# New Zealand Free For All

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.

## History of the race

Horses which have won the Free-for-all include hall of famers and champions who later shone in the United States and Canada like Cardigan Bay and Caduceus. The latter who won the Free For All three times. The race has also been won three times by Robalan, Harold Logan, Lordship and Author Dillon. Between 1942 and 1948 the race was renamed the New Zealand Pacing Sprint Championship.
The race is contested at Addington Raceway on the Canterbury Anniversary public holiday and Canterbury A&P Show day on the Friday of "Cup week" in mid-November. With the New Zealand Trotting Cup run on the Tuesday of that week, the Free For All attracts most of the same horses as the Cup, and is often won in the same year by the same horse. There is also the New Zealand Cup for gallopers and a number of other premier races for the harness, thoroughbred and greyhound racing codes that week.
Distance
Unlike the New Zealand Cup it is run from a mobile, rather than standing, start. From 1914 to 1972 the event was generally over 1+1⁄4 miles or from 1973 onwards 2000 m, although from 1920 to 1927 it was a mile only. The 1962 race won by Lordship is recorded by HRNZ to have been over 9+1⁄2 furlongs. The 2008 race was won in record time (1.54-mile rate for 2000 m) by Auckland Reactor. For 2012 and 2013 the race was contested over 1 mile (1609 m), meaning the race will start on a bend. It was subsequently changed to 1950 m for 2013 to 2017 and has been over 1980 m for 2018 onwards.
Stake money
The total stake money for the race was:
* $203,500 (2022)
* $165,600 (2020)
* $240,000 (2015)
* $200,000 (2010)
* $300,000 (2008)
* $100,000 (2000)
* $85,000 (1990)
* $18,000 (1980)
* $4,500 (1970)

## Records

Most wins:
* 3 - Author Dillon (1918, 1919, 1920)
* 3 - Caduceus (1956, 1958, 1959)
* 3 - Harold Logan (1931, 1934, 1936)
* 3 - Lordship (1962, 1964, 1967)
* 3 - Robalan (1972, 1973, 1974)
Most wins by a driver:
* 8 - Tony Herlihy (1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2012, 2023)
* 7 - Mark Purdon (1988, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2016, 2022)
* 5 - Denis Nyhan (1962, 1964, 1972, 1973, 1974)
* 4 - Maurice Holmes (1934, 1952, 1957, 1965)
* 4 - Natalie Rasmussen (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021)

## Results

| Year | Horse | Owner(s) | Driver | Time | Second | Third |
| 2024 | Merlin | Montana Park Pty Ltd | Zachary Butcher | 2:25.3 (1980m) | Better Eclipse | Catch A Wave |
| 2023 | Self Assured | Mrs Jean Feiss | Tony Herlihy | 2:23.70 (1980m) | Akuta | Beach Ball |
| 2022 | Self Assured | Mrs Jean Feiss | Mark Purdon | 2:21.90 (1980m) | Majestic Cruiser | Old Town Road |
| 2021 | South Coast Arden | Mrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs | Natalie Rasmussen | 2:17.00 (1980m) | Self Assured | Krug |
| 2020 | Spankem | Mrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham | Natalie Rasmussen | 2:19.20 (1980m) | Thefixer | Ashley Locaz |
| 2019 | Chase Auckland | Alabar Racing Syndicate | Tim Williams | 2:20.6 (1980m) | Classie Brigade | Cruz Bromac |
| 2018 | Cruz Bromac | D Zavitsanos, Mrs J Zavitsanos, P M O'Shea, Mrs Z D O'Shea, W R Viney | Natalie Rasmussen | 2:18.5 (1980m) | Turn It Up | Jack's Legend |
| 2017 | Ultimate Machete | Mrs GJ Kennard, P I Kennard, G R Douglas, K J Riseley, P J Creighton, Mrs M C Creighton | Natalie Rasmussen | 2:15.7 (1950m) | Tiger Tara | Jack's Legend |
| 2016 | Lazarus * | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, T G Casey, K Riseley | Mark Purdon | 2:16.3 (1950m) | Christen Me | Tiger Tara |
| 2015 | Tiger Tara | R L Sandford, Mrs J A Sandford, J S Gould, G R Dunn | Gerard O'Reilly | 2:18.9 (1950m) | Mossdale Conner | Messini |
| 2014 | Christen Me | C J Roberts, V L Purdon | Dexter Dunn | 2:18.4 (1950m) | Adore Me | Franco Nelson |
| 2013 | Pembrook Benny | B Purdon, T F Henderson, J C Higgins, K G Parry, D H Sixton, J B Hart | Zachary Butcher | 1:54.3 (1609m) | Easy On The Eye | Caribbean Blaster |
| 2012 | Gold Ace | Mrs W A Purdon, D G Moore, M Ng, D D Syndicate | Tony Herlihy | 1:52.6 (1609m) | Pure Power | Terror to Love |
| 2011 | Smoken Up | A P Kay, P G Gadsby, A B Bonney, M J Van Rens, R J Kay, V MacDonald & L D Locastro | Lance Justice | 2:25.3 (2000m) | Franco Emirate | Pembrook Benny |
| 2010 | Monkey King * | Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd | Ricky May | 2:23.7 (2000m) | Bondy | Smoken Up |
| 2009 | Monkey King * | Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd | Ricky May | 2:22.4 (2000m) | Nearea Franco | Changeover |
| 2008 | Auckland Reactor | Auckland Reactor Ltd | Mark Purdon | 2:21.8 (2000m) | Awesome Armbro | Changeover |
| 2007 | Waipawa Lad | R K Bennett, F C Bennett | Mark Jones | 2:22.0 (2000m) | Baileys Dream | Classic Cullen |
| 2006 | Sly Flyin | G W Brodie | Tony Herlihy | 2:25.0 (2000m) | Flashing Red | Waipawa Lad |
| 2005 | Howard Bromac | Michelle Larsen, Mrs L Philpott, D Hardie | Kirk Larsen | 2:23.3 (2000m) | London Legend | Just An Excuse |
| 2004 | Just An Excuse * | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | Todd Mitchell | 2:24.9 (2000m) | Mister D G | Jagged Account |
| 2003 | Jack Cade | J H Seaton, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 2:24.9 (2000m) | Jagged Account | Elsu |
| 2002 | Yulestar | Mrs Lorraine Nolan & Ron Nolan | Peter Jones | 2:22.9 (2000m) | Young Rufus | Stars And Stripes |
| 2001 | Young Rufus | H Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop | Mark Purdon | 2:25.8 (2000m) | Kym's Girl | Makati Galahad |
| 2000 | Agua Caliente | Est D S & Mrs D E J Short/Mrs D E Woods/Miss S M Short | Glen Wolfenden | 2:24.7 (2000m) | Yulestar | Zyuganov Leis |
| 1999 | Holmes D G | Second Five Syndicate | Barry Purdon | 2:28.6 (2000m) | Yulestar | All Our Fella |
| 1998 | Christian Cullen * | I D & D A Dobson, B A O'Meara | Danny Campbell | 2:26.0 (2000m) | Holmes D G | Happy Asset |
| 1997 | Brabham | Runvs Syndicate | Tony Herlihy | 2:25.3 (2000m) | Iraklis | Silk Brocade |
| 1996 | Iraklis | R M Cameron, Kypros Kotzikas | Ricky May | 2:24.4 (2000m) | Brabham | Whale Of A Tale |
| 1995 | Il Vicolo * | J H Seaton, Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 2:25.1 (2000m) | Brabham | Lento |
| 1994 | Bee Bee Cee * | C J Calvert, Mrs J M Calvert | Jim Curtin | 2:26.6 (2000m) | Master Musician | Lento |
| 1993 | Chokin * | Pacers Australia/M Joyce/J Loughnan/B De Boer | Tony Herlihy | 2:25.9 (2000m) | Master Musician | Christopher Vance |
| 1992 | Blossom Lady * | Polly Syndicate | Anthony Butt | 2:25.5 (2000m) | Sogo | Christopher Vance |
| 1991 | Christopher Vance * | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Synd., Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy | 2:26.8 (2000m) | The Bru Czar | Surmo Way |
| 1990 | Tight Connection | R Ellis/R Weavers/Horseplayers Syn/Club Connection Syn | Tony Herlihy | 2:26.0 (2000m) | Reba Lord | Bold Sharvid |
| 1989 | Dillon Dean | D P Dwyer, Mrs H M C Burley | Colin De Filippi | 2:27.3 (2000m) | Bold Sharvid | Inky Lord |
| 1988 | Tax Credit | C J Harvey, Mrs P A Harvey | Mark Purdon | 2:25.7 (2000m) | Luxury Liner | Speedy Chaval |
| 1987 | Luxury Liner | R R Reid, Est L F Reid, Mrs J C Reid | Tony Herlihy | 2:26.3 (2000m) | Lightning Blue | Frangelico |
| 1986 | Master Mood * | K L Williams, Mrs B A Williams, S F Wong, F B Wong | Kevin Williams | 2:28.1 (2000m) | Our Mana | Borana |
| 1985 | Preux Chevalier | K J Lavin, Mrs W M Lavin | Barry Perkins | 2:25.7 (2000m) | Camelot | Premiership |
| 1984 | Dillon Dale | K C Burley | D P E Dwyer | 2:28.1 (2000m) | Enterprise | Our Mana |
| 1983 | Camelot | D H G Crofts | R D Butt | 2:27.2 (2000m) | Hands Down | Stortford Lodge |
| 1982 | Bonnie's Chance | Mrs K A Grice & Mrs V B McGarry | Richard J Brosnan | 2:28.5 (2000m) | Armalight | Hands Down |
| 1981 | Armalight * | H B Smith | R H Negus | 2:23.5 (2000m) | Bonnie's Chance | Superior Chance |
| 1980 | Hands Down * | W H & Mrs M F McAughtrie | Peter Jones | 2:29.3 (2000m) | Lord Module | Philippa Frost |
| 1979 | Lord Module * | Cecil Devine | Cecil Devine | 2:26.7 (2000m) | Trevira | Trusty Scot |
| 1978 | Trusty Scot * | A M & J H Hunter | J H Hunter | 2:29.1 (2000m) | Belmer's Image | Lord Module |
| 1977 | Balgove | W H & J P Roberts | R M Cameron | 2:28.9 (2000m) | Greg Robinson | Stanley Rio |
| 1976 | Master Dean | N W Borlase | M R De Filippi | 2:30.3 (2000m) | Final Curtain | Forto Prontezza |
| 1975 | Lunar Chance | K N Lawlor | K N Lawlor | 2:28.2 (2000m) | Final Decision | Why Bill |
| 1974 | Robalan * | A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 2:26.6 (2000m) | Hi Foyle | Young Quinn |
| 1973 | Robalan | A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 2:34.4 (2000m) | Arapaho | Bomber Bill |
| 1972 | Robalan | A T Devery, P N Hope & D D Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 2:33.6 | Globe Bay | Scottish Charm |
| 1971 | Bay Foyle | N R Johnstone | C J Parsons | 2:34.4 | Intrepid | Royal Trump |
| 1970 | Stella Frost | L H Tilson | Doody Townley | 2:36 | Radiant Globe | James |
| 1968 | Great Adios | Mrs P M Norton | B J Anderson | 2:36.4 | Allakasam | Humprey |
| 1967 | Lordship | Mrs Doris Nyhan | D G Nyhan | 2:40.4 | Allakasam | Indecision |
| 1966 | Waitaki Hanover | Mrs J & F Smith | Doody Townley | 2:35 | Lordship | Full Sovereign |
| 1965 | Robin Dundee | J W Hewitt | M F Holmes | 2:37 | Peerswick | Orbiter |
| 1964 | Lordship | Mrs D G Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 2:34.6 | Orbiter | Jay Ar |
| 1963 | Cardigan Bay * | Mrs A D Dean | P T Wolfenden | 2:34.6 | Sun Chief | Vanderford |
| 1962 | Lordship * | Mrs Doris Nyhan | Denis Nyhan | 2:27.6 | Cardigan Bay | Jay Ar |
| 1961 | Cardigan Bay | Mrs A D Dean | P T Wolfenden | 2:39 | Scottish Command | Smokeaway |
| 1960 | False Step * | J Smyth | Cecil Devine | 2:35.2 | Lookaway | Thunder |
| 1959 | Caduceus | D D & D R Moore | J D Litten | 2:36 | Gentry | False Step |
| 1958 | Caduceus | D D & D R Moore | J D Litten | 2:34.8 | Gentry | Tactician |
| 1957 | Lookaway * | C L Rhodes | M F Holmes | 2:35.8 | Tactician | Suzendry |
| 1956 | Caduceus | D D & D R Moore | J D Litten | 2:39.4 | Johnny Globe | Thelma Globe |
| 1955 | Tactician | M C McTigue | M C McTigue | 2:36.8 | Johnny Globe | Our Roger |
| 1954 | Johnny Globe * | D G Nyhan | D G Nyhan | 2:33.6 | Ribands | Laureldale |
| 1953 | Johnny Globe | D G Nyhan | D G Nyhan | 2:35.4 | Adorian | Vedette |
| 1952 | Vedette | C Johnston & M Jenkins | M F Holmes | 2:41.8 | Soangetaha | Maori Home |
| 1951 | Maori Home | B Rushton & J W Duncan | W P Ireland | 2:39.8 | Maida Dillon | Soangetaha |
| 1950 | Parawa Derby | L T Padget | J B Pringle | 2:38 | Congo Song | Gay Knight |
| 1949 | Single Direct | Mrs M R & Bruce Elliott | E N Kennerley | 2:37.2 | Captain Gaillard | Knave Of Diamonds |
| 1948 | Highland Fling * | A T Kemble | L F Berkett | 2:37.4 | Single Direct | Integrity |
| 1947 | Sir Michael | C Tasker | R Young | 2:39 | Turco | Great Belwin |
| 1946 | Haughty (Dead-Heat) | B Grice | G McKendry | 2:41.4 | | Josedale Grattan |
| 1946 | Turco (Dead-Heat) | A V Prenderville & J X Ferguson | G S Smith | 2:41.4 | | |
| 1945 | Happy Man | J C South | C King | 2:36.4 | Gold Bar | Haughty |
| 1944 | Pacing Power | G Lancaster | R B Berry | 2:38.4 | Loyal Friend | Dusky Sound |
| 1943 | Springfield Globe | R B Berry | R B Berry | 2:39 | Fine Art | Gold Bar |
| 1942 | Gold Bar | A B Holmes | D C Watts | 2:35 | Haughty | Josedale Grattan |
| 1941 | Josedale Grattan * | Dr M G Pezaro & E G Bridgens | F J Smith | 2:42.2 | Nelson Eddy | Lightning lady |
| 1940 | Plutus | W J Gudsell | J Bryce jnr | 2:46.6 | Lightning lady | Great Jewel |
| 1939 | Icevus | H Rudd | R Young | 2:41.8 | Gallant Knight | Pot Luck |
| 1938 | Logan Derby | H Barnes | J A Stamford | 2:39.4 | Parisienne | Pot Luck |
| 1937 | Supertax | D Rodgers | G Mouritz | 2:40 | Roi L'or | Lucky Jack |
| 1936 | Harold Logan | E F C Hinds | R Townley jnr | 2:39 | Tempest | Red Shadow |
| 1935 | Indianapolis * | G J Barton | J Fraser jnr | 2:39.4 | Tempest | Roi L'or |
| 1934 | Harold Logan | E F C Hinds | M F Holmes | 2:38.4 | Roi L'or | Tempest |
| 1933 | Red Shadow | Mrs M Harrall | J Bryce | 2:41.4 | Kingcraft | Harold Logan |
| 1932 | Roi L'Or | P Brown | F Holmes | 2:38.2 | Harold Logan | Gold Country |
| 1931 | Harold Logan * | Miss E Hinds | R J Humphreys | 2:40 | Peter Bingen | Free Advice |
| 1930 | King Pointer | W McDonald | O E Hooper | 2:39.8 | Carmel | Wrackler |
| 1929 | Padlock | J A Mitchell | W Hughes | 2:42.6 | Peter Bingen | Logan Park |
| 1928 | Peter Bingen * | J J Kennerley | J J Kennerley | 2:38.8 | Prince Pointer | Jewel Pointer |
| 1927 | Native Chief | J Duffy | F G Holmes | 2:11.2 (1 mile) | Peter Bingen | Bell Harold |
| 1926 | Great Bingen | J R McKenzie | D Withers | 2:09 (1 mile) | Native Chief | Logan Chief |
| 1925 | Acron | J R McKenzie | A Butterfield | 2:04.6 (1 mile) | Great Bingen | Machine Brick |
| 1924 | Acron | J R McKenzie | A Butterfield | 2:03.6 (1 mile) | Realm | Logan Chief |
| 1923 | Logan Chief | J Duffy | J J Kennerley | 2:07.6 (1 mile) | Great Hope | Happy Voyage |
| 1922 | Trix Pointer | W H Norton | F Holmes | 2:09.4 (1 mile) | Onyx | Tatsy Dillon |
| 1921 | Albert Cling | M J Hannon | J McLennan | 2:09.6 (1 mile) | Trix Pointer | Willie Lincoln |
| 1920 | Author Dillon | Executors J Knight | B Jarden | 2:11.6 (1 mile) | Trix Pointer | Matchlight |
| 1919 | Author Dillon | Executors J Knight | B Jarden | 2:44.4 | Cathedral Times | Admiral Wood |
| 1918 | Author Dillon * | B Jarden | B Jarden | 2:45.8 | Adelaide Direct | Cathedral Times |
| 1917 | Cathedral Chimes | J Bryce | J Bryce | 2:42.6 | Author Dillon | Adelaide Direct |
| 1916 | Admiral Wood | Mrs A M Seymour | J Bryce | 2:45 | Cathedral Times | Tommy |
| 1915 | Our Thorpe | J Fleming | A Fleming | 2:41.4 | Country belle | Emmeline |
| 1914 | Eccentric | R T Reid | J Brankin | 2:48.8 | Emmeline | King Cole |
Source: Full details of each year's race are contained on the Harness Racing New Zealand website