McGrath withdraws application to break in yearlings

Martin Van Beynen from Stuff has reported that the harness racing industry is in uproar over a dispensation granted to former high-profile trainer Nigel McGrath who was banned for eight years for cheating in 2020.

But in a surprise move on Tuesday night, McGrath, speaking publicly for the first time in five years, said he had withdrawn his application to break in yearlings on a restricted basis.

“I have made this decision for my family, my personal wellbeing and for harness racing. The last thing I wanted was to create a stir,” he told Stuff.

Harness racing has been in uproar since dispensation was granted this month to allow the formerly highly successful trainer to break and gait horses after he was banned in 2020.

Trainers bombarded the board of Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) with letters and emails demanding the decision made this month be revisited. Some say the issue has brought unhappiness with industry management to a head.

The controversy comes as Harness Racing celebrates New Zealand Cup Day’s (Addington) turnover of $7.5 million, the largest by any code for a New Zealand race meeting over the last 10 years.

McGrath said the withdrawal was a reaction to the “unfortunate social media commentaries” on the approval.

“At no time was my application to include the jogging or pre-training of horses. It was solely for permission to break in yearlings with strict guidelines prepared by the CEO of HRNZ relating to numbers and stage of yearling preparation before they were to be passed to a trainer. Given this opportunity, my intentions were to break in two to three yearlings at any one time.

“It’s been nearly three years since I foolishly breached the HRNZ rules. There is not a day that goes by during which I don’t regret my actions at that time, and I’m truly sorry to those that have been affected, especially my family.”

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by Martin Van Beynen, reprinted with permission from Stuff.