Racing: Blatch wants genuine staying test
Racing: Blatch wants genuine staying test
Ask Nikki Blatch if she is excited about having a runner in the Wellington Cup at Trentham tomorrow, and the Tapanui trainer has a refreshingly honest answer.
Matt Smith
Racing: Success tastes good all round
Racing: Success tastes good all round
The southern delicacies known as Jimmy's Pies might have an extra dash of enthusiasm in them today after Gene Time won a maiden pace at Oamaru yesterday.
Racing: Tomlinson 'stoked' to get first win as driver
Racing: Tomlinson 'stoked' to get first win as driver
Junior driver Sheree Tomlinson could not have asked for a better way to drive her first winner when she steered home Little Mo at Oamaru yesterday.
Racing: Pacer’s task a little harder this time
Racing: Pacer’s task a little harder this time
John Dunn and Cullect A Guinness are back today at the scene of the crime where they absolutely burgled the feature pace at Oamaru last month.
Racing: HRNZ sticking with standing starts
Racing: HRNZ sticking with standing starts
Standing starts will be off the menu for pacers in Victoria harness racing from September, but the traditional starting method will still be a part of the New Zealand harness racing scene for the foreseeable future.
Racing: Trip for just one race
Racing: Trip for just one race
It is the Trentham Stakes or bust - well, for this trip, anyway - for Princess Brook tomorrow.
Racing: Some summer cheer . . .
Racing: Some summer cheer . . .
Some grizzled racing fans scoff at the Santa's Pick and Summer Selection options put forward by the TAB during their Christmas At The Races and Interisland Summer Festival promotions Luckily, most trainers, jockeys and drivers get in to the spirit - particularly when it comes to the Santa hat for the Santa's Pick - and are festooned appropriately.
Racing: Safely away, New Years Jay will be hard to beat
Racing: Safely away, New Years Jay will be hard to beat
The notorious mile start point at Addington is the major obstacle for New Years Jay at Addington tonight.
Racing: Telegraph double in reach
Racing: Telegraph double in reach
Sacred Star has 2kg more to carry than last year when he won the Telegraph. But that is only one factor in the equation at Trentham tomorrow.
Cricket: Volts share the points
Cricket: Volts share the points
Duckworth and Lewis had the final say at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday, leaving Otago with neither a win nor a loss.
Racing: Track size only worry for Jen Jaccka
Racing: Track size only worry for Jen Jaccka
Jen Jaccka looks tough to bowl in the feature trot at Ascot Park this afternoon, but her trainer has a word of warning for punters.
Racing: Jumpouts field day for Andertons
Racing: Jumpouts field day for Andertons
It was the White Robe Lodge show at the Otago Racing Club's jumpouts at Wingatui yesterday.
Racing: Racing lives up to the weather
Racing: Racing lives up to the weather
The summer holidays mean one thing if you're the racing reporter at the Otago Daily Times - race meetings galore. Matt Smith went to eight race meetings in 13 days, and reports his findings from the tracks of Otago.
No mean feet
No mean feet
When you think about it, a horse's foot is a remarkable creation and those tasked with getting a horse's shoes right have plenty of pressure on their shoulders. Matt Smith talked to farrier Mark Isaacs about the intricacies of a hoof.
Racing: Syndicate’s success continues
Racing: Syndicate’s success continues
The connections of Expressive Victor are no strangers to visiting the winner's circle, but that does not make winning any less of a thrill for the De Novo Syndicate.
Racing: Leading junior out to widen the gap
Racing: Leading junior out to widen the gap
Brad Williamson heads home to Oamaru today with a firm grasp on the junior drivers' premiership.
Racing: Clive still quick
Racing: Clive still quick
A simple operation seems to have turned Clive from a rogue into a church mouse - albeit one that can pace pretty darn quickly.
Racing: Faith in filly after sound debut
Racing: Faith in filly after sound debut
Robbie Holmes will have to hang around until race 12 for his best chance at Cromwell today - but Love Ova Gold should be worth the wait.
Racing: Williamsons triumph with trotters
Racing: Williamsons triumph with trotters
It was a day for the new and old for Oamaru trotting supremo Phil Williamson at Omakau on Saturday.
Racing: Commix proves Prince correct
Racing: Commix proves Prince correct
Fully Fledged might have never won a race past 1400m during his brief but successful racing career, but the staying trips are where the future of one of his daughters will lie.