November 2009

On the day there were bubbles, film crews, glamorous girls and famous faces.  Horsepower had the pleasure of being acknowledged internationally  when the Australian travel show Getaway filmed a segment for their show of us 'horsing around'.

Kelly Landry (the host) and the production crew spent a day out at Horsepower, greeting, grooming and racing the best that we have to offer.  It was a full day filming for a 3.30 minute segment, with shots taken from every conceivable angle,  including a camera taped onto the sulky for the real action shots.

Some of our biggest stake winners were released onto the track that day - Harnetts Creek, Randy Andy,  Russian Road  and Hardly Matters.  There may have been a bit of a rig up with Kelly from Getaway winning the race, but regardless, it was an enjoyable day as usual, out on the track.

Check out the final cut that played throughout Australia here... 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2008

On the day there were bubbles and nibbles and fawning fans - and Winston Peters was in a sulky.

In his role as Racing Minister, Mr Peters flew into Christchurch yesterday to attend the opening of Horsepower, a tourism venture offering the horse-fearing public a chance to have a go at harness racing by way of a tandem sulky.Fresh from the plane trip, Mr Peters removed his sharp pinstripe jacket and shiny black shoes to make way for silver racing silks and gumboots. His coiffured hair was covered with a hair net then squashed by a protective helmet. Time in the freezing works had taught him to bear with sartorial inelegance, he said.

Mr Peters is the darling of the racing industry after announcing in May that the Government would put up $9 million over three years in prizes for some of New Zealand's premier races, as part of a co-sponsorship deal with the industry.

Driving with Horsepower owner Lindsay Kerslake behind retired trotting speedster Pocket Me, Mr Peters appeared comfortable in the sulky but blamed the judder of the gravelly track for his tremulous voice after the race.

There was some question over which horse was first past the post but Mr Peters claimed it was he who had won and promised the same of his seat in this year's election.

And though he was surrounded by supporters and the question of donations had not been posed, Peters used the microphone to continue his tirade against the media.

"These [racing media] will be okay because they do practical things like follow racing and give out honest commentary but the ones I deal with are the worst bunch of meerkats in the history of man and womankind."

Mr Peters has been under fire over donations from wealthy businessmen and faces a privileges hearing on Monday into claims surrounding a $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn to his legal fund.

There have also been questions surrounding a $25,000 donation from developer Sir Robert Jones which was paid into the previously unknown Spencer Trust, and donations from the Vela family, leading lights in the racing and fishing industries. 

November 2007

Our Canadian visitors were brilliant fun celebrating in our usual fashion.
 
Colin DeFillipi New Zealand's Representative for the 2007 world driving champs, was narrowly beaten in the last event of 20 races and conceded by 3 points to become 2nd in the world.

We have the privilege of racing with Colin at  conferences.  Seen here with Diane at the 2006 International plant breeders conference.

 

Robbie Deans - new Wallabies coach 2008 - drove Master Muscian when we hosted the 2003 Great rugby Luncheon.

He loved every minute of it .

Robert Cameron and Yulia Townsend

Robert 1983 world champion and Yulia international singing sensation while filming for "The Great Outdoors" Travel show.
To view the TV Show The Great Outdoors episode on Horsepower featuring Tom Williams, host and dancing with the stars winner, and 2004 world champion Mark Jones click here.  Horses included Honkin Vision, Lyell Creek, Pocket Me, Happy Asset, Ermis, for the filming of the show which screened July 2007.

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