Southern Features

Here are the current points for 2025, up to and including Oamaru on the 27th November 2025.

The Trotter of the Year includes all Southern Harness managed meetings including Oamaru, and Forbury. 

Points are awarded as follows:

1st - 6pt     2nd - 4pt     3rd - 3pt     4th - 2pt

If you have any questions regarding the Trotter of the Year points please call Russell Morton, 221 7136 or  0274 429 759.

A series will run consisting of 16 qualifying races and a final.  To be eligible for the final, your horse must start in at least 2 heats.  Selection for the final will be based on points (highest to lowest).

The Final will be R50 & Faster Special Handicap Pace for a stake of $40,000.

Front: R55-69, 10m: R70-R79, 20m: R80-R89, 30m:R90-R99, 40m: R100 & faster

Points will be:-

1^st – 10,   2^nd – 5,    3^rd – 3,    4^th – 1

Races will be held:-

This series for 4 year old and older mares will continue in the current season and will be known as the Southern Belle Speed Series.

The series will consist of four heats and a final as follows:-

The conditions of the series are as follows:-

1. Open to all 4 year old and older mares up to R65 as at 1^st January 2026.
2. The heats will be Preferential Barrier Draw numbering sequentially from 1, based on winning stakes. The final will have an open draw.
3. To be eligible to start in the final any mare must have started in a heat of the series.
4. Where a mare is accepted and that heat is cancelled and starts in another race on that day the mare will become eligible for the final at the discretion of the Bureau.
5. A horse winning two heats will be ineligible to contest any further heats.
6. Mares will earn points in the heats as follows:   1^st – 10 points, 2^nd – 5 points, 3^rd – 3 points, 4^th – 1 point.
7. A minimum of 6 horses will be required for a heat to be run.

The highest points scorers in the heats will be selected to start in the final – a maximum of 13 starters – mares with equal points will be selected at the discretion of the Bureau.

Mares selected to start in the final will not be eligible to start in other races on the day of the final.

QUALIFICATION FOR FINALS:

a) To be eligible to contest the Southern Oaks Final or Southern Supremacy Final a three-year-old horse must have contested at least one heat or been eliminated from a heat or accepted for an abandoned heat.

b) All heats will be run under Preferential Barrier Draw conditions numbering sequentially from 1, based on Winning Stakes.

c) The winner of Heats 1 and 2 in each series automatically qualifies for its respective final.

d) The first three placegetters in Heats 3 and 4 automatically qualify for their respective finals.

e) Selection Criteria for Finals: after Automatic Qualifiers fill their positions in the respective Finals, the balance of each field will be determined by the Bureau, based on overall racing performance of those that have contested at least one heat or been eliminated from a heat or accepted for an abandoned heat. Preference will be given to horses that contested a heat, over those eliminated or accepted for an abandoned heat.

f) All automatic qualifiers will not be permitted to accept for any other race on the programme of the Invercargill HRC on 26 April 2026.

g) A nomination for each Final must be made with the host club in the normal manner.

h) The Bureau reserves the right to extend Nominations for the Finals, if in its view there are insufficient entries.

i) The Final will have a maximum of 12 starters.  Up to two emergencies may be selected.

j) A minimum of six horses will be required for a heat to be run, unless otherwise agreed to by HRNZ.

k) In the event a heat is abandoned owing to insufficient entries, a replacement heat may be sought.

l) Southern Harness reserves the right to alter or amend conditions of these series, if required, following approval from HRNZ.

QUALIFICATION FOR FINALS:

a) To be eligible to contest the Southern Oaks Final or Southern Supremacy Final a three-year-old horse must have contested at least one heat or been eliminated from a heat or accepted for an abandoned heat.

b) All heats will be run under Preferential Barrier Draw conditions numbering sequentially from 1, based on Winning Stakes.

c) The winner of Heats 1 and 2 in each series automatically qualifies for its respective final.

d) The first three placegetters in Heats 3 and 4 automatically qualify for their respective finals.

e) Selection Criteria for Finals: after Automatic Qualifiers fill their positions in the respective Finals, the balance of each field will be determined by the Bureau, based on overall racing performance of those that have contested at least one heat or been eliminated from a heat or accepted for an abandoned heat. Preference will be given to horses that contested a heat, over those eliminated or accepted for an abandoned heat.

f) All automatic qualifiers will not be permitted to accept for any other race on the programme of the Invercargill HRC on 26 April 2026.

g) A nomination for each Final must be made with the host club in the normal manner.

h) The Bureau reserves the right to extend Nominations for the Finals, if in its view there are insufficient entries.

i)  The Final will have a maximum of 12 starters.  Up to two emergencies may be selected.

j) A minimum of six horses will be required for a heat to be run, unless otherwise agreed to by HRNZ.

k) In the event a heat is abandoned owing to insufficient entries, a replacement heat may be sought.

l) Southern Harness reserves the right to alter or amend conditions of these series, if required, following approval from HRNZ.

The Invercargill Harness Racing Club are delighted to announce the continuation of the INVERCARGILL HARNESS ASCOT PARK IRON HORSE BONUS scheme for the third season. This scheme is for pacers and trotters racing at Ascot Park during the 2025/2026 season.

Standings after 5 race meetings (26/11/25)

Conditions:

The top 10 horses based on points earned at Invercargill Harness meetings only during the period from 10 August 2025 to 12 July 2026 inclusive will be eligible for the bonus. There are 16 race meetings hosted by the club during this period.

Points will be allocated as follows: 2 points will be allocated for every start a horse has, 4 points will be allocated for a win, 2 points for a second placing and 1 point for a third placing.

All horses that meet the criteria above will be eligible for the bonus, the top 10 will receive the bonus. The list of bonus eligible horses will be published on the Southern Harness website and the Invercargill Harness Racing Facebook page.

The top starter will get $5,000, the remaining horses from 2nd – 10th in the top 10 list will get $2,500 each. That’s $27,500 worth of bonuses!

If in the case of a tie a countback will be done on most starts, then most wins, then most seconds and then most thirds. If a tie is still held then highest stakes money earned at the Invercargill HRC meetings during that period will determine the final standings.

Bonuses will be payable to the registered owner(s) of the horse after the last Invercargill HRC meeting is held on 12 July 2026.

In case of any dispute the Invercargill HRC Committee will have the final decision.

This is a great opportunity for horses to target the season end Invercargill Harness Ascot Park Iron Horse Bonus.

For more information, please contact Craig Heyrick (027 633 1777), Invercargill Harness Racing Club President or Southern Harness Racing (03) 217 9117.