Mark Jones Racing, Burnham (2025)

14/07/2025

To Owners and Horsemen,

I’m writing to raise a concern that I believe deserves our immediate attention—one that speaks to the heart of fairness and integrity in our sport.

During the recent HRNZ roadshows, we were advised that horses finishing 5th and beyond would lose a rating point. However, once the new system was released, it became clear that 5th place horses do not lose a point—nor do they earn any stake money. This inconsistency not only contradicts what was originally communicated, but also creates an unfair outcome for horses and their connections.

Every other placing in the field either earns stake money or loses a point. Fifth place, uniquely, receives no recognition at all—no financial return, no rating adjustment. That simply doesn’t sit right when a horse has fronted up, competed genuinely, and finished in a respectable position.

Additionally, this situation places professional drivers in a difficult position, where they could be pressured or instructed to avoid finishing fifth. That is not a position we want to see any driver put in, and it risks undermining the integrity of our races.

I truly believe this is something we can fix together. Whether the solution is to make 5th place eligible for stake money, or to ensure it results in a ratings drop like other non-stake-earning placings, either option would bring fairness and consistency back into the system.

Let’s work collectively to encourage HRNZ to make the right adjustment here—for the good of our horses, owners, trainers, and the sport as a whole.

Mark Jones

05/07/2025

We're double-dipping on today's Sunday Session with runners in both Invercargill and Christchurch.

Invercargill
Race 4: #5 Ultimate Gladiator - Blair Orange
"Bit of a mixed bag so far with a couple of OK runs and a couple of ordinary ones. Is good enough to win a maiden though and looks a decent each way chance today."

Race 7: #9 Bullit Train - Carter Dalgety
"Been very good in both runs back from a bit of a spell and the last start win was a good one. Will need a little luck today, but he's a chance with the right amount."

Race 10: #10 Tact Teena - Blair Orange
"She's racing really honestly and largely in good fields too, but she might just be starting to look for a freshen up. The new handicapping system looks likely to see her heading to the broodmare paddock."

Addington
Race 1: #8 Kowhai Sunburst - Sam Ottley
"Real honest effort first up from a spell last week and will be better for that. We look a decent top three chance behind Birdy here today."

Race 7: #3 Mystery Beach - Sam Ottley
"Two good runs in his last couple of efforts and drops back in grade this week. Looks a really strong chance and is our best hope of the day."

Race 7: #8 The Coalman - Ricky May
"Hasn't had a lot of luck recently but is going well. This is the sort of race he could pop up in if things fell into place."

Good luck to our owners today.

27/06/2025

Jumping in the truck (over the top of a few puddles) and heading into Addington tonight with a strong team of horses set to do battle.

Race 1: #2 Mystery Beach - Blair Orange
"I'm going to put last week down to trainer error. He's probably still a few runs away from peak fitness but can play a role here."

Race 1: #4 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"He's been racing a bit better in his last couple of runs and if he gets the right kind of trip tonight, he can be a top four player."

Race 2: #5 Connie Golightly - Robbie Close
"More likely to have a bit to say when she drops back into Sunday racing at this stage."

Race 2: #10 Ultimate Gladiator - Sam Ottley
"Let us down two starts ago but was better again last time out. Will need a bit of luck from the draw but can be a top four player with it."

Race 5: #5 Bullit Train - Sam Ottley
"Happy with his run last time out fresh up, he'll improve off that again and won't be too far away from the action again."

Race 6: #2 Samtapa - Sam Ottley
"There's a lot still to learn but is a horse we've got a bit of time for once the experience has been built. Will just keep improving. An each way chance tonight."

Race 7: #5 Francent - Sam Ottley
"She's been racing really well and this a great series for these mares. She's capable of playing a role here but would need a bit of luck to win it."

Race 8: #1 Tact Teena - Sam Ottley
"Racing great at the moment and the key to this race will be the start over the 2000m. Decent each way hope with a nice trip."

All the best to our owners tonight.

12/06/2025

Double venue action for us tonight on Friday Night Lights with runners at both Alexandra Park and Addington Raceway.

Alexandra Park
Race 9: #1 Paramount Lady - Maurice McKendry
"She slots into a pretty suitable race this week that looks a bit easier than her past couple of runs so should be a strong each way chance."

Addington
Race 3: #5 Destiny Dance - Olivia Thornley
"Still stuck in no man's land in the ratings at the moment but wasn't bad last week. Will need a few things to go her way this week though."

Race 3: #9 Tact Teena - Sam Ottley
"Hasn't put a hoof wrong lately and is racing really honestly. The draw really does hurt tonight but always an each way hope."

Race 6: #10 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"On the clock he was very good last week and perhaps heading back in the right direction. We'll need some luck from the draw but can be a player if things work out."

Race 12: #7 Ultimate Gladiator - Sam Ottley
"Really disappointed at Ashburton after a decent debut run at Timaru. Needs to lift, but the ability is there to be a player in this line up."

Good luck to all our connections tonight!

06/06/2025

Addington for us tonight on what looks set to be a wintry night at the trots.

Race 3: #8 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"We're hurt, once again, by the barrier draw especially with our main dangers all drawn better. If things pan out OK we're a decent each way chance though."

Race 6: #1 Destiny Dance - Ricky May
"Comes up with a good draw tonight but we probably still need to drop a few more points to be really competitive. So, we'll need a bit of luck out there."

Race 6: #7 Tact Teena - Sam Ottley
"She's running really nice races at the moment and is good and genuine so always a top four chance, even from the wider draw."

Race 7: #7 Francent - Sam Ottley
"She was really good winning down south last time out and continues to race well. We'll have to go back from the draw but she's an each way hope if they go hard up front."

Race 9: #2 Major Torque - Blair Orange
"Should have probably won his last two but just hasn't quite been sharp enough. Maps pretty well tonight though and looks a strong chance to finally get another one on the board."

Race 9: #11 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"He's been well below par in his last few starts but we've freshened him right up for this and that may well help him. Could be a nice top four knockout chance."

Good luck to all our connections tonight!

30/05/2025

Addington Raceway bound tonight with a team of runners engaged and one up in the north at Alexandra Park.

Addington
Race 1: #3 Destiny Dance - Sam Ottley
"Up in grade after the win last time and may struggle against a few smarter ones but he's got to work his way back down the grades somehow."

Race 4: #5 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"Been very disappointing lately but gets a good chance to try and turn that around tonight and should be a good top three chance."

Race 5: #2 Major Torque - Blair Orange
"Had his chance last week I thought but perhaps may have needed that to come on a bit. Looks a really strong hope tonight I think."

Race 5: #3 Tact Teena - Sam Ottley
"Racing really honestly at the moment and refuses to run a bad race so expect the same again and good enough to run top three."

Race 6: #8 Who's Queen - Sam Ottley
"Not bad fresh up last week and will be better for that, needs to do everything right but a decent top four chance if that happens."

Alexandra Park
Race 5: #4 Paramount Lady - Maurice McKendry
"Has been good in the north so far but meets a very sharp field tonight so will need to be even better to be a top four player."

Good luck to all our owners tonight.

23/05/2025

Big night at Addington tonight and we're excited to be there in force with a strong team.

Race 2: #13 Who's Queen - Sam Ottley
"She's fresh up from a bit of a let up tonight and meets a very good field so would take on trust."

Race 5: #1 Mystery Beach - Blair Orange
"Good at Rangiora last week and should get a nice trip from the draw. 2600m looks ideal and should be a good top four chance."

Race 5: #8 The Coalman - Jonny Cox
"He's been just OK lately but is capable of a whole lot more. Right kind of race for him so we're hoping he can step up."

Race 5: #9 Major Torque - Sam Ottley
"Very poor two weeks ago but we've been a lot happier with him at home and in this field he should be good enough to make his own luck and go close."

Race 7: #8 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"Has won before he steps on the track by getting a chance to race for $100k. He's been great through the Country Cup series and while there are a few smarter than him he won't disgrace himself."

Race 9: #9 Tact Teena - Sam Ottley
"Been really good lately and I'm very happy with her work leading into this. Wide draw but I think she's a great chance."

Good luck to our owners tonight.

22/05/2025

Down south with a team of three today to Kickstart a busy few days of racing.

Race 3: #5 Seaside Brucie - Sam Ottley
"He's a nice type who still has a lot to learn but will take plenty out of the trip and his first race. We've got a wide draw against some good fillies so a top 3 finish would be a great result."

Race 9: #7 Tokyo Rose - Carter Dalgety
"She's been really disappointing of late but the hope is getting back to the mile and by adding the blinds to her gear as a bit of a last hope effort that she might be able to turn things around today."

Race 9: #8 Francent - Sam Ottley
"She was great on the clock last week and has come through that well. Wide draw but she is an adaptable type who can do it anyway and this looks a great race for her today."

Good luck to the owners of today's team.

16/05/2025

Back on track at HQ tonight with a team of runners engaged.

Race 1: #1 Dawn To Dark - Nathan Williamson
"Made the most of a sweet trip last week to get the job done and we get a good draw again to try and make something happen. Looks a top four player."

Race 5: #10 Tokyo Rose - Sam Ottley
"She's hurt by the preferential barrier draw a wee bit with the higher rated horses drawn out wide which means most will land in front of her and she'll be tucked away on the fence. Top four chance with the right amount of luck."

Race 6: #5 Redpark Warrior - Sam Ottley
"Really proud of what he achieved in the North Island, a successful trip which is going to stand him well for the future. Will head forward tonight and look to lead and hopefully run second to Nathan Williamson's nice one."

Race 10: #9 Strikem - Sam Ottley
"Not the barrier draw we wanted, it makes it impossible for him out there so we'll be just looking to see him finishing the race off well."

Good luck to all our connections tonight.

13/05/2025

I’m not one to go public on things unless I believe them to be either unfair or wrong and the issue I’m writing about below is both as far as I’m concerned.

I’ll make it clear from the outset too; this is not a case of sour grapes. This is about fairness, consistency, and the fundamental integrity of harness racing in New Zealand. When rule changes are made behind closed doors, without informing all stakeholders, and only benefiting a select few, the credibility of our sport is severely undermined.

The Auckland Trotting Club’s recent Young Guns Trotters Series is a clear example. The series began with published and accepted conditions: a horse must contest a heat to qualify for the final. That rule was respected and adhered to by connections across the country—until HRNZ quietly changed it after the first heat had been run. No public announcement. No official communication to all connections. Just a quiet rewrite that completely changed the nature of the competition.

The result? Connections who followed the rules were penalised, and those who didn’t—or couldn’t—were handed eligibility post-facto. This is not just unfair, it is a direct hit to the integrity of our industry. Rules and race conditions are not optional guidelines. They are binding. If HRNZ cannot stand by them, then we have no foundation of trust in our sport.

Further to that, the decision to run a 5-horse, $50,000 race in Southland at the same time as heats and a final worth $100,000 in Auckland is just the latest in a string of inexplicable programming choices. We simply do not have the horse population to justify such scheduling, and to cover up these missteps by altering rules mid-series only deepens the damage.

I have spoken to multiple connections—both in Auckland and the South Island—who were blindsided and disgusted by these changes. Some have even considered legal action. How can we expect people to invest in the future of New Zealand harness racing, or place a futures bet on a series, if horses who weren’t eligible under the initial terms are allowed to win?

In Australia, this would not happen. Conditions are respected. Rules are rules. No matter who you are. The comparison is stark, and the failure here in New Zealand is glaring. It is time for accountability. The integrity of our sport cannot be sacrificed for poor planning or political favours. All owners, trainers, and connections must be treated equally, and the rules must be upheld—not rewritten after the fact to suit mistakes or vested interests.

If we don’t protect integrity now, we risk losing the faith of owners, punters, and the public. Without that, we have no sport left to save.

- Mark Jones.

11/05/2025

High-fives all round for win 35 for the season yesterday at Ashburton courtesy of Tact Teena.

📸: AJ Berry - Race Images

Mark Jones Racing

14/07/2025

05/07/2025

27/06/2025

12/06/2025

06/06/2025

30/05/2025

23/05/2025

22/05/2025

16/05/2025

13/05/2025

11/05/2025

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