Top amateur harness racing driver allegedly administered substance on race day stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Horsetalk.co.nz
File image.
The change in date for the official birthday of harness horses in New Zealand has been hailed as “a defining moment and a catalyst for change”.
Traditionally, all racehorses in New Zealand have had their birthdays on August 1. From now on, all standardbreds will have their birthdays on January 1.
Under the new system, a horse born in January 2020 would become one on January 1, 2021, and a horse born in November 2020 would become one on January 1, 2022.
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) Chief Executive Gary Woodham said there was unanimous approval for the idea, which was voted on at a Special General Meeting in Christchurch last week.
Harness racing trainer pleads guilty to injecting horses with banned substance stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
While the listing states the gelding died on Tuesday, the date of death is thought to be an administrative error. Jimmy Cannon, a five-year-old trotter with eight podium finishes in 36 starts, including three wins, was stood down from racing in February after it was allegedly injected with a substance by Canterbury trainer Jesse Alford. In the aftermath of the incident, Alford’s licence was suspended and the horse was transferred to the stables of trainer Cam Jones last month.
Alden Williams/Stuff
Jesse Alford was suspended last month after Racing Integrity Unit investigators caught him administering a substance to two horses. (File photo)
Joseph Johnson/Stuff
Canterbury is harness racing s most active area. The local industry employs about 1700 people and injects about $200m into the Canterbury/West Coast economy.
They could be two old men discussing great horses over a beer in the members lounge at Addington Raceway. Don Bates, in his 70s, is quietly spoken and retiring, Warwick Gendall, approaching 80, is confident and talkative. In fact the setting is more formal. Gendall, a retired High Court judge, is chairing a panel of the Judicial Control Authority (JCA) – a tribunal that adjudicates charges laid by racing s investigation and prosecution arm, the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU).