New Zealand Free For All

The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand.

New Zealand Free For All

Group one (G1) race
Location	Addington Raceway Christchurch, New Zealand
Inaugurated	1914
Race type	Standardbred - Harness racing
Website	www.addington.co.nz
Race information
Distance	1,609 metres (1 mile)
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed oval
Qualification	Three-year-olds and up
Purse	NZ$176,000 (2019)

History of the race

Horses which have won the Free-for-all include hall of famers and champions who later shone in the United States and Canada like Cardigan Bay and Caduceus. The latter who won the Free For All three times. The race has also been won three times by Robalan, Harold Logan, Lordship and Author Dillon.[1] Between 1942 and 1948 the race was renamed the New Zealand Pacing Sprint Championship.[1]

The race is contested at Addington Raceway on the Canterbury Anniversary public holiday and Canterbury A&P Show day on the Friday of "Cup week" in mid-November. With the New Zealand Trotting Cup run on the Tuesday of that week, the Free For All attracts most of the same horses as the Cup, and is often won in the same year by the same horse. There is also the New Zealand Cup for gallopers and a number of other premier races for the harness, thoroughbred and greyhound racing codes that week.

Distance

Unlike the New Zealand Cup it is run from a mobile, rather than standing, start. From 1914 to 1972 the event was generally over 1 1/4 miles or from 1973 onwards 2000m, although from 1920 to 1927 it was a mile only. The 1962 race won by Lordship is recorded by HRNZ to have been over 9 1/2 furlongs. The 2008 race was won in record time (1.54 mile rate for 2000m) by Auckland Reactor. For 2012 and 2013 the race was contested over 1 mile (1609m), meaning the race will start on a bend. It was subsequently changed to 1950m for 2013 to 2017 and has been over 1980m for 2018 onwards.

Stake money

The total stake money for the race was:

• $176,000 (2019)
• $200,000 (2010)
• $300,000 (2008)
• $100,000 (2000)
• $85,000 (1990)
• $18,000 (1980)
• $4,500 (1970)

The total race stake was valued at $300,000 in 2008, but was reduced to $200,000 and below in later years due to economic pressures.[2]

Records

Most wins:

• 3 - Arthur Dillon (1918, 1919, 1920)
• 3 - Caduceus (1956, 1958, 1959)
• 3 - Harold Logan (1931, 1934, 1936)
• 3 - Lordship (1962, 1964, 1967)
• 3 - Robalan (1972, 1973, 1974)

Most wins by a driver:

• 7 - Tony Herlihy (1987, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2012)
• 5 - D D Nyhan (1962, 1964, 1972, 1973, 1974)
• 5 - Mark Purdon (1988, 1995, 2003, 2008, 2016)
• 4 - M F Holmes (1934, 1952, 1957, 1965)

Winners list

Year	Horse	Owner	Driver	Time
2019	Chase Auckland	Alabar Racing Syndicate	Tim Williams	2:20.6 (1980m)
2018	Cruz Bromac	D Zavitsanos, Mrs J Zavitsanos, P M O'Shea, Mrs Z D O'Shea, W R Viney	Natalie Rasmussen	2:18.5 (1980m)
2017	Ultimate Machete	Mrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, G R Douglas, K J Riseley, P J Creighton, Mrs M C Creighton	Natalie Rasmussen	2:15.7 (1950m)
2016	Lazarus *	Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, T G Casey, K Riseley	Mark Purdon	2:16.3 (1950m)
2015	Tiger Tara	R L Sandford, Mrs J A Sandford, J S Gould, G R Dunn	Gerard O'Reilly	2:18.9 (1950m)
2014	Christen Me	C J Roberts, V L Purdon	Dexter Dunn	2:18.4 (1950m)
2013	Pembrook Benny	B Purdon, T F Henderson, J C Higgins, K G Parry, D H Sixton, J B Hart	Zac Butcher	1:54.3 (1609m)
2012	Gold Ace	Mrs W A Purdon, D G Moore, M Ng, D D Syndicate	Tony Herlihy	1:52.6 (1609m)
2011	Smoken Up	A P Kay, P G Gadsby, A B Bonney, M J Van Rens, R J Kay, V MacDonald & L D Locastro	Lance Justice	2:25.3 (2000m)
2010	Monkey King *	Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd	Ricky May	2:23.7
2009	Monkey King *	Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd	Ricky May	2:22.4
2008	Auckland Reactor	Auckland Reactor Ltd	Mark Purdon	2:21.8
2007	Waipawa Lad	R K Bennett, F C Bennett	Mark Jones	2:22.0
2006	Sly Flyin	G W Brodie	Tony Herlihy	2:25.0
2005	Howard Bromac	Michelle Larsen, Mrs L Philpott, D Hardie	Kirk Larsen	2:23.3
2004	Just An Excuse *	O Haines, Mrs I K Haines	Todd Mitchell	2:24.9
2003	Jack Cade	J H Seaton, Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon	2:24.9
2002	Yulestar	Mrs J L Nolan, R P Nolan	Peter Jones	2:22.9
2001	Young Rufus	H Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop	Mark Purdon	2:25.8
2000	Agua Caliente	Est D S & Mrs D E J Short/Mrs D E Woods/Miss S M Short	Glen Wolfenden	2:24.7
1999	Holmes D G	Second Five Syndicate	Barry Purdon	2:28.6
1998	Christian Cullen *	I D & D A Dobson, B A O'Meara	Danny Campbell	2:26.0
1997	Brabham	Runvs Syndicate	Tony Herlihy	2:25.3
1996	Iraklis	R M Cameron, Kypros Kotzikas	Ricky May	2:24.4
1995	Il Vicolo *	J H Seaton, M Purdon	Mark Purdon	2:25.1
1994	Bee Bee Cee *	C J Calvert, Mrs J M Calvert	Jim Curtin	2:26.6
1993	Chokin *	Pacers Australia/M Joyce/J Loughnan/B De Boer	Tony Herlihy	2:25.9
1992	Blossom Lady *	Polly Syndicate	Anthony Butt	2:25.5
1991	Christopher Vance *	R R Reid, Lorna Reid Synd., Mrs J C Reid	Tony Herlihy	2:26.8
1990	Tight Connection	R Ellis/R Weavers/Horseplayers Syn/Club Connection Syn	Tony Herlihy	2:26.0
1989	Dillon Dean	D P Dwyer, Mrs H M C Burley	Colin De Filippi	2:27.3
1988	Tax Credit	C J Harvey, Mrs P A Harvey	Mark Purdon	2:25.7
1987	Luxury Liner	R R Reid, Est L F Reid, Mrs J C Reid	Tony Herlihy	2:26.3
1986	Master Mood *	K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B Wong	Kevin Williams	2:28.1
1985	Preux Chevalier	K J Lavin, Mrs W M Lavin	Barry Perkins	2:25.7
1984	Dillon Dale	K C Burley	D P E Dwyer	2.28.1
1983	Camelot	D H G Crofts	R D Butt	2.27.2
1982	Bonnie's Chance	Mesdames K A Grice & V B McGarry	R J Brosnan	2.28.5
1981	Armalight *	H B Smith	R H Negus	2.23.5
1980	Hands Down *	W H & Mrs M F McAughtrie	P N Jones	2.29.3
1979	Lord Module *	Cecil Devine	Cecil Devine	2.26.7
1978	Trusty Scot *	A M & J H Hunter	J H Hunter	2.29.1
1977	Balgove	W H & J P Roberts	R M Cameron	2.28.9
1976	Master Dean	N W Borlase	M R De Filippi	2.30.3
1975	Lunar Chance	K N Lawlor	K N Lawlor	2.28.2
1974	Robalan *	A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan	Denis Nyhan	2.26.6
1973	Robalan	A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan	Denis Nyhan	2.34.4
1972	Robalan	A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan	Denis Nyhan	2.33.6
1971	Bay Foyle	N R Johnstone	C J Parsons	2.34.4
1970	Stella Frost	L H Tilson	Doody Townley	2.36
1969	Chief Command	P H C Van der Looy	R P Nyhan	2.37
1968	Great Adios	Mrs P M Norton	B J Anderson	2.36.4
1967	Lordship	Mrs D G Nyhan	D G Nyhan	2.40.4
1966	Waitaki Hanover	Mrs J & F Smith	Doody Townley	2.35
1965	Robin Dundee	J W Hewitt	M F Holmes	2.37
1964	Lordship	Mrs D G Nyhan	Denis Nyhan	2.34.6
1963	Cardigan Bay *	Mrs A D Dean	P T Wolfenden	2.34.6
1962	Lordship *	Mrs D G Nyhan	Denis Nyhan	2.27.6
1961	Cardigan Bay	Mrs A D Dean	P T Wolfenden	2.39
1960	False Step *	J Smyth	Cecil Devine	2.35.2
1959	Caduceus	D D & D R Moore	J D Litten	2.36
1958	Caduceus	D D & D R Moore	J D Litten	2.34.8
1957	Lookaway *	C L Rhodes	M F Holmes	2.35.8
1956	Caduceus	D D & D R Moore	J D Litten	2.39.4
1955	Tactician	M C McTigue	M C McTigue	2.36.8
1954	Johnny Globe *	D G Nyhan	D G Nyhan	2.33.6
1953	Johnny Globe	D G Nyhan	D G Nyhan	2.35.4
1952	Vedette	C Johnston & M Jenkins	M F Holmes	2.41.8
1951	Maori Home	B Rushton & J W Duncan	W P Ireland	2.39.8
1950	Parawa Derby	L T Padget	J B Pringle	2.38
1949	Single Direct	Mrs M R & Bruce Elliott	E N Kennerley	2.37.2
1948	Highland Fling *	A T Kemble	L F Berkett	2.37.4
1947	Sir Michael	C Tasker	R Young	2.39
1946	Haughty	B Grice	G McKendry	2.41.4
1946	Turco	A V Prenderville & J X Ferguson	G S Smith	2.41.4
1945	Happy Man	J C South	C King	2.36.4
1944	Pacing Power	G Lancaster	R B Berry	2.38.4
1943	Springfield Globe	R B Berry	R B Berry	2.39
1942	Gold Bar	A B Holmes	D C Watts	2.35
1941	Josedale Grattan *	Dr M G Pezaro & E G Bridgens	F J Smith	2.42.2
1940	Plutus	W J Gudsell	J Bryce jnr	2.46.6
1939	Icevus	H Rudd	R Young	2.41.8
1938	Logan Derby	H Barnes	J A Stamford	2.39.4
1937	Supertax	D Rodgers	G Mouritz	2.40
1936	Harold Logan	E F C Hinds	R Townley jnr	2.39
1935	Indianapolis	G J Barton	J Fraser jnr	2.39.4
1934	Harold Logan	E F C Hinds	M F Holmes	2.38.4
1933	Red Shadow	Mrs M Harrall	J Bryce	2.41.4
1932	Roi L'Or	P Brown	F Holmes	2.38.2
1931	Harold Logan *	Miss E Hinds	R J Humphreys	2.40
1930	King Pointer	W McDonald	O E Hooper	2.39.8
1929	Padlock	J A Mitchell	W Hughes	2.42.6
1928	Peter Bingen *	J J Kennerley	J J Kennerley	2.38.8
1927	Native Chief	J Duffy	F G Holmes	2.11.2
1926	Great Bingen	J R McKenzie	D Withers	2.09
1925	Acron	J R McKenzie	A Butterfield	2.04.6
1924	Acron	J R McKenzie	A Butterfield	2.03.6
1923	Logan Chief	J Duffy	J J Kennerley	2.07.6
1922	Trix Pointer	W H Norton	F Holmes	2.09.4
1921	Albert Cling	M J Hannon	J McLennan	2.09.6
1920	Author Dillon	Executors J Knight	B Jarden	2.11.6
1919	Author Dillon	Executors J Knight	B Jarden	2.44.4
1918	Author Dillon *	B Jarden	B Jarden	2.45.8
1917	Cathedral Chimes	J Bryce	J Bryce	2.42.6
1916	Admiral Wood	Mrs A M Seymour	J Bryce	2.45
1915	Our Thorpe	J Fleming	A Fleming	2.41.4
1914	Eccentric	R T Reid	J Brankin	2.48.8

* won the New Zealand Trotting Cup same year

Full details of each year's race are contained on the Harness Racing New Zealand website [3]

See also

• Harness racing
• Harness racing in New Zealand
• Auckland Trotting Cup
• New Zealand Trotting Cup
• Great Northern Derby
• Rowe Cup
• Dominion Handicap
• Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
• Inter Dominion Trotting Championship
• Miracle Mile Pace
• Noel J Taylor Mile
• New Zealand Messenger

References

1. New Zealand Free for All Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
2. Prizemoney for Premier Ne Zealand Harness racing events Archived 25 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
3. https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs/major_races/major_race3.htm