Premiership picture takes shape at halfway mark

With the halfway mark of the 2025 harness racing calendar now passed, as we move into July the premiership tables are starting to take shape – with a few standout stories already emerging.

Orange in control again

Blair Orange is no stranger to leading the pack, and once again finds himself on top of the national drivers premiership. With 99 wins from 585 drives so far, the seven-time premiership winner is on track to crack 200 wins for the first time since 2021. He fell just short of that mark last year, finishing with 196 victories.

Junior stars shake up the top ranks

In what is believed to be a first, three junior drivers are sitting inside the top five on the premiership table. Wilson House leads the way on 59 wins, with Carter Dalgety and Crystal Hackett close behind, each on 43 wins. It is uncommon for Junior Drivers to appear towards the top of the overall drivers premiership, and the last time multiple juniors made an appearance in the Top 5 at the halfway point of the season was in 2012 with Zachary Butcher and Matthew Williamson.

Harrison Orange sits just outside the Top 5 in seventh, with 41 wins this season. The son of current leader, Blair Orange, is closing in on his 50th career victory and is poised to become the fastest driver in New Zealand history to reach that milestone.

That quartet also leads the junior premiership standings and with Wilson House holding a 13-win lead over Crystal and Carter, he’s in a strong position heading into the second half of the year. In recent years, the top juniors have finished the year on around the 70-win mark, so this year’s leading bunch is tracking well. The only junior drivers to have finished a season with over 100 wins are Dexter Dunn, Matthew Williamson and Zachary Butcher.

Telfer team on record pace

On the trainers’ side, Steve and Amanda Telfer look poised for a record-setting year. With 85 wins from 390 starts, they’re well ahead of the chasing pack and on pace to threaten the modern-day benchmark of 157 wins set by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in 2014.

Michael House (74 wins) and Robert & Jenna Dunn (42 wins) round out the top three, with Mark Jones (38 wins) not far behind.

Rounding out the top five are Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, with 35 wins so far this year. It’s a standout effort from the trotting specialists, who have had just two pacers in their team this year and do nearly all their winning in the squaregaiting ranks. With 39 total wins last season, they’re on track for one of their best years yet.

The Telfers won the premiership in 2022, with Diamond Racing (Robert and Jenna Dunn) claiming the title in 2023 and 2024 – but if current form holds, this year’s trophy could be heading back to Stonewall Stud.

From Harness Racing New Zealand