Racing has been a great joy of star jockey Lisa Allpress’ life, so recognition in the New Year’s honour’s list, she says, is especially humbling.

Trainer Jamie Richards finished 2020 with a bang, posting an historic six wins at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and winning his last start of the year courtesy of Zouluminous (Zoustar) at Taupo on Wednesday.

Hastings trainer John Bary will begin the new year at his home track on Friday where he will line-up eight runners.

When progressive mare Baby Face (NZ) (Savabeel) lined up at Te Rapa earlier this month you could have been forgiven for thinking half the grandstand was there to cheer her on.

There’s an irony in the expectation of performance from Tony Pike’s pair of Gr.2 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m) runners Khufu (American Pharoah) and Stormy (NZ) (Telperion) that’s not lost on the Cambridge trainer.

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston had a feeling his team was in for a successful festive season and he has not been disappointed, with the stable recording four wins and five placings over the last fortnight.

Owner Joan Egan is having a week to remember.

Trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman walked away happy men from Kurow on Wednesday after securing the quinella in the Kurow Cup (1400m) courtesy of Carson River (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa).

Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) will be vying for her coronation at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day when she contests the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m).

Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler hold a strong hand heading into their home meeting on New Year’s Day, highlighted by a three-pronged attack in the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m).

Promising three-year-old galloper Bentayga (NZ) (Zacinto) shook off the effects of a pre-race scare to register his first victory at New Plymouth on Sunday.

Talented mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) will get her first chance to prove herself at elite-level at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day when she contests the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).

There may be a major weight disparity between Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa) and his rivals in the PGG Wrightson Kurow Cup (1400m) on Wednesday, but it’s the track conditions that are the biggest concern for trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman.

Promising stayer Super Hoof (NZ) (Cape Blanco) will have a final hit-out at Taupo on Wednesday before being set for his first tilt at black-type next month.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable added another likely candidate to their Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) assault in March, when Frontman (NZ) (Makfi) made a winning debut at Rotorua on Monday.

COVID-19 hit plenty of racing plans when it closed the industry down in March, not least that of promising mare Mai Tai (NZ) (Atlante).

Topweight Gallant Boy (NZ) (Gallant Guru) continued his purple patch of form with a gritty effort to take out the Listed Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Ltd Timaru Cup (1600m) on Monday.

A quick glance at the results from day one of the Ellerslie Christmas carnival reveals the remarkable fact that if your surname wasn’t Richards, Bosson or Johnson you struggled to make much of an impact on one of the biggest days on the New Zealand racing calendar.

While his training partner is an old hand when it comes to producing winners at the elite level, Robert Wellwood was an uncapped novice until just after 5pm at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Progressive mare Vamos Bebe took the step up to stakes company with relative ease when she strode clear in the final stages of Saturday’s Listed Hallmark Stud Sprint (1200m) at Ellerslie for a comprehensive victory.

Matamata mare Sheezallmine gave her southern rivals a galloping lesson when she strode away in the home straight to take out the Listed Alleviate Administration Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui.

Champion trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau team have sent out an abundance of talent this season, and a remarkable performance in Saturday’s Gr.2 Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie may have moved Amarelinha towards the top of the list.

Versatile mare Concert Hall bagged the Group One victory she richly deserved when she stormed home out wide to snatch victory in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie.

The all-conquering Te Akau team is sticking to a proven Group One formula with rising star three-year-old Brando.

Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett had initially planned to head straight to the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with talented gelding Super Strike, but he has elected to head to the Auckland track a little sooner with his charge.

Trainer Robert Dennis is hoping to get the green light for his future plans around promising three-year-old fillies The Gift and Ocean Point when the pair step out at Wingatui on Boxing Day.

Cambridge trainer Robert Wellwood is hoping his best Christmas present can be unwrapped at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson was looking forward to lining up Beefeater in the Manawatu Standard Sumer Cup (1550m) at his home meeting on Boxing Day, but he is now looking at other options following inclement weather in Palmerston North.

Group One winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly) will be out to try and add another elite level victory to his record when he contests the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Ken Kelso may be ruing missed opportunities with Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is hoping the Group One performer can end her racing career with a bang at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Group One performing sprinter Sensei (Dream Ahead) has been retired from racing and will now look towards a career at stud.

Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams will unleash a three-pronged attack on Saturday’s Gr.2 Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Grant Cooksley has already twice helped Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace to win the race that has now become the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie.

While many northern trainers will have their attention focussed on Ellerslie on Boxing Day, Daniel Miller’s sights will be centred further south.

Last start Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) will be vying for Group One glory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day when he lines-up in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).

While most people are busy gorging themselves on festive fodder, Christmas can be a challenging time for jockeys, particularly those that count every gram.

For 18 months veteran jockey Darryl Bradley was stuck on 99 career black type victories, wondering if the century would ever come up.

The proposed merger between the Auckland and Counties Racing Clubs has taken another positive step this month with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Punters who have taken the $6.50 about unraced juvenile Khufu (American Pharoah) in next month’s $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) can breathe a little easier after the son of American Pharoah looked all class when winning an 800m trial at Cambridge on Tuesday.

Jenna Mahoney is hoping three will be her lucky number on Saturday.

Coming to grips with life away from the saddle has been tough for former jockey Donavan Mansour, and a new role managing Byerley Park for prominent owner Daniel Nakhle has been a godsend for the well-liked horseman.

One of New Zealand’s most exciting weight-for-age gallopers, dual Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), has been retired.

Talented Team Rogerson-trained sprinter Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win) is set to miss the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year’s Day.

If you watched Royal Performer (Medicean) in track gallops you would think he’d have been better named Pauper or Court Jester.

Senior jockey Matthew Cameron has called time on his riding career after completing his last raceday at Awapuni on Saturday.

Busy putting in the hard yards conducting his pre-Christmas inspections for the annual NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka next month, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis CNZM took time out to reflect on the stables’ achievements in 2020.

Trainer Emma-Lee Browne was still sporting a smile a mile wide on Sunday morning following the winning double that she and husband David picked up at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The sight of promising galloper Lincoln Falls (Dundeel) storming past his rivals to win at Awapuni on Saturday provided trainer Lisa Latta with a special moment after she has endured plenty in her battle to get him back to the racetrack.

Hastings visitor Hunta Pence (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) overcame his apparent dislike of the Awapuni track to register his biggest career victory when he took out the Gr.3 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Cup (2300m) in a desperate finish on Saturday.

Pocket rocket Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), who affectionately carries the moniker Frodo due to his diminutive stature and ungainly build, captured the biggest victory of his burgeoning career when he dashed away from his rivals in Saturday’s Gr.2 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

Promising three-year-old Mongolian Wings (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) showed he could be on a similar path to his illustrious sire when he produced an eye-catching display to shed his maiden status at Te Rapa.

Veteran jockey Chris Johnson established a new national record for race victories on Saturday at Awapuni when Sassenach (NZ) (Per Incanto) provided him with win 2452 in New Zealand.

Samantha Collett enjoyed a day out at Otaki, riding four winners on the card.

Tavistock four-year-old Wononeohwon looks to have a bright future, making it back-to-back wins when coming from a near impossible position to land the Devan Plastics (1400m) at Otaki on Friday under a cool Lisa Allpress ride.

Four-year-old mare Catwalk Girl is cherry ripe ahead of the Foster Construction Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday according to trainer Pam Gerard, who prepares the progressive galloper in partnership with Michael Moroney.

He may be in the eighth season of his remarkable career, but veteran gelding Gallant Boy (NZ) (Gallant Guru) is showing no sign of slowing down.

Punters are hoping to get off to a strong start at Te Rapa on Saturday, with unbeaten four-year-old Elephant all the rage in the first event on the card, the Lodge Property Management 1400.

Hot trainer Allan Sharrock is hoping Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock) can exploit any weakness in the armour of Group One-winning rival Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

Mid-Canterbury trainer Terrill Charles has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Emerging Cambridge trainer Glen Harvey can rest easy in the knowledge he has a pair of juveniles already high up the order of entry for the $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2yo (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 23, and he could look to add more runners in the coming weeks.

A week on from a dominant performance at Te Rapa last Saturday, star jockey Opie Bosson returns to the same venue this weekend with another formidable book of rides.

Leading owner Neville McAlister is hoping a return to the dry tracks of home will let punters see Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) back to his best in New Zealand this summer.

There aren’t many prouder of Chris Johnson then North Canterbury trainers John and Karen Parsons.

Promising three-year-old filly Lelawala (NZ) (Niagara) scored in good style at Pukekohe on Wednesday, dashing away in the concluding stages under apprentice Darren Dannis to take out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at just her second start.

Hawke’s Bay trainer John Bary believes Saturday’s Gr.2 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni is the ideal race for resuming Group One winner Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante).

Following the lead of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has this week released its horse welfare standards.

Leviathan owner Ozzie Kheir is looking forward to watching Kiwi recruit Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) step out in Melbourne this week.

Smart three-year-old filly Sweet Anna (NZ) (Tavistock) is nearing a raceday return after trialing well at Te Aroha on Monday.

Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley has summer features in mind for talented filly Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing).

Cambridge trainer Ben Foote is looking forward to the raceday return of Group One winner Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca), her Group winning half-sister Vitesse Bo (NZ) (Proisir) and speedy three-year-old Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) as his summer team kicks into gear.

A career highlight at Te Rapa on Saturday might have put a further delay on retirement plans for owner-breeder-trainer Bill Pomare.

Impressive debut winner The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock) had a quiet trial at Te Aroha on Monday in readiness for a raceday return over the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival.

Nothing is stopping Taranaki apprentice Hazel Schofer in 2020, not even an increase in her riding weight.

An Australian stable still remains on the radar for New Zealand juggernaut Te Akau Racing, but it is in no rush to set up roots just yet.

Exciting mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) was in action at the Te Aroha trials on Monday, winning her 1000m heat by a head from another talented four-year-old in Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock).

Matamata trainer Jamie Richards was delighted to secure a winning treble at Te Rapa on Saturday but was also left rueing the fact the day could have been even better with a little more luck.

A win by hardy campaigner Breezon (NZ) (O’Reilly) at Te Rapa on Saturday signalled that trainer Stephen McKee is gearing up for another profitable summer racing campaign from his Ardmore base.

Twenty-four hours on from the biggest win in his fledgling career, apprentice jockey Callum Jones is still having trouble coming to terms with his achievement.

Apprentice Callum Jones made the most of a late call up when he guided outsider Ocean Billy to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa.

Promising mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) added valuable black type to her burgeoning race record when she prevailed in a desperate finish to the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Veteran rider Chris Johnson is just one win away from setting a new record for most wins by a jockey in New Zealand after securing success aboard the Ellis Winsloe-trained Points Score at Ascot Park on Saturday.

Lightly raced Cambridge visitor Whimsical showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming age-group staying features when she produced a gritty performance to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at just her third start.

Underrated mare Showoroses made full use of an electric beginning from a wide barrier to lead her rivals a merry dance as she took out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).

Trainer Allan Sharrock has his team flying at present and the New Plymouth horseman will be well represented at Awapuni on Saturday, in addition to sending quality mare Sinarahma north for the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.

Manawatu horseman Bryce Newman is looking to take his racehorse training operation to new heights.

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy hopes one of his runners at Ascot Park on Saturday will provide a record-breaking moment for long-time friend Chris Johnson.

Group Three features at Te Rapa on Saturday could be the starting point of a special summer for Lauren Brennan.

Team Rogerson will have a solid team of runners at Te Rapa on Saturday including smart four-year-old Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win) in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).

Trainer Richard Collett sent out a pair of winners at Ellerslie’s twilight meeting on Thursday with Super Pursuit (NZ) (Proisir) successful in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier 1300m, while Super Strike (NZ) (Super Easy) justified a short quote to win the First Global Logistics – Asendia 1400m.

Ken and Bev Kelso would love nothing more than for classy mare Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) to sign off her career with a win.

Kirsty Lawrence’s $2,600 gavelhouse.com buy Pep Torque (NZ) (Nadeem) took his earnings to just shy of $120,000 with a determined victory over the Hawke’s Bay mile yesterday.

The New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry has more than 34,000 participants, employs over 9,500 people and contributes around $1.1 billion dollars to the New Zealand economy annually.

Local trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen produced a smart 1200m maiden winner in Dark Alley (NZ) (Per Incanto) at the Hawke’s Bay meeting on Wednesday.

High-class nine-year-old Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will present in excellent order in Saturday’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa where he will shoulder 60.5kgs.

On-course patrons can expect the vibes to be good at Ellerslie’s twilight meeting on Thursday as Aucklanders enjoy some pre-Christmas cheer across an abbreviated six-race card.

In-form hoop Lisa Allpress has a good handle on the leading contenders in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on Saturday, where she will ride last-start Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) runner-up Key (Exceed and Excel).

Cambridge and Matamata may be the epicentre of thoroughbred training in Waikato, but David Greene hasn’t regretted his decision to base himself at Te Rapa for a minute.

The old firm of Zac Purton and New Zealand bred galloper Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) will join forces once again in Sunday’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

High-class galloper Dragon Leap (Pierro) has returned to Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s Matamata stable as he builds towards an autumn campaign.

A dose of the real world and some time to clear his mind has proved the catalyst for talented apprentice jockey Wiremu Pinn to make his way back to racing, and the 22-year-old is keen to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have welcomed back high-class trio The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Quick Thinker (So You Think) after their respective breaks following spring campaigns.

Promising filly Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) made amends for a narrow defeat on debut with an impressive victory over 1300m at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Trainer Leanne Elliot is pleased with the way Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) winner Rock On Wood has come through his exertions on Saturday but isn’t rushing to make immediate plans for his next start.

Te Akau Racing’s Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) may have missed last weekend’s Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) but the five-year-old gelding will soon have the opportunity to make up for lost time.

Popular South Canterbury horseman Michael Daly passed away on Friday afternoon just minutes before quality sprinter Don Carlo (NZ) (Per Incanto) tried to provide his former mentor with a final win at Riccarton.

A brief break awaits impressive Trentham winner Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) as trainer Allan Sharrock plans bigger and better things for his latest stable star.

Well-travelled sprinter/miler Endless Drama (Lope De Vega) has been retired after failing to find his best form in his latest campaign.

Leading South Island apprentice Kozzi Asano wasted no time in registering his first win for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott when he guided Spring Heat (More Than Ready) to an impressive victory at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Quality galloper Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) shed the tag of a Group One winner in waiting in emphatic fashion when he dashed home to take out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Flashy chestnut colt Stormy (NZ) (Telperion) repaid the faith of punters who installed him as a $1.50 favourite as he powered to victory in the Gr.2 Pete’s Joinery, Precise Design & Build Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham.

Promising galloper Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) made a winning return to the track when he led throughout to capture the first event at Trentham on Saturday.

Underrated filly Opalescence dented several reputations when she swept to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Jockey Leith Innes has a quality book of rides at Ellerslie on Saturday, including promising three-year-old Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax) in the day’s feature, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).

Trentham racecourse will host the first appearance of NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) welfare ambassadors Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) and Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) on Saturday.

The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Marine (NZ) (Ocean Park) has been sold to clients of Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes and will do his future racing in the Asian racing jurisdiction.

With an overseas sale off the agenda for now, Te Awamutu trainer Stephen Ralph is free to dream big with highly talented three-year-old Explosively (NZ) (Sweynesse) – starting with a first black-type test in Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Opaki trainer Alby MacGregor has always been proud of his Scottish heritage, so much so that his horses sport the family tartan on raceday.

Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will have numbers in their favour as per usual at their home track meeting on Friday.

Chad Ormsby has no doubt that promising filly Moana (NZ) (Ocean Park) has returned from a spring spell a far superior version of her previous self.

With Group One racing on Saturday, Trentham track manager Mark Biddle is praying for the rain to stay away.

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will head south to Trentham on Saturday to a wet welcome, with rain forest for the weekend’s premier meeting.

Well-related three-year-old Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel) made the perfect start to her racing career on Wednesday winning the TW Moore 1400 at Rotorua for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

Happy versus Grumpy.

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock has his team firing on all cylinders, as evidenced by his current fifth standing on the trainers’ premiership in addition to an impressive strike-rate of 4.42, with 19 wins on the board from 84 starters this season.

Extended broadcasting and wagering rights for Australian and New Zealand racing have been confirmed under agreements reached between TAB NZ and Tabcorp.

Applications have now opened for the two-year Godolphin Flying Start programme.

COVID-19 prevented Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie getting a trip to Royal Ascot this year, but they are happily settling for trips to the winner’s circle in New Zealand.

The South Island’s leading jockey, Kozzi Asano, will leave the mainland next week for a couple of months in a bid to further his riding career.

Trudy Keegan is still on cloud nine after taking out the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton with Aimee’s Jewel (NZ) (Proisir) last month.