Kiwi trainer Craig Ritchie partner Kate Nipperess was involved in a freak accident when the horse she was riding collided head-on with a riderless horse at Warwick Farm trackwork on Thursday morning.

The much anticipated Two and Three-Year-Old Free Handicaps should be released after the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Chief Handicapper on behalf of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA).

The 2016-17 racing calendar has been released, with Waikato Racing Club getting 17 meetings - 12 of which will be Saturday race-days. 

What was once the hub for horse lovers taking a punt to win the big bucks at Hamilton's racecourse will be burnt to the ground this week.

New Zealand featured prominently in Hong Kong's 2015-16 racing season that came to a close in the past month.

Stolen Dance will have serious domestic business to attend to in the spring before any thoughts of an Australian campaign are entertained

Trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman hope the good start with the first crop of Pluck continues, after Pluck That impressively won the $8,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series (2YO) over 1100 metres at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Exciting galloper Mr Luigi may have a short Australian campaign after a smart win in the $22,500 Garrard's Horse And Hound 1600 (Rating 75) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Southern Icon stamped his class and did his Foxbridge Plate and Makfi Challenge Stakes hopes no harm after he exploded away to a thumping win in the $30,000 Group 1 Turf Bar 1200 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

It's exactly one month until the running of the Group II Foxbridge Plate.

With many great past winners like Kiwi Can, Poetic Prince - the Foxbridge Plate (1200m) is one of the feature races of the New Zealand racing calender.

Star galloper Kawi looks likely to be one of the main attractions of the Group Two Foxbridge Plate next month.

Mark Hills will be make a welcome return to the riding ranks this week with two confirmed rides at Tauranga on Wednesday.

South Korea is one of the fastest-growing racing juristiction's in the world.  With

• The third-highest average purse in the world (stakes totaling US$170 million for 2,000 races annually) - places Korean Racing Authority (KRA) - behind only Hong Kong and UAE.

• Over NZ$11 billion is wagered annually, placing it seventh in the world.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie seems to have found a handy sort in Swiss Ace filly Bella Gioia, an impressive winner of the $20,000 Safewise (2YO) over 1200m here Te Rapa on Saturday.

Central Districts visitor Leeds gave his trainer Mike Breslin some comfort with his narrow win in the $25,000 Garrad's Horse And Hound 1400 (Rating 85) on Saturday.

Things had not quite gone to script for Silhouette Noire plans, but a cliffhanger of a finish saw the five-year-old mare get the verdict in a three-way go to the line in Saturday's $30,000 Skycity Hamilton 1400 has put her back in the right form.

Promising galloper Lord and Master galloper may have bigger plans ahead of him after a convincing win in the $25,000 Allied Security (Rating 85) over 2100 metres, at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The vastly-improved Scooter O'Reilly turned in a quality performance many had suspected he was capable of in the $10,000 Print House 1200 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Moira Murdoch completed a double at Te Rapa on Saturday when unfancied Heaven Forbid narrowly won the $10,000 Dunstan Feeds 1600.

Promises capped a consistent run of form with a deserved win in the $22,500 Fairview Motors 1600 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Ivy's Gold continued the good form the Stephen Marsh stable is having while the boss is away on holiday, the three-year-old filly digging deep to take out the $20,000 J Swap 1400 (Rating 65) at Te Rapa.

Last start winner Ultimata backed up brilliantly to score the $22,000 Fairview Motors 1600 at Te Rapa.

Up-and-coming stayer Bee Tee Junior, toughed it out taking out the $20,000 Wealleans 2100 at Te Rapa on Saturday.