Jonny Turner

All Stars pacer Spankem's return from obscurity to win the Miracle Mile paved the way to the horse of the year crown at the New Zealand Harness Racing Awards in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Forbury Park trainer Darryn Simpson notched his first win at Alexandra Park when Havehorsewilltravel launched a sustained finish to win over a mile on Friday night.

Spankem’s return from obscurity to win the Miracle Mile saw him crowned horse of the year at the New Zealand Harness Racing Awards in Christchurch tonight. 

A wild week of weather was not enough to stop Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy's team from notching wins at Gore yesterday.

Oamaru trotter Monty Python (right) and rival Destiny Jones (centre) will go head-to-head in tomorrow’s Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.

The lead-up to New Zealand Cup has been robbed of one of its biggest talking points following the withdrawal of Southland sensation U May Cullect.

Southland surprise package Ringbolt will attempt a hat-trick of wins in today's open 1800m event at Gore.

Racing reporter Jonny Turner previews the biggest races of the weekend with a southern flavour. 

Tapanui trainer Matt Saunders has not left room for many excuses if his pacers, Rah De Rah and Sadhana, do not perform at Winton today.

Miracle Mile winner Spankem confirmed his New Zealand Cup favouritism when equalling the Oamaru track record during his win of the Hannon Memorial yesterday.

Classy squaregaiter Oscar Bonavena made his homecoming a one-act affair when effortlessly winning yesterday's feature trot at Oamaru.

Riccarton filly Miss Federer was crowned South Island 2yr-old of the year less than 24 hours before she won the listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on her home track on Saturday.

Star mare Melody Belle gave herself a shot at the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown when she ran to a commanding win in the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday.

Some say the older you get, the wiser you get, but that does not appear to be the case for Hannon Memorial contender A G's White Socks.

Senior South Island jockey Samantha Wynne will make her second comeback of the year at Riccarton today.

Although the Windsor Park Plate looks the perfect race for star mare Melody Belle, trainer Jamie Richards is taking nothing for granted before her quest for an eighth group 1 victory.

Friendship has been the bond that has allowed the Setarip Syndicate to notch 50 years of racing horses in Southland.

Who is off to Bloom this year?

Racing Industry Transition Authority (Rita) boss John Allen has resigned as the slow transformation of the New Zealand racing industry continues.

North Taieri trainer Steven Prince wound back the clock when riding four winners at yesterday's Wingatui jumpouts.