Latest news with #NewZealandThoroughbredRacing
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Grandma grieves loss of talented teenage jockey
Ngakau Hailey's grandmother says she wants him to be remembered as a young man who loved his whānau, loved life, and put his whole heart and soul into whatever he did. The teen jockey is due to be laid to rest on Monday as the racing community continues to absorb the shock of his death. Hailey, 18, died after his dirt bike collided with a car at the intersection of Willoughby and Mill Street in Whitiora about 3.25pm on Wednesday. Hailey suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later died. His grandmother, Linda Gough, said Hailey brought joy and happiness everywhere he went. "Our hearts have been shattered at losing our beautiful grandson Ngakau Sonny-Bill Hailey. He loved his whānau, and we all loved him. We will always miss you boy," she said. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) said the news has brought great sadness to all corners of the industry. "Ngakau had a bright future ahead of him, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss," said NZTR's head of licensing & registrations, Matthew Williamson. Hailey was said to be a natural in the saddle, a gifted rider who had already achieved 46 career wins in just over two years, including 18 this season alone. "On behalf of everyone at NZTR and across the wider industry, we extend our deepest condolences to Ngakau's family, friends, and the many people who knew and rode alongside him. We will ensure support is available to those who need it," said Williamson. NZTR said support is being offered to fellow riders and other industry participants through NZTR's OnTrack support services, the industry's wellness programme. Hailey was jockey on Billy Lincoln, a four-year-old colt owned by Lincoln Farms. Lincoln Farms' boss John Street said losing Hailey at such a young age was a terrible blow. Street said Hailey's dream to become a NRL player was foiled because he never grew but when he tried trackwork riding Hailey said he fell in love. On its website, Waikato Junior Rugby League said Hailey had been a talented young league player and a young boy who loved giving anything and everything a go. Hailey's coffin has been taken to his home until his funeral. A Givealittle page set up by fellow jockey Wiremu Pinn has also been set up to help Hailey's family pay for the funeral, with more than $22,500 donated by Friday morning.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
‘Naturally gifted' jockey, 18, tragically dies after dirt bike accident
Ngakau Halley sustained critical injuries when he was involved in a collision between a dirt bike and car at an intersection in Hamilton, New Zealand A 'naturally gifted' young jockey has died of his injuries after he was involved in a collision between the dirt bike he was riding and a car. Ngakau Halley, 18, was in the third season of his apprenticeship in New Zealand and had ridden 18 winners this term to take his total to 46. He was riding a dirt bike which was involved in a serious two-vehicle crash at an intersection in Whitoria, according to Waikato Police. 'Sadly, the rider of the dirtbike received critical injuries and was transported to hospital where they later died,' a statement said. 'Two young people in the car were transported to hospital with moderate injuries. The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.' Halley was later named as the victim in the accident. 'It's tragic, words just can't describe it. I was talking with him on Monday and then this happens,' New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Northern Riding Master Noel Harris told LoveRacingNZ. 'He was very polite and he was a very talented boy. You knew straight away when you saw him on a horse that he was a natural. From where he was brought up, they just jump on a horse and you are part of it.' Halley learned to ride from a young age but had ambitions to become a professional rugby league player, having played hooker for his local club and district. He later changed tack after riding track work and then took out his apprenticeship with trainer Debbie Sweeney 'He was a natural talent, and that is just what you want,' Harris said. 'It's tragic, he was a lovely boy.' Among many tributes, top Australia-based jockey Blake Shinn said: 'Such a devastating tragedy. Sending strength and sympathy to the family, friends and all in the NZ Racing community.' A fund-raising page has been set up for donations towards funeral costs.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Track to be inspected
The Waimate Racing Club's meeting at Timaru tomorrow is in the lap of the weather gods. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing said yesterday an inspection of the track will be carried out about noon today, due to "significant rain received at Phar Lap raceway over the past week". Good fields have been carded for the Waimate Cup meeting. — APL
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Horse racing: Plans to resume racing at Waipukurau and Hastings
Racing is set to return to the Waipukurau Racecourse in the next racing season, while a resumption of racing on the Hastings track is planned in time for the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival next year. These were part of two statements released by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing on Wednesday. The
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Winter woes may bite racing early with Rotorua meeting under threat
'But there is a lot of rain expected tonight so we will come back first thing in the morning to ensure there is no surface water and it is safe.' If the meeting has to be postponed it would have to be rescheduled for Monday or Tuesday because there are already two thoroughbred meetings on Sunday. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing officials would prefer to hold a postponed meeting rather than abandon it, not just because of the lost revenue for the industry and participants but because of the black type races. While plenty of those in today's $100,000 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup are just getting warmed up for some winter wars, many of the mares in the Rotorua ITM Stakes are using today's meeting as their last shot at black type for the season and will want today's meeting over and done with. One of those is Marotiri Molly, whose trainer Matt Dixon said this is her last major goal of a superb season. 'We have targeted this race and I don't want her ploughing around in the mud through winter,' says Dixon. 'I think it is an ideal race for her. She needed her run last start and has come in much better off in the weights against a horse like Tomodachi, who she conceded 6kg to last time. 'She handles heavy tracks okay so that doesn't worry me. But if it gets really heavy down on the inside later in the day, I am a bit concerned about her ace draw. 'Initially, it sounded good but it won't be if the track gets cut up on the inside. 'One thing that might help her is she has natural speed early so she might be able to get in front of plenty of them and dictate what line she takes around the home turn.' The race becomes harder to work out with every hour of rain but the best-backed mare yesterday was Lux Libertas, who was $7.50 into $6 after the track was downgraded to heavy, a surface she is unbeaten on in four starts. Trentham race on a heavy 10 today, while Ascot Park tomorrow will also be in that range. The only track not starting the weekend rated heavy is Whanganui, where the jumps racing season kicks off on Sunday. Tomorrow's meeting will host two hurdle races and one steeplechase, with the jumps racing community buoyed by the three-year lifeline it has been given after a NZTR review. There have been good numbers of newcomers trialling over jumps and at least three or four overseas jockeys are expected to come to New Zealand for the winter to ride, helping ease the critical shortage of jumps jockeys. The good news for the struggling discipline continued yesterday when the Canterbury Jockey Club announced the stake for this year's Grand National Steeplechase will rise to $200,000, double last year's stake when West Coast won the race for the third straight season. West Coast starts his path towards securing a fourth Grand National title when he contests a maiden flat race at Whanganui tomorrow. West Coast back, heavy 10 tracks and jumps racing. Yes, winter is here.
