Sports Chat for 16 June 2025
An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere.
Tags:
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
16 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Harness racer dragged across track, holds on to save horse
Video of a harness racer, who was dragged face down for metres by her bolting horse, has gone viral with the footage viewed more than 1.5 million times. Crystal Hackett had just won a race at Alexandra Park on Friday night driving pacer Buddy Guy, when he got spooked and up-ended the sulky, the two wheeled cart behind the horse, tipping Crystal onto the ground. She held onto the reins, fearing if she let go the horse would hurt himself or another racer, and was dragged at speed across rough terrain before managing to bring him to a stop. Crystal Hackett spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Prominent harness racing trainer Nigel McGrath granted 'partial return' to industry after cheating ban
Photo: PIXABAY / Creative Commons A prominent harness racing trainer banned for eight years after admitting cheating has been granted a "partial return" to the industry. Nigel McGrath made headlines after he was banned in July 2020 for eight years. The ban came after he admitted charges of attempting to administer a prohibited substance by way of nasal gastric tube, refusing to make a statement, and obstructing a racecourse investigator. McGrath has 570 wins in his 20-year career with $6 million in stake money. On Monday, Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Brad Steele confirmed to RNZ a decision had been made allowing him to make a "partial return" to harness racing. Do you know more? Email At the last Harness Racing New Zealand AGM a rule change was passed allowing any banned party to apply for an exemption if they have served at least half of their penalty, Steele said. McGrath then applied for an exemption. HRNZ's exemptions committee met to consider the matter and concluded that some of the conditions regarding McGrath's ban would change. This includes McGrath now being allowed to earn prize money again. "It is however under tightly managed conditions and it is up to him to prove he has changed his ways," Steele said. McGrath cannot hold a trainer's or driver's licence and he cannot act as a stable representative or make official decisions on behalf of a training operation but he is able to work in licenced stables under direct supervision. He will remain unable to enter a racecourse when a meeting is taking place. Steele said there would be "zero tolerance". "Any breach of these exemptions would result in immediate consequences, including the potential reinstatement of his disqualification." McGrath's involvement would be subject to regular review and monitoring by the Racing Integrity Board and HRNZ. "The decision balances disciplinary actions with the industry's obligations to rehabilitate," Steels said. "A decision to provide anyone with a chance to be re-integrated should not be mistaken for leniency." Steele acknowledged the decision "would not be welcomed by everyone in the sport". "We take those comments onboard and the issue has prompted us to commit to a review of the industry's integrity standards and processes. "It will be an opportunity for everyone in the sport to have their say and will happen shortly."
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Liam Lawson: 'It's been a tough, tough weekend'
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. Photo: Eric Alonso / PHOTOSPORT New Zealand driver Liam Lawson has had to endure another tough weekend in Formula One. Lawson failed to finish Monday's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. After qualifying at the back of the field, the young Kiwi was forced out with 14 laps remaining with technical issues with his Racing Bulls car. "It's just been a tough, tough weekend which is a shame," Lawson said afterwards. He was forced to start his first Canadian GP from pit lane after his team made changes to his power unit post qualifying. The 23-year-old was put on a one pit-stop strategy but was unable to make inroads on the field. He was eventually told to retire the car as it was suffering from cooling problems. It is the third race he's failed to finish this season. "It's disappointing, obviously it was going to be a very difficult race anyway from the pit lane. "We had a cooling issue at the end so unfortunately we had to retire." Photo: GEOFF ROBINS His Racing Bulls team-mate Isack Hadjar also struggled with pace and finished 16th, with just Lance Stroll behind him. "The hard fact is that we didn't have enough pace today to fight in the top 10," Team Principal Laurent Mekies said. "It's a tight battle in the midfield and even only one-tenth can make the difference, and today it was enough to drop back instead of attacking forward." By not picking up any points Racing Bulls slip further behind Williams in the Constructors' Championship and now sit in seventh place on the same points as Haas. With Fernando Alonso finishing seventh for Aston Martin they are now just six points behind Racing Bulls. Lawson is 18th in the Drivers' Championship with the four points he picked up with his eighth-place finish at Monaco. "We'll keep working on the speed and I'll keep working on myself to reset ahead of Austria," Lawson said. Round eleven is in Austria at the end of the month. "Looking back at the last few months, every single improvement we've made as a team has been made after tough weekends like this one in Canada. We certainly take some positives from this weekend and the fight is on, so we'll keep pushing all together," Mekies said.
