the 1890/91 edition (until 1922/3), becoming the Trotting Registers in 1923/4 – 1972/3 and Trotting Year Books 1973/4 – 2007/8. Printed publication ceased with the 2007/8 year book with all relevant information now included on HRNZ’s comprehensive website. The computerisation of records since 1985/86 (now back to 1976/77 season) and the Infohorse search facility ensures a comprehensive history of NZ harness racing is available.
Earlier records do exist with the first New Zealand Turf Register (1875/76 season); second edition (1880/81) includes results from the Wanganui trotting meetings of 19 January and 24 June 1881; New Zealand Turf Record (1883/84, 1884/85 and 1886/87).
What follows is a breakdown of major statistical records for the 2014/15 NZ season (1 August 2014 – 31 July 2015) excluding age group by gait winners and other categories that will be advised after 2014/15 NZ Harness Racing Awards are held on Saturday 8 August 2015.
Personnel Stats :
Drivers –
2015 World Champion Driver Dexter Dunn led the way for the eighth consecutive year with his fourth double century of victories to go with two seasons where he was stranded on 199 wins. His 216 wins was just short of his record 220 wins set in the 2010/2011 season. Breaking a century of wins for the second successive year was Blair Orange (113) who also brought up 1,000 lifetime wins during the season (also achieved this season by Clark Barron and Todd Mitchell). Ricky May maintained his ultra-consistent driving history with 96 wins (top six or better position for past 27 seasons, over 2,500 NZ wins). A unique occurrence saw two sets of brothers round out the top six, all of whom were South Island based – John Dunn (85) joined brother Dexter finishing fourth overall while Willamson brothers Matthew (83), also brought up 500th career winning drive towards seasons end) and Nathan (75) finished fifth and sixth. Tony Herlihy was leading northern driver (66) in a tight finish with father and son combo of David (63) and Zac (62) Butcher.
In the junior ranks, a particularly close fought battle eventuated between New Zealand and Australasian Young Drivers Champion Robbie Close (in winning third NZ Young Drivers Championship heat brought up his 100th career driving success), Canterbury’s Stevie Golding and Southlander Craig Ferguson. Golding had it all sown up until the final night of the season when Close achieved two victories to draw kevel on 42 victories (Ferguson finished with 36 wins).
The Amateur Drivers Championship winner for the third time was Gavin Cook (2007, 2014, 2015 and World Champion in 2008). He will be the NZ representative at 2016 Worlds being staged in Hungary. However there was a three way tie for amateur drivers with most seasonal wins, each recording five wins were John Kriechbaumer, Daniel Reardon and Richard Sissons.
Leading Driver : DEXTER DUNN, 216 wins (1,001 starts), $2,112,468, UDR .3388, lifetime 1,565 NZ wins
Leading Junior Drivers : ROBBIE CLOSE, 42 wins (372 starts), $288,846, UDR .1888; STEVIE GOLDING, 42 wins (417 starts), $335,473, UDR .1852
Leading Amateur Drivers : JOHN KRIECHBAUMER, DANIEL REARDON, RICHARD SISSONS – all five wins
Trainers –
Whilst the Mark Purdon, Natalie Rasmussen juggernaut had the trainers premiership sown up well before seasons end, impressive tallies were registered by Robert Dunn (operating two stables – Pukekohe, Woodend Beach) recording 100 plus victories (104) for the second year running and bringing up 1,000 lifetime training wins during this latest season (feat also achieved by Cran Dalgety). Greg and Nina Hope finished in the top three for the first time with 71 winners trained (many driven by Ricky May – 39). Leading northern trainer was Tony Herlihy with 67 successes, fifth overall.
Leading Trainers : MARK PURDON & NATALIE RASMUSSEN, 129 wins (432 starts), $4,271,315, UDR .4496, lifetime NZ wins for this partnership in only two seasons – 286
Record Breaking Stats :
In common with recent seasons, another round of sensational record breaking time performances were registered during 2014/15. Trotters breaking 1:55 for a mile, 2 year pacers recording 1:53, three year old filly pacer in 1:51 and older pacers running around in better than 1:52. That’s without even considering some of the terrific slightly longer sprint and staying journeys.
The seasons NZ records were :
Pacers –
2 Year Olds :
1 mile mobile Dream About Me (filly) 1:53.3
1700m mobile Dream About Me (filly) 2:01.4
3 Year Olds :
1 mile mobile The Orange Agent (filly) 1:51.1, also NZ overall female record
1950m mobile Have Faith In Me 2:17.3 (colt or gelding, all-comers record)
1950m mobile The Orange Agent (filly) 2:18.2
2200m mobile Have Faith In Me 2:37.6 (colt or gelding)
2600m mobile Have Faith In Me (colt or gelding) 3:09.2
2700m stand Tas Man Bromac 3:22.0 (colt or gelding)
2700m mobile The Orange Agent (filly) 3:18.8
4 Year Old & Older :
1 mile mobile Adore Me 1:51.6 (mare)
1700m mobile Mossdale Connor 1:58.1 (entire or gelding)
1950m mobile Pemberton Shard 2:19.7 (mare)
2200m mobile Dalton Bromac 2:36.1 (entire or gelding)
2200m mobile Adore Me 2:38.3 (mare)
2600m stand Christen Me 3:11.5 (entire or gelding)
2600m mobile Messini 3:07.2 (entire or gelding)
2700m stand Isaiah 3:20.1 (entire or gelding)
2700m mobile Christen Me 3:13.8 (entire or gelding)
2700m mobile Venus Serena 3:18.7 (mare)
3200m stand Adore Me 3:54.6 (mare/all-comers)
Australasian Records :
1 mile mobile Adore Me 1:47.7 (all-comers record)
1 mile mobile The Orange Agent 1:51.1 (3yo filly)
Trotters –
2 Year Olds :
1700m mobile High Gait T2:07.5 (filly)
3 Year Olds :
1 mile mobile Sunny Ruby T1:54.7 (filly), also NZ overall female record
1700m mobile BD Love T2:09.0 (colt or gelding)
1950m mobile Monbet T2:23.9 (colt or gelding)
2200m stand Rock Tonight T2:50.3 (colt or gelding)
2200m stand Charming Lavra T2:49.1 (filly)
2400m stand Sky Commander T3:04.2 (colt or gelding)
2400 stand Harriet of Mot T3:04.6 (filly)
2400m mobile Jen Jaccka T3:04.0
2600m stand Prince Fearless T3:19.3 (colt or gelding)
2600m stand Sunny Ruby T3:19.6 (filly)
2600m mobile Speeding Spur T3:15.7 (colt or gelding)
2700m stand Petite One T3:29.5 (filly)
4 Year Old & Older :
1 mile mobile Stent T1:54.5 entire or gelding), equals NZ Record
1950m mobile Hot Pants T2:25.0 (mare)
2200m stand Dr Hook T2:46.4 (entire or gelding)
2200m mobile Sheemon T2:42.4 (entire or gelding)
2400m stand Sheemon T3:00.6 (entire or gelding)
2600m stand Kincaslough/Habibti T3:16.7 (mare)
Australasian Records –
1 mile mobile Sunny Ruby T1:54.7 (3yo filly and overall female record)
Leading Sires/Broodmare Sires/Stake Earning Pacer and Trotter :
Bettors Delight was yet again crowned leading sire for the fourth consecutive season. He took out many individual siring titles – overall, overall Pacing sire, two and three year leading sire etc proving what a dominant broodmare siring force he will also be in years to come.
Equally, recently deceased trotting stallion Sundon again captured top trotting stallion for the fifteenth time – overall, leading aged sire and leading broodmare trotting sire overall and age group categories
Sires –
Overall Combined Gaits – Stakes : BETTORS DELIGHT ($6,007,862)
Overall Combined Gaits – Winners : BETTORS DELIGHT (174 winners)
Pacers : Stakes/winners : BETTORS DELIGHT ($5,978,040, 172 winners)
Trotters : Stakes/winners : SUNDON ($1,283,171, 72 winners)
2yo Stakes : BETTORS DELIGHT ($1,103,373)
2yo Winners : BETTORS DELIGHT (20 winners)
2yo Trotters : Stakes/winners : MUSCLES YANKEE ($70,393), MUSCLES YANKEE, SUNDON, PEGASUS SPUR, GREAT SUCCESS (all 2 winners)
3yo Stakes : BETTORS DELIGHT ($2,316,645)
3yo Winners : BETTORS DELIGHT (77 winners)
3y Trotters : Stakes/winners : LOVE YOU ($263,847, 10 winners)
4yo Pacers : Stakes/winners : MACH THREE ($832,733, 44 winners)
4yo Trotters : Stakes/winners : MAJESTIC SON ($436,929, 17 winners)
5yo & older Pacers : Stakes/winners : BETTORS DELIGHT ($1,764,111, 49 winners)
5yo & older Trotters : Stakes/winners : SUNDON ($867,236, 50 winners)
Leading Broodmare Sires –
Stakes : SUNDON ($2,733,244)
Winners : HOLMES HANOVER (137 winners)
All 2yo Stakes/winners : CHRISTIAN CULLEN ($640,937, 13 winners)
All 3yo Stakes/winners : IN THE POCKET ($847,703, HOLMES HANOVER 37 winners)
All 4yo Stakes/winners : HOLMES HANOVER ($799,985, 49 winners)
All 5yo & older Stakes/winners : SUNDON ($1,608,512, 54 winners)
All Trotters Stakes/winners : SUNDON ($2,732,232, 108 winners)
Leading Stake Earners –
Pacer : ADORE ME ($598,232 NZ earnings only)
Trotter : STENT ($296,956 NZ earnings only)
Peter Craig
1 August 2015
Mark Purdon (2 Missandei) and Natalie Rasmussen (High Gait) quinella Jewels 2yo Jewels Ruby Trot
Bettors Delight
Sundon
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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