Mark Purdon

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Mark Purdon is a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is one of the leading trainers and drivers of harness horses in New Zealand and Australasia.[1] He was inducted into the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame.[2]

Mark has trained on his own account and in partnership as follows:

  • 2014 to 31/12/2020 - with Natalie Rasmussen
  • 2013 – sole
  • 2008–2012 with Grant Payne
  • 1998–2007 sole

In mid November 2020, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen announced they would cease their training partnership as from 31 December 2020. They would lease their Rolleston stables to Hayden and Amanda Cullen and although staying involved, when required, they would not be managing the day to day training operation. Mark (aged 56 years old) and Natalie (43) intended to take a break after working with horses for a combined 70 years.

Their last night as a partnership was the December 2020 Auckland Pacing Cup meeting at Alexandra Park in which they managed to quinella the Cup with Amazing Dream and Spankem.

From 1 October 2021 Purdon officially returned to the formal training ranks again and joined Hayden Cullen in partnership. It was also announced Natalie Rasmussen will then re-join him in fulltime training from 1 January 2022, replacing Cullen who would revert to being stable foreman again.[3]

Notable horses[]

Top horses Mark has been associated with include:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Drivers Stats". Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  2. ^ "Mark Purdon". Inter Dominion Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Racing: New Zealand's greatest harness trainer making early return".
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