Pacemakers set for debut at 2026 NZB Sales

New to the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in 2026, Pacemakers hope they are onto something that could blossom in the years to come.

The new entity, compromising a number of New Zealand thoroughbred farms and studs, is managed by Adrian Stanley.

“There are around a dozen different farms involved and they buy and sell as individuals but under the Pacemakers banner,” says Stanley.

As well as his own Woburn Farm other high profile studs involved include Carlaw Park, Wentwood Grange, Hallmark Stud, Henley Park, Riversley Park, Waikato Stud, Kaha Nui, Kiltannon Stables, Prima Park and Highden Park.

Their business model is to pinhook weanlings and then on-sell them as yearlings.

It’s common practice in the thoroughbred world, and Stanley’s keen to give  it “a good crack” with the standardbreds.

“We came up with the idea at a long lunch in Sydney!”

At the first dual code weanling sale at Karaka in June, Pacemakers was the top buyer with 12 standardbred purchases totalling $141,500.

Their weanlings ranged in price from $3000 to $28,00 for a Ecurie K colt.

“We wanted a headline horse and he is a ripping colt.”

So how did a group of thoroughbred experts decide on which standardbreds to buy?

“The group has a lot of experience with all sorts of stock and the same principles apply when it comes to finding a nice athletic animal but we also asked a lot of questions and got advice from people in the harness game.”

The dozen yearlings, 10 pacers and two trotters, then went back to their respective farms.

“They have gone to good studs and farms to grow out,” says Stanley, “some have been long-reined and lunged and I’ve seen videos where some guys have had them trotting behind their quad bikes.”

In February they will be back in the sales ring.

“We are not expecting to make heaps and heaps of money but we’d like to make some profit,” says Stanley.

“It would be nice to do a draft every year.”

The emergence of Pacemakers highlights a growing co-operation between the two racing codes.

“We really do have to have both industries humming along and not in opposition,” says Stanley.

“We want thoroughbred people involved in harness and vice versa which will ultimately translate into an increase in base funding for both codes.”

Most, if not all, of the Pacemakers yearlings will be available for inspection at Stanley’s Woburn Farm at Ohaupo on January 20.

A total of 133 yearlings, including the Pacemakers draft, will go under the hammer at Karaka on Monday, February 16. A further 186 will be offered in Christchurch two days later.

“We are in the process of organising a marquee, some signs and uniforms and we will be ready to go at Karaka,” says Stanley.

To see the NZB Standardbred National Yearling sales catalogue click here

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk