Stratford Trotting Club

15/05/2026

Stratford Trotting Club would like to extend their deepest condolences to Cambridge Trainer Susan Branch her family and team.
She was a great supporter of our clubs here in Taranaki and the CD.
For further details please check Waikato papers or the Cambridge Harness Racing Club.

13/05/2026

Good luck to all and let’s hope you get thru the gorge in your way home at the time you need

29/04/2026

Last night in the CD,
Good luck all

28/04/2026

Worth a punt if you’re following all the locals.

19/04/2026

It is with great sadness that we would like to acknowledge the passing of one of Stratfords owners and breeders and life long mate Garry Read.
To Fay Read and family please accept our deepest and most heartfelt condolences at Garry’s passing.
Stratford Trotting Club and the President would like to acknowledge an ex-Stratfordian, who started his love of harness racing with our very own Davey Jones.
He was involved not only in ownership but breeding as well.
He was one of the best, happy to be beside his friend and supported ventures into harness racing in all mediums alongside his mate. And still to this day he has horses with other trainers.
One of his favourite bred horses was Schnapper Smile back in the day. Schnapper (Red) was duel gated and gave Jonesy & Garry a run for their money. He had many a collect in both gates, but the most memorable would have to have been Reds run at Otaki back in 2007 where they took $7500 off the tote with his win. The TAB had to pay them out in the end in $5 notes.
That two day meeting was one of the most memorable for lots of reasons and one of the best weekends away.
That was the last time Jonesy and Garry had shared a winning cigar along with many gins that night.
Garry was also a guest punter at the Stratford Trot meeting about 2008/9.
There are so many stories to recall of their friendship on and off the track.
He will be surely missed by so many or committee and members, but none more so than by Jonesy.

25/03/2026

Just a reminder that the AGM is this Sunday 29th March in the Presidents Room at the track at 1pm.
We welcome any feedback you may have, and would love to see you there.
Come have a listen and a beer afterwards.

19/03/2026

Afternoon All

As you can see the date has been set for our belated AGM

Hope to see you all there

10/03/2026

Good afternoon everyone
Please see attached and give this some thought.
I will advise as soon as a date has been locked in.
We are still a strong club, who haven’t given up on getting a race day off our own back.
So if you want to be apart of helping us to achieve this goal have a series think about what you can bring to your club.

25/02/2026

Well after an exciting days racing at Manawatu yesterday, sorry forgot to post local Stratford trainers racing there, I took a quiet little all up bet ($1) on Highview Rocknroll and Two Jules (with ur local trainer Chris Garlick, after returning back to Palmy, after picking up a 2nd and a 1st a fortnight ago) and it turned a nice little profit of $215.08.
I swear I rode Highview Rocknroll all the way home 🤣🤣.

We would like to thank of the for her lovely words stating how when recently stabling their horses at Stratford while racing at the Hawera 2 day meet, on how lovely the course was and what a great venue it was. She said Stratford should be proud of the facilities that were available to not only local trainers but those visiting as well.
She mentioned how there are jump outs, workouts etc held here and it’s a credit to the community.
Both Jonesy and Rena are part time caretakers and they really do do a great job, and it was nice to hear that their work was noticed and appreciated by visiting trainers.

Tomorrow we see only one local Stratford trainer Jason Cossey with RUTHERFORD in Race 1 at 5pm, on Tuesday he ran a great 3rd, so let’s hope that he can do just as well if not better.

Good luck to all other Taranaki trainers racing tomorrow as well 🍀

04/02/2026

On behalf of the Stratford Trotting Club, our deepest condolences go to the Sinnamon Family and to Central Otago Trotting Club, its members and committee, at this sad time.

This one was a tough write for me.

It is with great sadness the Central Otago Trotting Club acknowledges the passing of Lionel Sinnamon, a Life Member and stalwart of our club.

Lionel Sinnamon - 3rd February 2026; 88 years young

Funeral to be held 1pm Monday, Feb 9th at the Poolburn-Moa Creek Hall

Lionel was a committee member from 1965, to 2015, and served 3 years as president.

Lionel was an owner, trainer, driver and breeder. He was one of the longest serving trainer to date in New Zealand, and the last active trainer in the Central Otago region. (And still holds a current training licence)

Lionel was awarded the silver tray with Jim Morgan in 2004, by the Central Otago Trotting Club for a combined 100 years service to the club.
He was awarded ‘Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing’ at the Otago Horse awards; and more recently was also recognised for this at the Harness Racing New Zealand level.

Lionel’s first horse was ‘Major Gaillard’ which he trained in 1955. He was recognised by what now is ‘Harness Racing NZ’ as the youngest trainer, with the oldest horse.

Lionel’s first win was with ‘Lyric Lady’ in 1959, with his last win being with ‘Forty Wives’ in 2024.
His last race as a trainer was at Oamaru in March 2025, also on Forty Wives.

His favourite win was at his home track in Omakau, with ‘Gabbys Star’ in 2019. His son Graham Sinnamon driving and winning with his whole family there. (I can STILL hear the crowd from this! 🥹)
Followed closely by his win on ‘Allandale,’ at Addington.

Other good horses to mention for Lionel: Idaten, Ima Chip and El Vee

‘The greatest thing for Lionel, was his love for the game. This is why he did it for so long.’

The club is incredibly grateful to the significant contributions Lionel gave to our club. We hope he is proud how we are carrying on his legacy.

Rest in peace LV ❤️

Southern Harness Racing

19/01/2026

Ya gotta go and have a hot dog, they are amazing.
While your there check out the kids karts and the big horses, have a punt, enjoy a day out before the kids go back to school