Inter Dominion Trotting Championship

for winners of the pacing event see: Inter Dominion Pacing Championship

2007 Trotters Final winner Uncle Petrika taken immediately after his win

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 rotation of the Championships was fixed annually at a meeting of the Council, five years in advance. It is held in New Zealand once in each four years. The Championships are held once in each racing year at a time and venue approved by the Council by the completion of the Championships in the preceding year. The Grand Circuit race is not held at the same time as the Championships.

A meeting with leading Australasian harness racing officials led to a decision that the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship would be discontinued after 2012. Several new major trotting races have been created to replace the series, most notably the Great Southern Star at Melton in March, which was to be run with a one-day heat and final format.

The Trotting Championship was re-introduced in 2018.

Trotting Championship Winners[]

2021 Inter Dominion (New South Wales)[]

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.^[6]

Due to COVID-19 a significant number of horses, particularly from New Zealand, were unable to compete.

Horses that were in the final rankings but did not compete included:

• 5 - Keayang Livana - Margaret Lee, Vic
• 6 - Magicool - Rob O'Connell, Vic
• 7 - Cover Of Darkness - Emma Stewart, Vic
• 9 - Is That A Bid - Michael Hughes, Vic
• 18 - Majestic Simon NZ - Chantal Turpin, Qld
• 19 - Travel Bug - Jason McNaulty, Vic
• 21 - Brandlo Prince - Chris Svanosio
• 22 - Gimondi NZ - Blake Fitzpatrick, NSW
• 25 - Hatchback - John Justice, Vic

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.^[8]

2019 Rowe Cup winner Sundees Son initially led the Inter Dominion Rankings for Trotters but was withdrawn in October 2019. Also withdrawn were Lemond and Kyvalley Blur who were initially ranked 6th and 9th respectively. After the first night trainer, Andy Garth, withdrew Mclovin due to a viral infection causing leg swelling.^[9]

Heats 1 and 2 on Friday 29 November were over 2200m with a mobile start and Free-for-all conditions.

• Heat 1 was won by Paramount King (Joshua Dickie, $28.00) from Massive Metro (Todd Mitchell) and Big Jack Hammer (Luke McCarthy) in 2:40.41 (mile rate - 1:57.3).
• Heat 2 was carried out by Winterfell (Mark Purdon, $7.70) from Marcoola (Sharee Tomlinson) and Majestic Man (Brad Williamson) in 2:41.57 (mile rate - 1:58.1).

Heat 3 and 4 on Tuesday 3 December were raced over 1700m.

• Heat 3 was won by Majestic Man (Brad Williamson, $2.80) from Habibi Inta (Blair Orange) and Massive Metro (Todd Mitchell) in 2:02.2 (mile rate - 1:55.6).
• Heat 4 was won by Temporale (Tony Herlihy, $2.90) from Marcoola (Sheree Tomlinson) and Paramount King (Josh Dickie) in 2:03.67 (mile rate 1:57.0).

Heat 5 and 6 on Friday 6 December were raced over 2700m.

• Heat 5 was won by Temporale (Tony Herlihy, $4.40) from Paramount King (Joshua Dickie) and Tough Monarch (Anthony Butt) in 3:23.81 (mile rate - 2:01.4 ).
• Heat 6 was won by Winterfell (Mark Purdon, $2.30) from Massive Metro (Todd Mitchell) and Majestic Man (Brad Williamson) in 3:20.55 (mile rate - 1:59.5 ).

The Grand final (2700m) held on 14 December was won by Winterfell (Mark Purdon) in 3:21.6 (mile rate - 2:00.1) from Majestic Man (Brad Williamson) and Massive Metro (Todd Mitchell).

See also[]

• Harness racing in Australia
• Harness racing in New Zealand

References[]

External links[]

• 2009 Watpac Inter Dominion Official Site
• Rotation Program - Inter Dominion Championship Series
• Queensland Harness Racing Homepage - Host state for 2009 Inter Dominion