Harness 5000 qualifying nears completion

The qualifying period for the The Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 officially finishes at Manawatu tomorrow (Tuesday) – though there aren’t expected to be many, if any, changes.

Right now a total of 392 horses have met the eligibility criteria, up 21 on last week.

The Harness 5000 is for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts between July 3 – December 9,2025.

At Ashburton on December 21 there will be a maximum of 14 starters (and one emergency) in each of the 12 $60,000 finals. They will all be held over 1700 metres (mobile).

The biggest category is in the 5YOs and Older Entires and Geldings, with 80 Pacers and 70 Trotters.

Following tomorrow’s racing there will be a Final Declaration of Order of Entry.

On Wednesday trainers of the top 14 horses, plus one emergency, and the next eight qualifiers on the table (if applicable) will be contacted (via email and text) regarding their participation.

By noon, Friday, December 12 : Confirmation of connections’ acceptance to start, deemed to be a nomination.

Noon, Monday, 15 December 2025: Declaration of Nominations.

2pm, Monday 15 December 2025: Declaration of Acceptances.

2pm, Tuesday 16 December 2025, Driver Declaration time.

There has been an alteration to Preferential Barrier Draws to account for Non-Win horses in Harness 5000 races.  If the field includes a non-win horse or horses, they will be drawn randomly inside the rated horses, then the rated horses will be drawn sequentially in ascending order up to 15.

To see the Harness 5000 Leaderboard click here

To find out more about Harness 5000 click here

From Harness Racing New Zealand