Tributes flow as Lazarus tops awards
CHRISTCHURCH: The former connections of Lazarus got together in his honour one last time at the annual New Zealand Harness Racing Awards in Auckland on Saturday night.
The champion pacer, now racing in North America for new owners after a sizeable sale in April, predictably collected the night’s premier equine award, horse of the year, as well as pacer of the year and 5yo+ pacer of the year.
Phil Kennard, who along with wife Glenys selected him as a yearling in early 2014, was emotional when addressing the crowd in probably his final Lazarusrelated obligation.
He expects Lazarus to feature in the same awards dinner in ‘‘seven or eight years’ time’’, his reasoning being that the son of Bettor’s Delight would be New Zealand’s champion pacing sire by then.
Lazarus’ former cotrainer, Mark Purdon, was the final speaker of the night and talked glowingly of his and partner Natalie Rasmussen’s recently departed stable star.
‘‘Lazarus is a just a unique horse; he was always a gentleman to work with. Just a beauti ful horse. He would never kick anyone, he would never bite anyone.
‘‘You’d put him in the cart, you’d walk out the barn and he’d almost talk to you and say ‘what are we doing this morning, boss?’
‘‘. . . So, I hope he comes back here, he gets support and he turns out like his father — a champion stallion.’’
Purdon, Rasmussen, their family and owners won 16 awards in total, and Lazarus’ dam, Bethany, won the pacing broodmare of the year.
Speeding Spur’s fairytale return from injury was capped off with the trotter of the year nod, his Rowe Cup and NZ Trotting Championship wins enough earn the majority vote.
And the premier human award, the outstanding contri bution to harness racing, went to husbandandwife team Steve and Anne Phillips.
The now Waikatobased couple have been involved in volunteer work in the industry for more than 30 years, including amateur driving, Kidz Kartz, cadets and education, as well as being breeders, owners and trainers.
Blair Orange gave an emotive speech in receiving the driver of the year award, while Matt Anderson (leading junior), Nathan Purdon (UDR junior), Purdon and Rasmussen (trainers), the Kennards (owners), Braeden and Caroline Whitelock (breeders) and Ellie Barron (cadet) won the other human awards.
Influential producer Ten To One was trotting broodmare of the year after leaving three group 1 winners, including the 4yo trotting colt or gelding awardwinner, Habibi Inta.
Other winners.—
Trotting: Cheerful (2yo filly), Enhance Your Calm (2yo colt or gelding), Luby Lou (3yo filly), Winterfell (3yo colt or gelding), Bonnie Highlander (4yo mare), Destiny Jones (5yo & older mare). Trotting stallion of the year: Majestic Son.
Pacing: Princess Tiffany (2yo filly), Another Masterpiece (2yo colt or gelding), Shez All Rock (3yo filly), Chase Auckland (3yo colt or gelding), Utmost Delight (4yo mare), Ultimate Machete (4yo entire or gelding), Jo’s Dream (5yo & older mare). Pacing stallion of the year: Bettor’s Delight.
Best moment of the season: Sheree Tomlinson and family, for Amaretto Sun’s upset win in the Dominion Handicap.