New Zealand standardbred racehorse trainer and driver
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:
1998–2007 as a sole trainer.
2008–2012 with Grant Payne.
2013 – sole trainer.
2014 - 31/12/2020 - with Natalie Rasmussen.
2021 - 2022 with Hayden Cullen.
2023 - with Nathan Purdon.
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] However, from 2021 to 2022 the partnership was Purdon and Cullen.
From 1 January 2023 Hayden Cullen left to join in partnership with Steve and Amanda Telfer.[4] Mark then commenced training in partnership with his son, Nathan Purdon, who had previously operated from Victoria, Australia and had previously trained in partnership with Cran and Chrissey Dalgety in 2020 and 2021 respectively.[5][6]
Mark Purdon announced in 2023 that he was going to try thoroughbred racing. He bought three thoroughbred yearlings at the Karaka sales and planned to engage Canterbury trainer Danny Frye to break in his horses.[7][8]
^"Drivers Stats". Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
^"Mark Purdon". Inter Dominion Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
^"Racing: New Zealand's greatest harness trainer making early return".
MarkPurdon is a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and is one of the leading trainers...
1954, Purdon married Margaret Hughes, and the couple went on to have four children, including sons, harness-racing trainers Barry and MarkPurdon, and...
way". Breckon Farms. "New Zealand Trotting Cup 2020: Self Assured and MarkPurdon win the big dance at Addington". Stuff.co.nz. 10 November 2020. Retrieved...
Reactor, Lazarus). Son of Roy Purdon, brother of Barry Purdon. Pride Of Petite, Roy Purdon (1927-2022) Father of Barry & MarkPurdon. Champion trainer. Comedy...
2 1:49.2 2020 King Of Swing Luke McCarthy 1:48.0 1:48.0 2019 Spankem MarkPurdon 1:47.7 1:47.7 2018 My Field Marshal Anthony Butt 1:46.9 1:46.9 2017 Lennytheshark...
2:40.41 (mile rate - 1:57.3). Heat 2 was carried out by Winterfell (MarkPurdon, $7.70) from Marcoola (Sharee Tomlinson) and Majestic Man (Brad Williamson)...
Casey, KJ Riseley MarkPurdon 3:25.2 2016 Apr Field Marshall Mrs S A Brown, S B Brown Dexter Dunn 3:15.8 2015 Apr Sky Major Mrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear...
Trainer(s) 2022-23 Milwood Nike 3yo f Captaintreacherous - Albuquerque Mark & Nathan Purdon 2021-22 Sundees Son 7yo g Majestic Sun - Stardon Robert Dunn 2020-21...
4:06.1 2012 I Can Doosit fr Fr N N Botica MarkPurdon 4:05.0 2011 I Can Doosit fr Fr N N Botica MarkPurdon 4:08.2 2010 Sundon's Gift fr Fr N N Botica...
Zealand pacer. Despite the sale, he remained with his original trainers, MarkPurdon and Grant Payne. His final race as a 3-year-old was set to be the 3-Year-Old...
Lazarus (NZ) MarkPurdonMarkPurdon 1:54.1 2017 3280m Bling It On John McCarthy Luke McCarthy 1:55.1 2016 3280m Smolda MarkPurdonMarkPurdon 1:57.3 2015...
in 2022, the 2023 event was moved to May. Most wins by a driver: 6 - MarkPurdon (1994, 2001, 2007, 2015, 2020, 2021) 5 - Natalie Rasmussen (2016, 2017...
Butt Gary Hall Jr. Brian Hancock Tony Herlihy Gavin Lang John Langdon MarkPurdon Natalie Rasmussen Doody Townley Source: Tony Abell Graeme Cochran Ken...
later moved to New Zealand and formally trained in partnership with MarkPurdon from 2014. During this period they dominated the major New Zealand races...
Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021. Purdon, Fiona (28 April 2018). "Hollywood star Simon Baker said he had no acting...
Abdi, B.A. 2007, 2013 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominee Tim Purdon, B.A. English 1991, United States Attorney, District of North Dakota. Collin...
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