News

Friendships can lead you in many directions in life, and for John Fanning his friendship with Bruce Small has taken him on a journey to remember. John and Bruce met at University in Dunedin whilst studying medicine and soon became friends. “Bruce and I were in the same class and then got to know each other over time,” John explained. “We both followed racing and when Bruce decided to buy a broodmare, he just said that I had to come in with him.” John Fanning Remarkably,

Jenny Becker’s passion for harness racing has been a lifetime in the making. Founder of Tehoro Trotters, based on the Kapiti Coast, Jenny utilises her own land at home and the services of Wai Eyre Farm in Canterbury to achieve her breeding goals. Associated with the Tehoro prefix, such as Tehoro Diva, Tehoro Flirt and Tehoro Dazzle, Jenny’s passion for the sport and her horses is undeniable. But her breeding journey actually started in a unique way, with Jenny and her husband

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  As a self-confessed "little guy in the breeding game" Wai Eyre Farm principal Darryl Brown is proud of what he and his team have achieved this last season. In 2025-26 they bred over 300 mares on their 320 hectare farm that borders the Waimakariri and Eyre rivers (hence the name Wai Eyre farm). “The previous year we did 156. I thought it would be up 20 percent, not 100 percent," says Brown, "foaling numbers also doubled.” Their increase pla

Colin Hair’s breeding journey can only be described as one of perseverance and fate. His superstar trotter Sundees Son won $1.4 million in stakes, 12 Group One races and the hearts of trotting fans. But the mere fact he ever existed is a long and lucky story. Colin’s interest in racing started when working in Christchurch and attending the trots at Addington on a Friday night. “I’d have a few beers and a few bets and that’s where the love started,” Colin explained. “After tha

Four-year-old Lazarus gelding, Laser Speed, made a huge impression in his fresh up return to the Meadowlands last weekend. Laser Speed was a dominant winner, taking out his sixth career victory from just 27 starts. Driven by his regular pilot, Mark Herschberger, Laser Speed found the lead early, before finding himself three back on the fence. Not content to take any chances, Herschberger launched back into the lead and dictated terms. From there on in the result was merely a

Often when you talk to a breeder of standardbreds there will be the one mare that started it all. A mare that gave so much joy on the racetrack, that the temptation to breed another one like her is just too much to resist. And that is certainly the case for Mike Atkins of Gama Breeding. Mike Atkins, with Mikra Wave Based in West Eyreton in Canterbury, Mike and his long time friend Greg Adlam have dived into the commercial breeding industry since racing their wonderful mare, W

Harness racing breeder and owner, Trevor Casey, has been involved with some of the most talented horses to ever grace our tracks. From the mighty Lazarus, a dual New Zealand Cup winner and earner of over $4 million, to Sky Major, the only horse to ever win three Harness Jewels, and the stoic Stent, who won over one million dollars in his career and in doing so won over the hearts of many trotting fans. But that involvement hasn’t come from luck, it’s come from many years or d

The only offering by On A Streak at this year’s Yearling Sales has been snapped up by Stonewall Stud for an impressive price of $50,000. Filly by On A Streak x Glenferrie Unixa Lot 103 is a filly by On A Streak, out of Glenferrie Unixa – a French bred mare who has done a wonderful job at stud to date leaving four Group winners from four starters. Glenferrie Unixa has produced Une Belle Allure, former Australian three-year-old trotting filly of year, and a Group One winner of

Yearling preparers, breeders and buyers are in for a big two weeks as we count down to the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales, this year to be held at Karaka on Monday 16 February and the Canterbury Agricultural Park on Wednesday 18 February. We are proud of the Wai Eyre stallion offerings and are as always grateful to those who support them. We will highlight some of those up for auction as we build into the biggest week on the standardbred sales calendar in New Zealand.