Mark Purdon is a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

. He was associated with many champions and is one of the leading trainers and drivers of harness horses in New Zealand and

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecolo ...

. He was inducted into the

Inter Dominion Hall of Fame The Inter Dominion Hall of Fame is an organization created to recognise and honour those whose achievements have enriched the world of the Harness racing industry, particularly in the Inter Dominion series. The hall of fame was created to hon ...

. Mark has trained on his own account and in partnership as follows: * 2014 to 31/12/2020 - with

Natalie Rasmussen Natalie Clair Rasmussen (born 1977) is a driver and trainer of Standardbred racehorses in Australia and New Zealand. She has been associated with many champions and is one of the leading trainers and drivers of harness horses in Australasia. Bi ...

* 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 Rolleston may refer to: Places * Rolleston, Queensland, Australia * Rolleston, Leicestershire, England * Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, England ** Rolleston railway station * Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire, England ** Rolleston Hall * 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.

Notable horses

Top horses Mark has been associated with, and races they have won, include: * Adore Me: 2014

New Zealand Trotting Cup The New Zealand Cup for standardbred horses, also known as either the New Zealand Trotting Cup or the New Zealand Pacing Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Chr ...

* Akuta: 2022 New Zealand Trotting Derby * Amazing Dream: 2020 Auckland Pacing Cup * Auckland Reactor: 2009

Auckland Trotting Cup The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...

* Cruz Bromac: 2019

* Don't Stop Dreaming: 2022 The Crossing Ace of Spades (2YO Colts & Geldings) Mobile Pace * Dream About Me: 2016

* High Energy: 2022 Canterbury Spa & Pool Ace of Hearts (2YO fillies) Mobile Trot * I Can Doosit (trotter): 2011 & 2012 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, 2011 & 2012 Rowe Cup, 2012

Dominion Handicap The Dominion is a race held at the Addington Raceway each year in Christchurch, New Zealand for standardbred horses. The race is run in November over a distance of 3200 m on the Friday of New Zealand Cup week. It is on the same day as the ...

* Il Vicolo: 1995 & 1996

* Jack Cade: 2003

New Zealand Free For All The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand. History of the race Horses which have won the ...

* Lazarus: 2016 & 2017

, 2017

Inter Dominion Pacing Championship :''for winners of the trotting event see: Inter Dominion Trotting Championship'' The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The Inter Dominion was the brain child of Weste ...

* Millwood Nike: 2022 Avon City Ford Ace of Diamonds (2YO Fillies) Mobile Pace * No Matter Wat: 2022 New Zealand Oaks * Pride Of Petite (trotter): 1996 & 1997 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship * Self Assured: 2019 Auckland Pacing Cup, 2020

, 2022

* Smolda: 2016

* Spankem: 2020

, Miracle Mile Pace, 2nd in 2019 & 2020

and 2020 Auckland Pacing Cup * Thefixer: 2018

* Turn It Up: 2018 Auckland Pacing Cup * Ultimate Sniper: 2019

* Winterfell (trotter): 2019 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship * Young Rufus: 2002 Auckland Pacing Cup

References

Inter Dominion winners Living people New Zealand harness racers New Zealand racehorse trainers New Zealand Trotting Cup winners Year of birth missing (living people) {{NewZealand-horseracing-bio-stub

Notable horses

See also

References