Two talented British harness racing drivers will be having their first race day drives in New Zealand, at the Ashburton harness racing meeting today.
Brothers Richard and James Haythornthwaite are from Barnoldswick in England and are on the New Zealand leg of a two week trip, that yesterday saw them take in the atmosphere of a New Zealand Cup at Addington.
Last week they were in Australia at the Melbourne Cup and also had a taste of Australian harness racing at Melton last Saturday night, where James drove Beach Boy Adios to eight place in one race and Richard had a drive behind the Matthew Craven trained Craving A Smile in another.
James Haythornthwaite a former top class rugby league player has driven over 80 winners since he began driving four years ago and today at Ashburton he will be taking the reins on The Director in Race 5 and also Live To Tell in Race 6.
Richard Haythornthwaite has more than 150 wins to his credit and today he will drive Red River Lochhee in Race 6
The brothers are sons of the legendary trainer/driver Alan Haythornthwaite who represented Britain in the World Driving Championship in 1999.
Read more about the Haythornthwaite family in Harnessing the family passion in the UK
Harnesslink Media