Levels trotter Muscle Pat went from near-retirement to the winner's circle to provide trainer Donna Williamson with a career highlight at Forbury Park last night.
The Melbourne Cup is coming back to Wingatui nearly 40 years after Baghdad Note ploughed through a rain-soaked Flemington track to send cheers ringing out across the Taieri plain.
Tussling with some of the South Island's top pacing talent has defending champion Four Starzzz Shiraz battle-hardened ahead of tonight's first heat of the Forbury Park Claimers' Series.
The withdrawal of several of his rivals has made tomorrow's Waimate Cup a less than daunting race for Canterbury galloper Showpin as he stretches out in distance.
The Harness Jewels at Addington were a family affair when brothers Mark and Barry Purdon and their brother in-law Tony Herlihy combined won eight of Saturday's nine group 1 races.
Trainer Robert Dunn delivered terrible news for the connections of Australasia's best trotters after Sundees Sun bolted in in the 4yr-old Ruby at the Harness Jewels.
Nomadic reinsman Rory McIlwrick showed he had not lost his winning touch after taking a break from harness racing with his victory with Emma Frost at Forbury Park last night.
New Zealand Racing Board chief executive John Allen told a public meeting at Wingatui last night his organisation was recovering from the poor start its $40.8million website made.