Welcome to Harness Racing Interactive and The Addington Raceway Hall of Fame.


At Harness Racing Interactive, we aim to preserve the great moments of the past at Addington Raceway by providing an interactive virtual presence using the internet to reach millions of people world wide and our local harness racing industry here in New Zealand.

Harness Racing in New Zealand is one of the most popular forms of equestrian sport. There is nothing more exciting than owning and racing a harness horse.

Harness Racing Interactive is proud to be a part of this wonderful club and venue and we will be there for many more years to come bringing you the great moments of the past and those of the future.

Enjoy your visit and thank you for supporting Harness Racing Interactive and the Addington Hall of Fame.

 
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1956 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL: Won by Caduceus

1956 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Caduceus topped off a tidy record for himself over the three-day Cup carnival - his four starts yielded two wins, a second and a third - and gave J D Litten his fifth training and driving successes for the meeting, when he held on under keen competition from Johnny Globe to win the NZ Free-For-All.

Taking charge with seven furlongs to go, Caduceus was not afterwards headed. The only one who ever looked like taking it off him was Johnny Globe, who was weakening a little at the end after being forced to race over a good deal of extra ground.

Caduceus, only now six years old, has won 18 races, including three free-for-alls (two in New Zealand and one in Australia). His New Zealand stake-winnings have reached £16,694/10/-, and he won £5675 in Australia last season.

Cup victor Thunder did not start in the Free-For-All and has been put aside for a long spell. He will not race again until next season. His trainer, C C Devine, had difficulty keeping Thunder sound before the Cup, and after his easy win he was showing signs of weakness. It was decided that a lengthy spell would prevent the trouble becoming serious, and he is to be turned out on the Parnassus property of part owner Mr E Rutherford.

About Photo: Caduceus - Winner of the NZFFA

Credit: 'Ribbinwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar
 
Facts Box - Dexter Dunn
  • 2008/9 Season - 204 wins
  • Employed in the stables of Cran Dalgety.
  • From 1263 starts 204 wins, 139 seconds, 120 thirds and $1,951,274 in stakes. Most successful horse partnerships were drives on Smiling Shard, Band on the Run and Diomedes with six wins each.
  • Six times this season has won four or more races at one meeting.
  • Best performance was at Forbury Parkwith 8 starts, 6 wins and 1 second. Won 2 Group One races during the 2008/9 season with Smiling Shard.
Helen Pope
Helen Pope continued a grand family tradition on the race track and created one off it by being elected to the Addington Hall of Fame. Helen is the daughter of Bill Doyle a famous horseman in his own right in the history of the trotting horse in New Zealand as View More
Bob McArdle
BobMcArdle has always maintained his major involvement in New Zealand Harness Racing as a founding partner in the iconic Nevele R stud happened more or less by accident after a casual meeting with Wayne Francis in the early 1970�s, but it is certain that sooner or later the native of Tasmania would have played a major role on this side of the Tasman. It is the nature of the man. View More
Wayne Francis
Wayne Francis inherited his love of trotting from his father, Geroge, who raced a number of good horses including the high class pacer, Brava. After building his fortunes in property development Wayne started up Nevele R Stud from scratch after a chance meeting with Bob McArdle in the early 1970�s. The aim of Nevele R was to lift the standard of breeding to a new high in this country and it was achieved in remarkable fashion. View More
Derek Jones
Derek Jones needs little introduction to most harness fans for besides being a highly successful horseman and trainer as well as an administrator he was one of the great characters of harness racing with friends in every part of the country.

Christchurch born Jones trained as a hairdresser but was always interested in horses. View More
Two new members in Hall of Fame
Two men whose importation of quality, highly performed stallions transformed the standardbred breeding industry in the Australasia have been recognised by the Addington Raceway Hall of Fame. Bob McArdle and the late Wayne Francis, who established Nevele R Stud at Prebbleton in 1973, join Maurice Holmes, Jack Carmichael, Helen Pope, and Derek Joins as Select members.