Pitman was within three wins of the record set last season by Mark Walker. Pitman led the premiership with 86 wins in 2007-08.
The apprentice James McDonald was the leading rider with a record 209 wins.
Thorn Park, the sire of Jimmy Choux, was the leading sire.
Centaine was the top broodmare sire.
John Bary, the trainer of Jimmy Choux, was the leading newcomer to training and Kevin Myers the leading jumps trainer.
• Mark Marris said that spending the past fortnight with the stable of Kevin Myers had paid off when he rode his first winner yesterday at Oamaru.
The 18-year-old Englishman won the maiden hurdles on Hop Honor, who led throughout.
"I was a lot more confident today. I have schooled heaps of horses since I have been with Kevin," Marris said.
"I have been staying with Jo Rathbone and she has also been helpful with advice."
Marris, who has had 40 rides on the flat and over jumps in England, came to New Zealand two months ago for the winter and linked with Paul Richards at Wingatui.
"The Richards family and others have been very good to me," Marris said.
He will return to England after the Grand National meeting.
Hop Honor was having her first South Island start over hurdles. She was leased two months ago by Tuahiwi trainer Paul Harris and Craig Hand, of Gore.
She had been trained at Patumahoe, by Rudy Liefting, who recommended her to Harris.
Andy Webb rode a steeplechase winner yesterday at his first attempt. It was a chance mount on Guananjuato.
He had made the trip from Cambridge to ride Kakapuka in the maiden hurdles. Kakapuka finished fourth. Webb replaced Daniel Oakden on Guananjuato who led for most of the way in the maiden steeplechase. Oakden did not attend the meeting due to illness.
Guananjuato was a maiden hurdles winner at Oamaru last month.
Webb plans a shift to Wingatui this spring. He can ride at 54kg.
"I had only ridden in two hurdles races and schooled over a couple of steeples fences before today," he said.
Ross Doherty broke his collar bone in a fall from Renegade in the hurdles, sidelining him for six to eight weeks.
Lisa Whelan bruised her tailbone in a fall from Rouge Royale prior to race 6. She did not complete her remaining engagements.
• Mark Purdon has topped the New Zealand harness racing premiership for the seventh time. Purdon and co-trainer Grant Payne have succeeded for the fourth successive season with 104 wins. Purdon has led the premiership in a sole capacity on three occasions. Dexter Dunn , the junior reinsman, was the leading driver for the fourth successive season. He ended the season with a record 220 wins. David Butcher was next on the list with 142 wins.
Christian Cullen is the leading sire for the fifth season, the last four in succession.
