New Zealand Free For All

The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand.

New Zealand Free For All
Group one (G1) race
LocationAddington Raceway
Christchurch, New Zealand
Inaugurated1914
Race typeStandardbred - Harness racing
Websitewww.addington.co.nz
Race information
Distance1,609 metres (1 mile)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed oval
QualificationThree-year-olds and up
PurseNZ$180,000 (2020)

History of the race

Horses which have won the Free-for-all include hall of famers and champions who later shone in the United States and Canada like Cardigan Bay and Caduceus. The latter who won the Free For All three times. The race has also been won three times by Robalan, Harold Logan, Lordship and Author Dillon.[1] Between 1942 and 1948 the race was renamed the New Zealand Pacing Sprint Championship.[1]

The race is contested at Addington Raceway on the Canterbury Anniversary public holiday and Canterbury A&P Show day on the Friday of "Cup week" in mid-November. With the New Zealand Trotting Cup run on the Tuesday of that week, the Free For All attracts most of the same horses as the Cup, and is often won in the same year by the same horse. There is also the New Zealand Cup for gallopers and a number of other premier races for the harness, thoroughbred and greyhound racing codes that week.

Distance

Unlike the New Zealand Cup it is run from a mobile, rather than standing, start. From 1914 to 1972 the event was generally over 1 14 miles or from 1973 onwards 2000 m, although from 1920 to 1927 it was a mile only. The 1962 race won by Lordship is recorded by HRNZ to have been over 9 12 furlongs. The 2008 race was won in record time (1.54-mile rate for 2000 m) by Auckland Reactor. For 2012 and 2013 the race was contested over 1 mile (1609 m), meaning the race will start on a bend. It was subsequently changed to 1950 m for 2013 to 2017 and has been over 1980 m for 2018 onwards.

Stake money

The total stake money for the race was:

  • $176,000 (2019)
  • $200,000 (2010)
  • $300,000 (2008)
  • $100,000 (2000)
  • $85,000 (1990)
  • $18,000 (1980)
  • $4,500 (1970)

The total race stake was valued at $300,000 in 2008, but was reduced to $200,000 and below in later years due to economic pressures.[2]

Records

Most wins:

Most wins by a driver:

Winners list

Year
Horse
Owner
Driver
Time
2020SpankemMrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, G A Woodham, Mrs K J WoodhamNatalie Rasmussen2:19.20 (1980m)
2019Chase AucklandAlabar Racing SyndicateTim Williams2:20.6 (1980m)
2018Cruz BromacD Zavitsanos, Mrs J Zavitsanos, P M O'Shea, Mrs Z D O'Shea, W R VineyNatalie Rasmussen2:18.5 (1980m)
2017Ultimate MacheteMrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, G R Douglas, K J Riseley, P J Creighton, Mrs M C CreightonNatalie Rasmussen2:15.7 (1950m)
2016Lazarus *Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, T G Casey, K RiseleyMark Purdon2:16.3 (1950m)
2015Tiger TaraR L Sandford, Mrs J A Sandford, J S Gould, G R DunnGerard O'Reilly2:18.9 (1950m)
2014Christen MeC J Roberts, V L PurdonDexter Dunn2:18.4 (1950m)
2013Pembrook BennyB Purdon, T F Henderson, J C Higgins, K G Parry, D H Sixton, J B HartZac Butcher1:54.3 (1609m)
2012Gold AceMrs W A Purdon, D G Moore, M Ng, D D SyndicateTony Herlihy1:52.6 (1609m)
2011Smoken UpA P Kay, P G Gadsby, A B Bonney, M J Van Rens, R J Kay, V MacDonald & L D LocastroLance Justice2:25.3 (2000m)
2010Monkey King *Cavalla Bloodstock LtdRicky May2:23.7
2009Monkey King *Cavalla Bloodstock LtdRicky May2:22.4
2008Auckland ReactorAuckland Reactor LtdMark Purdon2:21.8
2007Waipawa LadR K Bennett, F C BennettMark Jones2:22.0
2006Sly FlyinG W BrodieTony Herlihy2:25.0
2005Howard BromacMichelle Larsen, Mrs L Philpott, D HardieKirk Larsen2:23.3
2004Just An Excuse *O Haines, Mrs I K HainesTodd Mitchell2:24.9
2003Jack CadeJ H Seaton, Mark PurdonMark Purdon2:24.9
2002YulestarMrs J L Nolan, R P NolanPeter Jones2:22.9
2001Young RufusH Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R HyslopMark Purdon2:25.8
2000Agua CalienteEst D S & Mrs D E J Short/Mrs D E Woods/Miss S M ShortGlen Wolfenden2:24.7
1999Holmes D GSecond Five SyndicateBarry Purdon2:28.6
1998Christian Cullen *I D & D A Dobson, B A O'MearaDanny Campbell2:26.0
1997BrabhamRunvs SyndicateTony Herlihy2:25.3
1996IraklisR M Cameron, Kypros KotzikasRicky May2:24.4
1995Il Vicolo *J H Seaton, M PurdonMark Purdon2:25.1
1994Bee Bee Cee *C J Calvert, Mrs J M CalvertJim Curtin2:26.6
1993Chokin *Pacers Australia/M Joyce/J Loughnan/B De BoerTony Herlihy2:25.9
1992Blossom Lady *Polly SyndicateAnthony Butt2:25.5
1991Christopher Vance *R R Reid, Lorna Reid Synd., Mrs J C ReidTony Herlihy2:26.8
1990Tight ConnectionR Ellis/R Weavers/Horseplayers Syn/Club Connection SynTony Herlihy2:26.0
1989Dillon DeanD P Dwyer, Mrs H M C BurleyColin De Filippi2:27.3
1988Tax CreditC J Harvey, Mrs P A HarveyMark Purdon2:25.7
1987Luxury LinerR R Reid, Est L F Reid, Mrs J C ReidTony Herlihy2:26.3
1986Master Mood *K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B WongKevin Williams2:28.1
1985Preux ChevalierK J Lavin, Mrs W M LavinBarry Perkins2:25.7
1984Dillon DaleK C BurleyD P E Dwyer2.28.1
1983CamelotD H G CroftsR D Butt2.27.2
1982Bonnie's ChanceMesdames K A Grice & V B McGarryR J Brosnan2.28.5
1981Armalight *H B SmithR H Negus2.23.5
1980Hands Down *W H & Mrs M F McAughtrieP N Jones2.29.3
1979Lord Module *Cecil DevineCecil Devine2.26.7
1978Trusty Scot *A M & J H HunterJ H Hunter2.29.1
1977BalgoveW H & J P RobertsR M Cameron2.28.9
1976Master DeanN W BorlaseM R De Filippi2.30.3
1975Lunar ChanceK N LawlorK N Lawlor2.28.2
1974Robalan *A T Devery, P N Hope & D D NyhanDenis Nyhan2.26.6
1973RobalanA T Devery, P N Hope & D D NyhanDenis Nyhan2.34.4
1972RobalanA T Devery, P N Hope & D D NyhanDenis Nyhan2.33.6
1971Bay FoyleN R JohnstoneC J Parsons2.34.4
1970Stella FrostL H TilsonDoody Townley2.36
1969Chief CommandP H C Van der LooyR P Nyhan2.37
1968Great AdiosMrs P M NortonB J Anderson2.36.4
1967LordshipMrs D G NyhanD G Nyhan2.40.4
1966Waitaki HanoverMrs J & F SmithDoody Townley2.35
1965Robin DundeeJ W HewittM F Holmes2.37
1964LordshipMrs D G NyhanDenis Nyhan2.34.6
1963Cardigan Bay *Mrs A D DeanP T Wolfenden2.34.6
1962Lordship *Mrs D G NyhanDenis Nyhan2.27.6
1961Cardigan BayMrs A D DeanP T Wolfenden2.39
1960False Step *J SmythCecil Devine2.35.2
1959CaduceusD D & D R MooreJ D Litten2.36
1958CaduceusD D & D R MooreJ D Litten2.34.8
1957Lookaway *C L RhodesM F Holmes2.35.8
1956CaduceusD D & D R MooreJ D Litten2.39.4
1955TacticianM C McTigueM C McTigue2.36.8
1954Johnny Globe *D G NyhanD G Nyhan2.33.6
1953Johnny GlobeD G NyhanD G Nyhan2.35.4
1952VedetteC Johnston & M JenkinsM F Holmes2.41.8
1951Maori HomeB Rushton & J W DuncanW P Ireland2.39.8
1950Parawa DerbyL T PadgetJ B Pringle2.38
1949Single DirectMrs M R & Bruce ElliottE N Kennerley2.37.2
1948Highland Fling *A T KembleL F Berkett2.37.4
1947Sir MichaelC TaskerR Young2.39
1946HaughtyB GriceG McKendry2.41.4
1946TurcoA V Prenderville & J X FergusonG S Smith2.41.4
1945Happy ManJ C SouthC King2.36.4
1944Pacing PowerG LancasterR B Berry2.38.4
1943Springfield GlobeR B BerryR B Berry2.39
1942Gold BarA B HolmesD C Watts2.35
1941Josedale Grattan *Dr M G Pezaro & E G BridgensF J Smith2.42.2
1940PlutusW J GudsellJ Bryce jnr2.46.6
1939IcevusH RuddR Young2.41.8
1938Logan DerbyH BarnesJ A Stamford2.39.4
1937SupertaxD RodgersG Mouritz2.40
1936Harold LoganE F C HindsR Townley jnr2.39
1935IndianapolisG J BartonJ Fraser jnr2.39.4
1934Harold LoganE F C HindsM F Holmes2.38.4
1933Red ShadowMrs M HarrallJ Bryce2.41.4
1932Roi L'OrP BrownF Holmes2.38.2
1931Harold Logan *Miss E HindsR J Humphreys2.40
1930King PointerW McDonaldO E Hooper2.39.8
1929PadlockJ A MitchellW Hughes2.42.6
1928Peter Bingen *J J KennerleyJ J Kennerley2.38.8
1927Native ChiefJ DuffyF G Holmes2.11.2
1926Great BingenJ R McKenzieD Withers2.09
1925AcronJ R McKenzieA Butterfield2.04.6
1924AcronJ R McKenzieA Butterfield2.03.6
1923Logan ChiefJ DuffyJ J Kennerley2.07.6
1922Trix PointerW H NortonF Holmes2.09.4
1921Albert ClingM J HannonJ McLennan2.09.6
1920Author DillonExecutors J KnightB Jarden2.11.6
1919Author DillonExecutors J KnightB Jarden2.44.4
1918Author Dillon *B JardenB Jarden2.45.8
1917Cathedral ChimesJ BryceJ Bryce2.42.6
1916Admiral WoodMrs A M SeymourJ Bryce2.45
1915Our ThorpeJ FlemingA Fleming2.41.4
1914EccentricR T ReidJ Brankin2.48.8
* won the New Zealand Trotting Cup same year

Full details of each year's race are contained on the Harness Racing New Zealand website[3]

See also

References

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