When TROT contributor Kevin Lakes and his wife took a trip to New Zealand this past spring, they were hoping to take in a little harness racing, Down Under style. Little did Kevin know that after meeting someone who knew someone, that he’d end up spending a couple of days as part of leading Kiwi trainer John Dunn’s Diamond Racing Team. Jogging and training horses in another country is one thing; doing it on the beautiful Woodend Beach on New Zealand’s South Island - that’s bucket-list material. By Kevin Lakes

With New Zealand’s Dexter Dunn having emerged as one of North America’s leading reinsman over the past decade, hundreds of horses racing here that have the ‘N’ suffix following their name (denoting that they were bred in New Zealand) and Canada’s James MacDonald soon to travel ‘Down Under’ to represent Canada in the 2025 World Driving Championships, we thought it was perfect timing for TROT contributor Kevin Lakes to share his experiences from a recent trip he and his wife took to New Zealand. Kevin headed to the southern hemisphere this past spring, hoping, in-part, to learn a little bit about their ways when it comes to harness racing. What he got to experience was a whole lot more than that.

 

 

How could it get any better?

That was my thought as Kiwi superstar trainer and reinsman John Dunn asked me to join him jogging horses along New Zealand’s Woodend Beach as the sun rose on an April morning earlier this year.

Dunn’s laid back, friendly nature was evident from the moment I arrived at his facility and joined the Diamond Racing team for two days of training.

John, without second thought, trusted my word that I knew what I was doing and pointed to a tall, black four-year-old trotting son of Father Patick named Moses and said, “That one’s yours, Mate!”  Then we were off, at a walk, to the nearby beach.

Dunn’s stable is having an extraordinary year, as he and his wife, Jenna, are leading the training and driving standings respectively with their stable of up to 90 horses. They race all over the faraway southern hemisphere nation that sports a population of 5.2 million people and 28 racecourses, spread around their North and South Islands.

Dunn, the older brother of North American driving star Dexter, brings his knowledge, work-ethic and talent to the table every day; however, even he would agree that his not-so-secret sauce is his proximity to a perfect training location - the beach.

“God is our track manager,” says Dunn, referring to the daily tidal conditioning that provides a smooth beach surface every morning, and the cool anti-inflammatory bathing of equine legs, after the sprints, that the seashore naturally provides as well. “It’s also good for the minds of people and horses,” he adds. “Every day it feels just a little different - at the beach.”

As we slowly jogged side-by-side, the conversation was easy, me with Moses and Dunn with an aged pacer. I took it all in and envisioned a large check-mark being struck off my ‘Bucket List’.  Dunn then casually indicated that after a two-mile jog up the beach, things were indeed going to get even better.

He explained that Moses needed some speed work so, for me, to be ready. He wanted me to put the rangy trotter “on his helmet” as he was going to let his horse gallop home, and I was to pull alongside when he gave me the word. Then came the delightfully accented directive I will never forget as we started to pivot, “Okay Kev, it’s time to turn and burn.”

Immediately we went from jogging down the beach to a full-fledged, high octane, training mile. When Dunn gazed back and nodded, I moved Moses and we completed the final quarter-mile in 28 seconds flat… We were ‘burnin’. No turns, no stone dust, no pylons, no problems, just cruising on the sea packed sand.

After the mile the horses gravitated, out of routine, into the surf and cooled their legs as we walked back toward their paddocks. Note: I say ‘back to their paddocks’ and not back to the barn because Dunn doesn’t really have a barn at his facility - more on that later though.

Yes, Moses was ‘parting the seas’ after a strenuous training day and Dunn was happy. “He hasn’t been right, but he looked good today,” he quipped. “I believe in working them hard and feeding them a lot,” he added.

Moses would actually win his next start, over a distance of 2000m from a standing start, at nearby Addington Raceway, in 2:33. Within a week, his solid training mile translated into a win worth $9,350 NZD, and I breathed easily with a typical horseman’s sentiment of being satisfied that I had not gotten in the way of the promising gelding’s progress.   

Being in New Zealand is heartening for a horseman from Eastern Canada. Although one is 13,500 kms from home, the people are strikingly similar. The humour, the turn of phrase, family history and devotion to the horses are the same as we have here, and friends are made with ease while leaning on a gate or working alongside each other.

My trip to the South Island, with my wife Penny, was chosen, as we both enjoy hiking, horses and an alternative to Nova Scotia’s indecisive spring weather. The way in which I ended up meeting Dunn and his devoted crew is indicative of how easy it is to make connections in the relatively small country.

We were staying with friends near Motueka, hours from Christchurch, and started meeting their neighbours. I mentioned that I enjoyed harness racing and was given the phone number of a local horsewoman. One call to her and she recommended I text John Dunn - she offered me his number.  A few texts later, and I was conscripted for two days of fun and immersion into Dunn’s world.

Upon reflection, it really was incredible.

After the morning at the modest Woodend Beach facility, it was time to load several horses for the races at Addington Raceway, just 30 kms away in Christchurch.

Dunn’s property has horses wherever you look, however, his approach is one of simple complexity, smooth team flow and incomprehensible organization. Almost everything seems to be in Dunn’s mind, with an occasional reference to a simple whiteboard on the wall that he occasionally refers to and makes the odd note “Just added the board,” he says, “and it makes a difference.”

Addington Raceway is the jewel of New Zealand racing, and being at the racecourse provided the opportunity to touch upon the business side of the sport, as well as witness some challenging realities. The atmosphere was upbeat and friendly, and there was a vibrant community of trainers, grooms, owners and drivers that interacted with professionalism and familiarity; however, much as in North America these days, the large grandstand juxtaposed only a small crowd of racing fans.

Addington hosts over 15,000 people every year for the New Zealand Cup, however this was a typical autumn evening, and large portions of the facility were unused.

On the track, Dunn quickly drove his way to the Winner’s Circle (aka ‘The Birdcage’) with a swift-footed pacer named Mighty Looee, a seven-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou, who had previously won at a mile in 1:50.4. On this night he covered the 2000m in 2:22.4, in a so-called mobile pace, meaning the pacers left from behind a traditional starting gate.

After the photo I was immediately invited to the ‘Winner’s Lounge’ by Addington Board Chairman John Hartnell. Dexter and John Dunn’s mother was also there, a woman that could probably spend a large portion of her waking life in a winner’s lounge, if she would like, considering the number of wins her sons procure day-after-day. I then realized that I had just met the Gail MacDonald of New Zealand racing.

Hartnell is a successful, professional and personable man with deep roots in the New Zealand soil. His passion and devotion of time for harness racing is obvious, even though he also operates a large bee-keeping business and sells the related products.  His intelligence for management emerges when we discuss the challenges of the business side of racing, a step away from the romance of the seashore that morning.

“The industry is going through considerable change right now, and like most of the harness industry around the world we have been going backwards for many years… this is reflected in foal numbers, ownership and a drop-off in attendance on-course” says Hartnell.

“ENTAIN is our new wagering partner… they are investing heavily in promotion and additional stakes funding. This includes a dual meeting program on Friday nights - branded as Friday Nights Lights - with our two primary clubs, Addington and Alexandra Park (in Auckland), as the feature venues.

The intent of ENTAIN is to provide consistency and entertainment, and drive increased wagering across the country, but particularly in Auckland and other North Island regions which are underperforming relative to population.”

The majority of New Zealanders live in or near Auckland, on the North Island; however, the heartland of racing is where John’s training facility is located, on the Canterbury Plain of the South Island. Dunn flies to Auckland frequently to drive as well, and during my visit his wife Jenna and his father, Robert, also a training legend, were actually in Auckland, overseeing that branch of the stable.

Hartnell also mentioned that in October of 2023 the industry voted to change their governance structure, ending regionally appointed board members, and opening the way for an independent board with strong leadership skills. Hartnell expressed that this has been tumultuous but necessary for the business side of the sport to prosper. As part of the change, a new Harness Racing New Zealand CEO, Brad Steele, has been appointed, and he has been charged with leading change across the sport, in terms of things like racing and wagering, information technology, and animal welfare.

And when it comes to animal welfare, at first glance, it does appear to be of a high priority in New Zealand.

A veterinarian is very evident at the track the night I’m there, and at one point could be heard on the PA that she had decided to scratch a particular entrant moments before post, because she was, “not comfortable with the way the horse is moving.” The driver quickly jogged, what appeared to be a sound horse, off the track and the trainer and groom seemed only concerned for the animal while illustrating no protest at the decision.

During the card at Addington, there was also a minor accident, with a horse choking off and going down. There were no injuries, perhaps due to the large team of outriders being on the scene in seconds, freeing the horse from entanglement and the driver from concern. It was a well-rehearsed display of teamwork from horseback, and their mobility as equestrians allowed the race to continue and the field to avoid a cascading problem due to the issue on the lower turn.

* * * *

For me, two days was not enough. Although just a glimpse, thanks to John Dunn, his father-in-law Craig Edmonds, racing manager Andrew Fitzgerald and junior driver Riley Harrison though, it was enough to make observations of the similarities and differences between things there and back home.

So much is the same: beautiful animals combined with sporting people that have great affection and deep appreciation for Standardbreds, a shared language and a culture transitioned away from what was an agricultural country.

Much is also different, as described in our ‘Differences Down Under’ list (below).

Racing in the land of the kiwis is making difficult decisions to maintain itself, as there is brilliance, such as the New Zealand Cup in November, horses like Lazarus N, or even just my moment with Moses on the beach and then seeing him win at Addington over a large field of competitors in an action-packed race filled with extensive movement, a few days later.

But there are also the modern issues that jeopardize the industry - similar to what we see here in Canada and the U.S.

Moses has struggled since his win two months ago, going off stride twice in four starts. I can only predict that if I asked John Dunn about him, he would respond with a phrase that he often uses, and is ubiquitous in New Zealand. A phrase that represents the attitude of the country and the prospects for harness racing Down Under:

Dunn would likely say: “No worries, Mate, It’ll be ‘right!”

SOME DIFFERENCES DOWN UNDER

New Zealand is a beautiful place with four unique seasons, friendly people, and a legacy of harness racing. With Canada’s National Driving Champion, James MacDonald, slated to represent the red-and-white at the World Driving Championship in New Zealand in 2025, TROT correspondent, Kevin Lakes took a moment to focus on just a few of the differences MacDonald will experience on his Kiwi Adventure.

No Barns: John Dunn has 76 horses in training at his facility near Christchurch, but no barn. This is not to say there are no Standardbred barns in use in New Zealand whatsoever, and they do experience winter, especially on the South Island, but the temperature rarely reaches below freezing. Each of Dunn’s horses has an individual paddock with electric fences - to control feeding and interaction - but all of the horses are blanketed, and no barns are required.

Equipment: The most unique difference is that races often begin with a standing start; therefore, pacers benefit from a short hopple as they begin, but need it lengthened once they quickly get up-to-speed. Drivers and trainers often put a pin in the hopples that the driver pulls at a key time, lengthening the hopple after the early stages of the race, while the hopples are kept short as the pacer accelerates. A few other examples of different equipment include that horses race wearing a neck-band/belt to keep their head and neck straight. Racebikes are also longer with the wheels closer together. Dunn’s Diamond Racing is well known for using a white nasal flair on their horses to open their nostrils. “I’m not sure if it helps,” laughs Dunn, “but we feel good doing it.”

Women’s Involvement: On a typical race card, even at the top tracks, you can count on their being many women drivers and trainers. Trainers Jenna Dunn and Amanda Telfer are at the top of the table for wins, well ahead of all others. The night I attended at Addington, women drivers won several races and women trainers competed in every race on the card.

Distances and Field size: Pacers and trotters race over a variety of distances, with many being longer than a mile. This usually creates slower middle quarters, engendering movement and frequent three-wide moves. With up to 16 ‘runners’ in a race, races are not as linear and are less predictable. One race I witnessed had 14 horses within five lengths of each other at the finish. At Auckland’s largest track on the North Island, Alexandra Park, races are run clockwise, which is often associated with racing in Australia. Handicapping stronger competitors is also common, with some horses starting several meters back during the standing-start events.

Training: Dunn, for one, has the luxury of being located at Woodend Beach. The horses benefit from the smooth, soft surface, fresh air and having their legs soaked in the surf after a work-out. Horses seem to relax there and Dunn often uses a mature pacer to gallop along with a younger horse. He also fastidiously checks heart rates.

Tracks: New Zealand has a population of over 3,000 Standardbreds, with 28 active racecourses for harness racing, but many clubs only race a few times a year. Some of the tracks are turf as well, which creates an entirely different aesthetic for summer racing. There is also a ‘Junior Drivers’ competitive circuit, which promotes youth and grassroots skill development.

Media: It’s common to see harness racing on television. In fact, recently, a broadcast entitled Trackside One, a platform on which all races are shown, has become free for all New Zealanders. The Harness Racing New Zealand website also has all replays available on it. Another recent addition to New Zealand television is showcasing the best product in Auckland and Christchurch on Fridays. This is being promoted as the aforementioned Friday Night Lights.

Race Night: A significant difference is that Kiwi horsepeople do not warm up their horses on race night. From the paddocks at the farm, to the trailer, then to the racecourse, horses do not go onto the track until it’s race time. There isn’t a formalized post parade either, however the drivers do exercise the horse vigorously just prior to the race, often in close quarters, following each other in single file. In the ‘Birdcage’ (winner’s circle) sponsors, owners and connections gather safely on a platform behind the winner for a photo, and then it is customary for the club to provide the owners and friends a complimentary drink in the winner’s lounge, only steps away.

$$$ Distribution: The average purse is $12,500 with payments going to all horses in the race. Owners receive 85%, drivers 5%, and trainers 10%. There are no claiming races anymore either. An idiosyncrasy of the owner/trainer business relationship is that it’s also customary for the trainer to receive a 10% stipend if a horse is sold while “under his care.” The trainer is expected to assist the sale process. There are varying views on this tradition as there are examples of its benefit and detriment. Drivers are paid a minimum of $100 per drive, independent of where they finish.

After Care: New Zealand has adopted what they call the HERO Program: Harness Education and Re-homing Opportunities. When one visits the Harness Racing New Zealand Website, the order of tabs that emerge are: ‘Life After Racing’ followed by ‘Trainers and Drivers’, and then ‘Results’, illustrating a comprehension of public sensibilities and the requisite prioritization of the issue. In fact, a percentage of purse money is devoted to after care.

Out-Riders: At Addington there were several outriders on the course that were fully engaged and helpful to the drivers. This is especially important for the standing starts, where there is some shuffling for position going on in tight quarters before the barrier springs out of the way and the race begins. Horses in New Zealand do seem a bit more relaxed in groups, making close turns on the walk, even though a race or training session is about to begin. They are very habituated to being in very close proximity to one another.

Although this is just a snapshot of New Zealand harness racing, the two days spent with John Dunn were a taste of the lifestyle of a team on a mission. Dunn recently won seven races on one card at Addington Raceway, in Christchurch, a feat only accomplished in the track’s long history by Tony Herlihy and John’s brother Dexter.

John jokingly called his little brother, “the afterthought” but despite the distance now between them, the two have maintained a bond, and the older sibling is obviously proud of the Dunns’ talent going global. In fact, John was still unloading horses after the seven-win night when he received a call of congratulations…

“Ya, Dext rung me when he heard,” John smiled. “We feed off each other, from the other side of the world, it’s a good bond to have.”

 This feature originally appeared in the August issue of TROT Magazine. Subscribe to TROT today by clicking the banner below.