News

Wai Eyre Farm is proud to partner with Rangiora Harness Racing Club to sponsor this year's Anne Thompson Memorial Series.     The series for maiden trotters and pacers starts with $12,500 heats on April 26, then again on May 3, and then two $20,000 finals on Sunday May 17.    The series has been running since 2022, and following the passing of Anne Thompson was named in her memory.    Anne was a key part of the winner's bar team at the Rangiora Racecourse, and would often be

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.

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.

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.

Yearling preparers, breeders and buyers are in for a big three 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

Yearling preparers, breeders and buyers are in for a big three 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

PERHAPS LOVE  – FILLY, LAZARUS - AMORE LANCOME LOT 223 Yearling preparers, breeders and buyers are in for a big three 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

Lazarus continues to make an impact in Australia, as his progeny show grit and determination in front running wins over the weekend. Four-year-old Soho Darknstormy impressed onlookers when he resumed at Melton on Friday over 1720m. Driver Kate Gath opted to work early, sending the gelding three wide on a hot pace to find the lead with a lap to run. Gath never let up the pressure, opting to keep the pace on and ran race rivals off their feet before holding on easily to win at

There were some big smiles on the faces of trainers Ben and Greg Hope on Sunday when Luca won his first race, but it wasn’t just because of the manner in which he won. The four-year-old trotter is also the first of Carlton’s progeny to win in New Zealand, a stallion that Greg trained and raced before injury halted his promising racing career. He has sired Carla Pixie, who had three placings from three starts in New Zealand, and has won five races in Australia to date and plac

Lazarus had a successful night in Australia on Friday, with wins recorded by Nathan Street at Gloucester Park, and Le Betty at Riveria Raceway, Wagga. Competing in a heat of the Nights of Thunder series, Nathan Street utilised his draw of three and soon found the lead in the early stages to dictate terms over the 1730m distance. Driven by Gary Hall junior, the five-year-old asserted his dominance from the front and left his rivals gasping on the home turn, clearing out to win

As his oldest New Zealand crop turn five, Lazarus has some rising stars in the open class ranks to keep an eye out for in 2026. A now seven win pacer, Jeremiah’s story has been one of persistence and loyalty, for both his trainers and his breeders. One of the biggest supporters of Lazarus, John McDermott bred Jeremiah along with his brother Maurice McDermott. He is out of ten win Live Or Die mare, Flyover, who also placed 31 times in her racing career and was raced by in part

Lazarus continues to turn heads around the world, with his progeny standing up on a regular basis in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Western Australia has been particularly popular for Lazarus, with Nathan Street in the spotlight of late and more recently the NZ bred two-year-old star, Patriarch. Patriarch When Patriarch left New Zealand shores last year he already showed plenty of promise, recording one second and two thirds from just four starts as a two-year-old