Jonny Turner

Racing Minister Winston Peters' quest to revitalise horse racing took two massive steps forward in the past 24 hours.

Junior driver Kimberly Butt and trainer Michele Horton notched career highlights at Forbury Park last night.

One of the issues raised in this column - the question of who owns the TAB - has hit the Parliamentary debating chamber.

Central Districts raider The Night Hawk will enjoy a massive step down in class when starting in the second heat of the Forbury Park claimers series tonight.

Jumps racing is not off Londonderry Air's agenda despite the horse's impressive flat win at Oamaru yesterday.

Course specialist Come Fly With Me heads a strong team Western Southland trainer Stephen Blair-Edie takes to Oamaru today.

Mataura trainer Lyndon Bond thrives on a trip away, and Rebel With A Grin showed his horses do too when winning at Oamaru yesterday.

Northern Southland trotter De Vito put a 27-month winless streak behind him when sprinting to victory at Oamaru yesterday.

Oamaru driver Matthew Williamson returns to his home track tomorrow for the first time since venturing to Sweden for the World Driving Championships.

Like U May Cullect's legion of supporters, trainer-driver Kirstin Barclay cannot wait to see how her southern sensation measures up in the toughest test of his career at Addington tonight.

Levels trotter Muscle Pat went from near-retirement to the winner's circle to provide trainer Donna Williamson with a career highlight at Forbury Park last night.

The Melbourne Cup is coming back to Wingatui nearly 40 years after Baghdad Note ploughed through a rain-soaked Flemington track to send cheers ringing out across the Taieri plain.

Tussling with some of the South Island's top pacing talent has defending champion Four Starzzz Shiraz battle-hardened ahead of tonight's first heat of the Forbury Park Claimers' Series.

Trading places led to Robbie Royale and April Rose winning at the last Southland harness racing meeting of the season on Saturday.

The last running of the Waimate Cup at Waimate racecourse was light on numbers, but high on excitement.

The Waimate Racing Club plan to celebrate their proud history on what is set to be their last meeting at their home course tomorrow.

The withdrawal of several of his rivals has made tomorrow's Waimate Cup a less than daunting race for Canterbury galloper Showpin as he stretches out in distance.

It has been a case of no hopples and no worries for Canterbury filly Take A Bet's recent racing in Southland.

Southland star U May Cullect ticked two firsts with another crushing win at Ascot Park yesterday to keep his unbeaten race record intact.

Ex-North Island galloper Reevederci showed he was in for big winter when producing an impressive win in the last race at Wingatui yesterday.