New Zealand Messenger Championship
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for 4 year old pacing
horses in New Zealand
. Run at Alexandra Park in early May, it is the most prestigious 4 year-old race in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Pacing
Pacing may refer to:* Pacing , a horse gait used in Standardbred horse races* Pacing, the even spreading out of athletes' strength in longer-distance track and field and swimming races, so that they don't burn themselves out...
horses in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Run at Alexandra Park in early May, it is the most prestigious 4 year-old race in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Other major races
- Auckland Trotting CupAuckland Trotting CupThe Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
- New Zealand Trotting CupNew Zealand Trotting CupThe New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. the prize was NZ$750,000, the largest prize for a...
- Great Northern DerbyGreat Northern DerbyThe Great Northern Derby is a harness racing event for 3 year old standardbreds. It is a major event for 3 year old colts and geldings in New Zealand. It is run at Alexandra Park in Auckland, on the same night as the Auckland Cup in early March...
- Rowe CupRowe CupThe Rowe Cup is a race held annually in May at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand for standardbred horses. Worth $300,000 and run over a distance of 3200 m, it is one of the major harness races for trotters rather than pacers.-Other major races:...
- Dominion HandicapDominion HandicapThe Dominion is a race held at the Addington Raceway each year in Christchurch, New Zealand for standardbred horses. It was worth $300,000, but in line with the economic conditions, it was cut back to $200,000 in 2010. The race is run in November over a distance of 3200 m on the Friday...
- Noel J Taylor Mile
- Inter Dominion Pacing ChampionshipInter Dominion Pacing ChampionshipThe Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rotation of the Championships is fixed...
- Inter Dominion Trotting ChampionshipInter Dominion Trotting ChampionshipThe Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final is a race for trotters within the overall Inter Dominion series. The series is held each year, and is a harness racing competition for both trotters and pacers that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand...
- Miracle MileMiracle Mile (race)The Miracle Mile is an Australian harness racing event that was held at Harold Park Racetrack each November up until 2008 when the race was switched to Menangle Park. Prizemoney has long been among that of Australia’s leading harness races and has often included bonuses for speed...
Winners list
| Year |
Month |
Horse |
Owner |
Driver |
Time |
| 2010 | May | Tintin In America | ATC Trot 2008 Syndicate | David Butcher | 3:15.8 |
| 2009 | May | Auckland Reactor Auckland Reactor Auckland Reactor is a New Zealand standardbred racehorse bred by Dr. Tony & Anne Parker. Currently a 6-year-old, he has won 25 of his 34 starts. He has been crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year in the last two seasons... |
Auckland Reactor Ltd | Mark Purdon Mark Purdon Mark Purdon is a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading trainer and one of the leading drivers of harness horses in New Zealand... |
3:18.8 |
| 2008 | May | Gotta Go Cullen | I D Dobson | Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy is a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. -Reference list:... |
3:22.9 |
| 2007 | May | Monkey King | Cavalla Bloodstock Limited | Steven Reid | 3:23.9 |
| 2006 | May | Mainland Banner | I D Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne Umar | Ricky May | 3:23.5 |
| 2005 | Apr | Mi Muchacho | R C Anderson, Ms P C Larsen | Peter Ferguson | 3:23.5 |
| 2004 | Apr | Elsu Elsu Elsu is a black New Zealand bred Standardbred pacer who won the Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion and was twice the New Zealand Horse of the Year.He was sired by Falcon Seelster out of Interchange by New York Motoring.-Racing record:... |
Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | David Butcher | 3:22.2 |
| 2003 | May | Just An Excuse | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | Todd Mitchell | 3:22.0 |
| 2002 | Apr | Young Rufus | H Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop | Mark Purdon Mark Purdon Mark Purdon is a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading trainer and one of the leading drivers of harness horses in New Zealand... |
3:21.4 |
| 2001 | Mar | Tupelo Rose | G L Banks, M J Hanover, J D Curtin | Peter Jones | 3:23.6 |
| 2000 | Mar | Pic Me Pockets | H R Bosher | Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy is a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. -Reference list:... |
3:19.8 |
| 1999 | Apr | Homin Hosed | Mrs M A Macey, B L Macey | Todd Mitchell | 3:23.1 |
| 1998 | May | OK Royal | J W Smolenski, M J Ward | Jack Smolenski | 3:20.6 |
| 1997 | Apr | Agua Caliente | D S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M Short | Glen Wolfenden | 3:24.7 |
| 1996 | Apr | Decision Time | J M Ward | James Stormont | 3:22.3 |
| 1995 | Apr | Rain Again | B C Madsen | Neil Brady | 3:23.0 |
| 1994 | Apr | Montana Vance | J B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H Sixton | Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy is a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. -Reference list:... |
3:23.0 |
| 1993 | Mar | Chokin Pacers | Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De Boer | Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy is a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. -Reference list:... |
3:23.3 |
| 1992 | Apr | Abdias | J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher | Philip Butcher | 3:27.0 |
| 1991 | Apr | Christopher Vance | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy Tony Herlihy is a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is the leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. -Reference list:... |
3:19.5 |
| 1990 | Mar | Alert Fulla | J Friedhof | Maurice McKendry | 3:25.8 |
| 1989 | Mar | Dillon Dean | D P Dwyer, Mrs H M C Burley | Colin De Filippi | 3:22.7 |
| 1988 | Feb | Rostriever Hanover | I A Munro, Mrs A H Munro | Patrick O'Reilly | 3:23.5 |
| 1986 | Dec | Trident | The Horseplayers Syndicate | John Hay | 3:25.8 |
| 1985 | Dec | Placid Victor | Mrs L G Wilson | Maurice McKendry | 3:23.2 |
| 1984 | Dec | Roydon Glen | R A McKenzie | W F Fletcher | 3:25.4 |
| 1983 | Dec | Nostradamus | W J Francis & P I Renwick | P N Jones | 3:32.4 |
| 1982 | Dec | Hilarious Guest | M G Vermeulen | P T Wolfenden | 3:26.2 |
| 1981 | Dec | Melton Monarch | J S Dalgety | B Purdon | 3:26.5 |
| 1980 | Dec | John Tudor | H T & A P Dodds & B C Newton | T H Knowles | 3:29.3 |
| 1979 | Dec | Tempest Tiger | P K Ryder | J W Smolenski | 3:27.9 |
| 1978 | Mar | Sapling | G C Cruickshank & R Given | H W Skinner | 3:26.4 |
| 1978 | Dec | Locarno | B J & E J Francis | R D Butt | 3:34.6 |
| 1977 | Mar | Stanley Rio | W J Francis & G B & J B Noble | J B Noble | 3:28.4 |
| 1976 | Mar | Forto Prontezza | Mrs E & A R J McNaught | H W Skinner | 3:29.2 |
| 1975 | Mar | Josias | J & Mrs C M Butcher | R F Mitchell | 3:29.6 |
| 1974 | Mar | Speedy Guest | W F Woolley | J W Smolenski | 3:28.8 |
| 1973 | Mar | Tonton Macoute | N M Allcock & W E Ross | A K Holmes | 3:10 |
| 1972 | Mar | Scottish Warrior | R A McKenzie | C S Hunter | 3:10.2 |
| 1970 | Dec | Sam Tryax | Mrs & R C Whitford | B J Anderson | 3:11.6 |
| 1969 | Dec | Western Ridge | T E Renshaw | R J Weatherley | 3:14.2 |
| 1968 | Dec | Bewitched | G B Noble | J B Noble | 2:55.8 |
| 1967 | Dec | Governor Frost | C Hadley | P T Wolfenden | 2:55.4 |