The Inter Dominion was the brain child of Western Australian Trotting Association Chairman Mr. J P Stratton, with the first series held at Gloucester Park, Perth.
The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rotation of the Championships is fixed annually at a meeting of the council. It is fixed five years in advance. It is held in New Zealand once in each four years.[1]
The traditional format is a series of heats held over a two-week period, with the final held in a third. Competitors earn points based on their finishing order in each heat, the 14 horses that accrue the most points over the series go into the Grand Final.
The winner is determined by the finishing order in the Grand Final. There is also a Consolation race.
The scheduling of the distances is usually at the discretion of the host club. The usual distance is a longer distance in excess of 2400 metres.
Blacks A Fake made history in 2010, by becoming the only horse to win four Inter Dominion races.[2]
In 1971 Juniors Image was first past the post but was disqualified for a positive swab test.
In 2011 Smoken Up was first past the post but was disqualified for a positive drugs test. A court challenge to the disqualification was not successful.[4][5]
In 2021 Expensive Ego was first past the post, however was relegated to second placing after causing interference to runner-up Boncel Benjamin.[6]
2024 Inter Dominion (New South Wales)
The 2024 Inter Dominion started on 29 November 2024 at Newcastle. There were 3 rounds scheduled:
Round 1 with 3 heats for pacers and 2 heats for trotters, all over 2030m from a mobile start.
Round 2 on Wednesday 4 December 2024 at Bathurst, all heats over 1730m.
Round 3 on Saturday 7 December 2024 at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, all heats over 2300m.
The Grand Finals were scheduled for Saturday 14 December at Tabcorp Park, Menangle and raced over 2300m.[7]
The 2023 Inter Dominion started on 1 December 2023 at Albion Park, the venue for the whole series which is a 1019m left-handed all weather track. There were 3 rounds scheduled:
Round 1 with 4 heats for pacers (9 starters maximum per heat) and 3 heats for trotters (12 starters maximum per heat), all over 1660m from a mobile start.[15][16]
Round 2 with 3 heats is raced on Tuesday 5 December over 2138m.[17]
Round 3 with 3 heats on Saturday 9 December over 2680m.[18]
The Grand finals were raced over 2680m on Saturday 16 December.[19][20]
Two of the leading contenders Leap To Fame and Swayzee were full siblings, by Rock and Roll heaven (USA) out of Lettucereason (Art Major, USA). Both were bred by Redbank Lodge Standardbreds.
The grand final was won by Leap To Fame (trained and driven by Grant Dixon) from Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs & Greg Sugars) and Swayzee (Jason Grimson & Cameron Hart) third.[21][22] The pacers consolation race was won by Cantfindabettorman, trained by Belinda McCarthy and driven by Luke McCarthy, from Blacksadance (Chantal Turpin/Pete McMullen) and Targaryen (Jack Butler/Chloe Butler).[23]
The 2022 Inter Dominion started on 26 November 2022 at Ballarat with 3 heats each for pacers and trotters, all run over 2200m.[32] The second night, Tuesday 29 November, is at Shepparton and the heats are 1690m. The third night, 3 December, is at Geelong and the races are 2570m. On 10 December the finals are held at Melton and each race is run over 2760m.[33]
The points awarded during the heats are: 1st (16 points), 2nd (13), 3rd (11), 4th (9), 5th (8), 6th (7), 7th (6), 8th (5), 9th (4), 10th (3), 11th (2) and 12th (1).
The stake for the Pacing heats was $30,000 while the Consolation race is $50,000 and the Grand Final $500,000.
There was no Inter Dominion in 2020. The 2021 Inter Dominions were held from Saturday 27 November 2021 to 11 December 2021. The first round of heats and the finals were held at Menangle Park Paceway while the second and third rounds of heats were at Bathurst and Newcastle respectively.
Due to COVID-19 a significant number of horses, particularly from New Zealand, were unable to compete.
Expensive Ego was first past the post but Boncel Benjamin was promoted to first.[39][40]
Horses that were in the final rankings but did not compete included:
5 - Father Bob - Mark Fletcher, NSW
7 - Ride High - Clayton Tonkin, Vic
9 - Out To Play - Emma Stewart, Vic
14 - San Carlo - S J Donoghue & R K Bartley, Vic
16 - Code Bailey NZ - Margaret Lee, Vic
19 - Colt Thirty One - Grant Dixon, Qld
25 - Zeuss Bromac NZ - Paul Fitzpatrick, NSW
30 - Perfect Stride NZ - Russell Jack, Vic
31 - Jilliby Chevy - Margaret Lee, Vic
33 - Mister Brazil - Adam Ruggari, NSW
34 - Blacksadance - Chantal Turpin, Qld
2019 Inter Dominion (Auckland)
The 2019 Inter Dominions were held in Auckland, New Zealand, hosted by the Auckland Trotting Club at the Alexandra Park track from Friday 29 November 2019 to 15 December 2019.[43]
Spankem who was one of the favourite contenders for the Interdoms was withdrawn due to a fetlock injury diagnosed following Christchurch cupweek.[44]
Heats 1 and 2 on Friday 29 November were raced over 2200m with a mobile start and Free-for-all conditions.
Heat 1 was won by Ultimate Sniper (Natalie Rasmussen, $2.50) from Chase Auckland (Tim Williams) and Mach Shard (Zachary Butcher) in 2:35.4 (mile rate 1:53.6).
Heat 2 was carried out by A G's White Socks (Maurice McKendry MNZM, $29.60) from Cruz Bromac (Mark Purdon) and Thefixer (Natalie Rasmussen) in 2:36.1 (mile rate 1:54.2).
Heat 3 and 4 on Tuesday 3 December were raced over 1700m.
Heat 3 was won by A G's White Socks (Maurice McKendry, $6.40) from Chase Auckland (Tim Williams) and My Kiwi Mate (Craig Demmler) in 1:59.17 (mile rate 1:52.7).
Heat 4 was won by Ultimate Sniper (Natalie Rasmussen, $2.80) from Cruz Bromac (Mark Purdon) and Mach Shard (Zac Butcher) in 1:59.01 (mile rate 1:52.6).
Heat 5 and 6 on Friday 6 December were raced over 2700m.
Heat 5 was won by Ultimate Sniper (Natalie Rasmussen, $1.50) from Chase Auckland (Tim Williams) and Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon) in 3:16.11 (mile rate 1:56.8).
Heat 6 was won by Cruz Bromac (Mark Purdon, $2.70) from Thefixer (Natalie Rasmussen) and Triple Eight (David Butcher) in 3:16.7 (mile rate 1:57.2).
The Grand final (2700m) was raced on 14 December and won by Ultimate Sniper (Natalie Rasmussen) in 3:14.7 (1:56.0) from Mach Shard (Zac Butcher) and Thefixer (Blair Orange). The 4 year old Ultimate Sniper went through the series undefeated.
The horse Triple Eight was number 8 in the final, drawn 8 and was placed 8th.
The New Zealand Cup for standardbred horses, also known as either the New Zealand Trotting Cup or the New Zealand Pacing Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Victoria Cup is the premier middle distance harness race of Australia. Conducted over 2575m, rather than the staying distance of over 3000m or the sprint distance of under 2000m, the Victoria Cup was run at the Melbourne Showgrounds up until 1975, when it was shifted to Moonee Valley. In 2009 the SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup will be run at Harness Racing Victoria's new venue, Melton Entertainment Park at Melton. The race has been part of the Australasian Grand Circuit since 1987. Conducted in February from 1987 to 2003, the race is now conducted over two nights in December, alongside the Australasian Trotting Grand Prix.
The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for standardbred pacing horses in New Zealand, run at Alexandra Park.
The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand.
The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year for the highest grade pacers. It is a Group 1 championship race and has been won by many of the champion pacers in New Zealand.
Harness racing in New Zealand is primarily a professional sport which involves pacing and trotting competitions for Standardbred racehorses. The difference is the horse's gait or running style:
The Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final was a race for trotters within the overall Inter Dominion series. The series is held each year, and is a harness racing competition for both trotters and pacers that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the 6 harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. However, in recent years the Trotting series has mainly been held in Victoria with other Australian states reluctant to host the series. It forms part of the overall Inter Dominion series for pacers and trotters.
The Dominion is a race held at the Addington Raceway each year in Christchurch, New Zealand for standardbred horses.
Anthony Butt is a driver of standardbred racehorses in Australia and New Zealand.
The Inter Dominion Hall of Fame is an organization created to recognise and honour those whose achievements have enriched the world of the Harness racing industry, particularly in the Inter Dominion series. The hall of fame was created to honor the standardbred annual races of the Inter Dominion which includes the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship and the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship. The races are held in a rotating cycle in Australia and New Zealand. The 2020 race is being held in New South Wales.
Changeover is a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse and stud stallion.
Monkey King is a leading New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. He is most noted for winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All double in two consecutive years, in 2009 and 2010, the first time this has ever been achieved. He also won the Miracle Mile Pace and the Auckland Trotting Cup in the 2009/10 season, as well as running second in the Inter Dominion Grand Final. As a result, he achieved the highest-earning season ever by a New Zealand pacer, and was crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year. These victories came after several top successes as a 3 and 4 year-old and consistently rating among the top horses in New Zealand over the following years. He was inducted to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame in 2019. He was at the time New Zealand's richest ever pacer with over $3,400,000 in stakes.
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand.
Terror To Love is a New Zealand standardbred racehorse. He is best known for being a three-time winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was trained by Graham and Paul Court.
Smoken Up is an Australian champion Standardbred race horse bred in New Zealand. He was the first pacer outside North America to record a mile in under 1:50. He was known as Trigger.
Im Themightyquinn is an Australian champion Standardbred race horse notable for being a three time Australian Harness Horse of the Year and three time winner of the Inter Dominion. He was inducted into the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame.
Lazarus is a former champion New Zealand Standardbred race-horse and is now a stud stallion.
Natalie Clair Rasmussen is a driver and trainer of Standardbred racehorses in Australia and New Zealand. She has been associated with many champions and is one of the leading trainers and drivers of harness horses in Australasia.
Bettor's Delight is a former champion American Standardbred race-horse and one of the World's greatest stud stallions.
The Race By Grins is a race for 3 year old and older harness horses run at Cambridge Raceway, New Zealand, by the Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness club. It is raced over 2200m from a mobile start and is a slot race.
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