CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

LOCAL HISTORY

COVID-19 continues in New Zealand: after the confirmation of multiple community cases of the Omicron variant the country moved to red setting early in the year. Protests against lockdown in Wellington started outside Parliament in early February developing into an "occupation", which lasted until 2 March when police moved in. The New Zealand border fully reopened to all travellers at the end of July while the COVID 19 Protection Framework ended 12 September resulting in the removal of most pandemic-related restrictions

West Coast region received a record breaking amount of rainfall in early February with evacuations necessary in low lying areas of Westport

Matariki observed as an official public holiday in June for the first time

Severe weather hit the Nelson and Tasman regions in mid-August causing record flooding and numerous slips. The heavy rain lasted for four days causing extensive damage to Nelson City and surrounding areas. Areas of the West Coast and Marlborough also hit causing extensive flooding and damage with the severe weather impacting Taranaki in the following days.

Charles III is proclaimed King of New Zealand on the steps of Parliament House, Wellington on 11 September

The 2022 local body elections are held in October


Credit: HOF

HORSES

Akuta treated harness racing fans to the ultimate display of power and brute strength when brilliantly winning the Group One New Zealand Derby on Grand Prix Day at Addington.

Settling many lengths off a hot tempo mattered little to the brilliant three-year-old who put away a brave Republican Party in an epic running of the three-year-old colts and geldings classic.

Akuta’s backers faced the sight of the New Zealand Cup fourth placegetter settling many lengths off a hot early pace set up by an early lead battle between Beach Ball and Republican Party.

While it might not have been what favourite punters were hoping to see, Mark Purdon wasn’t concerned that he had the entire field in front of him.

But there also wasn’t much he could do about it.
“The speed was on so we were flat keeping up, but once Blair found the front they came back to us,” Purdon said.
“Once Johnny Dunn came out and the three wide line got going we were able to get around them.”

After tracking the three-wide line, Akuta found the parked position and from there he delivered a crushing blow.

“It was a real staying event and he is just in super form.”

Akuta’s win was the middle leg of an incredible Group One treble for owner Ian Dobson who shares in the ownership of brilliant winners Muscle Mountain and Don’t Stop Dreaming.

Akuta will now head to the spelling paddock for a short break with North Island feature races like the Taylor Mile, the NZ Messenger Championship and The Race in mind.
And he will do so having already proven himself against New Zealand’s best open class pacers.

“I will give him a bit of a break now, he has had a big campaign and he deserves it,” Purdon said.

“He won’t be out for too long, we will want to have him ready for the feature races in Auckland coming up.”
Akuta went agonisingly close to clinching a national record on a record-smashing day, with his 3.05.6 time just 0.2sec outside the all-comers record for 2600m.

Republican Party was six and a half lengths behind Akuta after setting up much of that sizzling pace.

Sand Wave ran a very brave third behind the first two after he was posted three wide from the 800m after Akuta found the parked position.




Credit: By Jonny Turner

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

COVID continues with lockdowns under alert levels and later traffic lights system nationwide. Some disruption to local racing due to COVID protocols. Vaccine of majority of population completed to approximately 90% double jabbed level by end of year – boosters commenced

Countdown terror attacks in Dunedin (April) and Lynmall, Auckland (September)

State of emergency announced in Ashburton, Selwyn and Timaru districts in May as torrential rain hit the Canterbury region, one in hundred year floods


Credit: Peter Craig

Level 4 COVID 19 lockdown in place throughout NZ commencing 26 March 2020.Level 1 reached from 11.59pm Monday 8 June 2020.

All racing in NZ ceased indefinitely as at 24 March 2020 (last meeting held at Addington on 20 March. Racing recommenced at Addington on Thusday without crowd attedance. Spectators permitted from meeting of Friday 12 June 2020.

Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party elected for second term in government - mid October 2020

Credit: Peter Craig

February/March – Wildfires in Nelson cause thousands to evacuate their homes

15 March - Fifty people are killed and 49 wounded when a far-right gunman attacks worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch

1 June – Harness Jewels held at Addington Raceway for first time

22 October – The Skycity Convention Centre catches fire while still under construction, causing significant disruption in the Auckland CBD.

9 December – eruption of the active volcano White Island (Whakaari), killing 21 persons at the scene or subsequently of burns of internal injuries


Credit: Peter Craig

The 2018 New Zealand census is held

Credit: Peter Craig

PEOPLE

Longtime Ashburton horseman Alex Hastie died in his hometown on Monday, aged 71.

Hastie was perhaps best known for naming his horses with the surnames of famous New Zealand sports people.

The supremely-talented Loader was one of the best of them, winning four of his seven career starts in 1999 before going amiss after injuring himself at Forbury Park in 2000.

He reared up at the start and injured an ankle, never to race again.

Timu (6 wins), Moller (4) and Anton Oliver (4) were all good winners while Davu, McCaw, Devoy, Amon, Van Dyk, Chisnall, Tuuta, Mains and Corlett were other examples of his penchant for Kiwi sporting surnames.

Loader’s older half-brother, Anton Oliver, was a horse Hastie regarded as the best he trained, but a number of leg injuries saw him only race for two seasons here – as a six-year-old and eight-year-old.

He won four races from 20 starts before Hastie, wife Pam and longtime friend and client Bill Eade sent the horse to Perth to race in 2015.

Eade was one a number of close associations Hastie forged with breeders, owners and fellow horsemen in a training career that started in 1980.

One of those was with Waikouaiti trainer Denis O’Connell, with whom he exchanged many horses over a long period.

“Alex was a very good man,” noted O’Connell.

“He passed me on some nice horses, including Terranium and Francis Dalrae.

“He had got Francis Dalrae from Don Cuttance as a pacer (in 1985) and then sent him to me, recommending I race him as a trotter.”

Hastie then drove horse to four of his nine career wins from O’Connell’s stable, offering advice along the way.

“Francis Dalrae’s win with Alex driving on Cup Day in 1988 was magnificent.

“Alex was a wonderful blacksmith and had a terrific knowledge about balancing up a horse.

“He used various weights to get them balanced.

“There’s a real art to it – it’s too technical for me – but he mastered it and was able to get the best possible results out of horses because of it.”

After initially spending six years as a jockey in the mid-1960s (five winners in the 1963/64 season his best), Hastie entered the harness game as a trainer in mid-1980.

His first was Taieri Lord at Ascot Park in December of that year and 57 more were to follow, the last of them being Tuuta at Oamaru in March 2015.

Alexander David Hastie was married to Pam for 51 years and together they had two sons, Rikke and Kelven, as well as eight grandchildren.

He was farewelled at the Ashburton Racecourse on Friday, May 4.

Credit: NZ Harness News, 4 May 2018

PEOPLE

Former trainer Tom Harrison, father of prolific American-based horseman Kelvin, died in Ashburton on Monday, April 30, aged 96.

Harrison retired from training in 1998 after approximately 30 years with a license.

His first winner, Local View, came at Westport on Boxing Day 1972 and the last of his 48 career successes came with Faye’s Image on June 1, 1996.

Before taking out a trainer’s license, Harrison met with some success as an owner in the stables of Derek Jones MNZM, Jack Grant and Pat O’Reilly Snr.

As a trainer, his best horse was the Out To Win gelding In To View, who won eight races in 10 months in 1978 and 1979.

Thomas Drayton Harrison was married for 66 years to his late wife Kath and together they had four children; Graeme, Kelvin, Katrina and Lorayne as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren throughout New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

His funeral was held on Friday, May 4, in Methven.










Credit: NZ Harness News, 4 May 2018

PEOPLE


The harness racing breeding industry has lost one of its giants with the shock passing of Bob McArdle.

The 76-year-old who imported so many top stallions to New Zealand through his days at Nevele R Stud died in his sleep on Wednesday night.

He is survived by his wife Denise and children Lisa and Baeden.

Few people have every contributed as much to, or for that matter accrued as much information about the Australasian breeding industry, as McArdle.

Not only was he a breeder, owner and agent but with the late Wayne Francis set up Nevele R, the stud whose footprint on the industry worldwide is enormous.

Not only did they breed hundreds of winners of thousands of races but Francis and McArdle brought the likes of Falcon Seelster, Holmes Hanover and earlier Timely Knight and El Patron to New Zealand to mention just a few. Later, through his breeding and selling business Bromac Lodge, McArdle had a huge presence at the yearling sales, with 12 from that property to be sold at the Christchurch sales in a few week and three at Karaka.

“Bob’s impact on the industry here is impossible to overstate,” says PGG Wrightson’s Peter Lagan. “What he and Wayne did at Nevele R will be felt across the industry for decades to come.

“And his knowledge of breeding in this part of the world might be the most detailed of anybody I have ever met.

“When you think of all the horses he bred, sold and was agent for he has put a lot of money in a lot of people’s hands over a very long period of time.

“He was a very smart businessman and knew what he wanted but no matter how frank a discussion or even disagreement you had with Bob, he would get over it and get down to business

“The New Zealand industry owes him a lot.”

Bob’s best horse he actually owned was probably Howard Bromac, who won an Auckland Cup and was placed in a New Zealand and Hunter Cup when trained by Kirk Larsen.

“He was maybe the best we had but Bob owned a hell of a lot of good horses,” says Larsen. “We probably trained for him for over 30 years. He would breed horses and then we would train them, sell plenty but keep some.

“Bob had great knowledge and was a businessman first when it came to the horses but he loved the good families and was very loyal to them.”

Credit: Michael Guerin writing on NZ Harness News/Harnesslink Media - January 2018

PEOPLE

Colin Steele sadly passed away on Saturday 19 May.

Steele was a dedicated member of the Addington Racing Department team for 23 years.

His work family, who affectionately referred to him as “Colli”, said “He was such a caring person who gave so much of his time to support others.”

“Over the 23 years he worked with us, he found a place in all of our hearts. Colli's smile, facial expressions and sense of humour were infectious. We are going to miss you Colli (and your chocolate fish bucket). You were such a dear treasured friend who will live on in our memories forever.”

Steele’s funeral will be held at the Christian Cullen Lounge, Addington Raceway on Tuesday 22 May at 2pm.

The Harness Racing New Zealand team that worked with Steele during his time in the industry would also like to pass on our sincere condolences.

Credit: NZ Harness News, 19 May 2018