Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

The racing of Thoroughbred horses is a popular sport in New Zealand. The governing body is New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated. The principal club is the Auckland Racing Club, which races at Ellerslie Racecourse (where the first Totalisator machine in the world was installed in 1919, see Sir George Julius).

Wellington Cup race in New Zealand

Horses are frequently moved between New Zealand and its neighbour Australia, for races and for breeding purposes. Famous New Zealand racehorses include the great mares Desert Gold, Cuddle, Horlicks and Sunline, plus Carbine, Kindergarten, Phar Lap, Nightmarch, Gloaming, Rising Fast, Il Tempo, Advance, Tulloch and Grey Way. Both Australia and New Zealand claim Phar Lap. Gloaming was an Australian bred horse who raced in Australia and New Zealand.

Since 1882, New Zealand bred horses have won 40 Melbourne Cups and many other important races in Australia.[1] During the 2008-09 racing season 19 New Zealand bred Thoroughbreds won 22 Group One races around the world.[2]

Major Thoroughbred horse races in New Zealand

Race
 Type
Stake
Month
Location
Distance
Karaka Million 2yo $1,000,000 January Ellerslie Racecourse 1200m
Karaka Million 3YO Classic 3yo $1,000,000 January Ellerslie Racecourse 1600m
Spring Classic Weight for Age $300,000 October Hastings Racecourse 2040m
New Zealand 1000 Guineas 3yo fillies $300,000 November Riccarton Racecourse 1600m
New Zealand 2000 Guineas 3yo $400,000 November Riccarton Racecourse 1600m
New Zealand Cup Open $225,000 November Riccarton Racecourse 3200m
Telegraph Handicap Open $250,000 January Trentham Racecourse 1200m
Wellington Cup Open $200,000 January Trentham Racecourse 2400m
Thorndon Mile Open $200,000 January Trentham Racecourse 1600m
Auckland Cup Open $500,000 March Ellerslie Racecourse 3200m
New Zealand Derby 3yo $1,000,000 March Ellerslie Racecourse 2400m
New Zealand Oaks 3yo fillies $300,000 March Trentham Racecourse 2400m

List of Horse Races

List of Prominent New Zealand Horses

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Horse racing in New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ ASB VRC Melbourne Cup Race Winners Retrieved on 2009-7-25
  2. ↑ Racetrack Sires 2009, June/August, 2009, Record season for the New Zealand breed, p.52


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