The racing of Thoroughbred horses (or gallopers, as they are also known) is a popular gaming and

spectator sport A spectator sport is a sport that is characterized by the presence of spectators, or watchers, at its competitions. Spectator sports may be professional sports or amateur sports. They often are distinguished from participant sports, which are mor ...

and industry in New Zealand.

History

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

commenced soon after European settlement. The first

totalisator A tote board (or totalisator/totalizator) is a numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track (to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the char ...

machine in the world was installed at

Ellerslie Racecourse Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand, for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit in the suburb of Ellerslie, New Zealand, Ellerslie, with a circumference of just under 1,900 metres. Racing ...

in 1913, (see Sir

George Julius Sir George Alfred Julius (29 April 187328 June 1946) was an English-born New Zealand inventor and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Julius Poole & Gibson Pty Ltd and Automatic Totalisators Ltd, and invented the world's first automatic totali ...

). Thoroughbred racing with the associated aspects such as horse breeding, training and care, race betting, race-day management and entertainment has gradually developed into an industry worth billions of dollars. The governing body is the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated.

Race clubs and courses of New Zealand

Thoroughbred racing is held throughout New Zealand, including courses in some of the smaller centres.

Major Thoroughbred horse races in New Zealand

Prominent people

For further prominent people in New Zealand thoroughbred racing, see the list of honorees of the

New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame The New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame recognises and honours those whose achievements have enriched the New Zealand thoroughbred horse racing industry. History The Hall of Fame's first group of honorees were inducted in 2006, and inductions are h ...

Leading jockeys

According to www.racebase.co.nz the jockeys with over 2000 New Zealand wins are: * 2515*

Chris Johnson Chris or Christopher Johnson may refer to: Entertainment *Chris J. Johnson (born 1977), American actor *Chris Johnson (presenter) (born 1991), BBC television presenter *Christopher Johnson, fictional alien refugee from the film ''District 9'' Spo ...

(* as at 16/11/22, still riding) * 2451 David Walsh * 2355

Lance O'Sullivan Lance Anthony O'Sullivan (born 28 August 1963) is a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse trainer and former champion jockey. Lance is the son of premiership winning horse trainer Dave O’Sullivan and the brother of Paul O'Sullivan. Riding caree ...

* 2167

Noel Harris Noel Graham Harris , also known as "Harry" or "NGH", is a former jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. He is notable for having ridden 2,167 raceday winners in New Zealand which is the fourth highest total behind Chris Johnson, Davi ...

* 2156

Bill Skelton Frank Seymour "Bill" Skelton DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (26 August 1920 – 24 May 2003) became, with Branse Burbridge, a highly successful British night-fighter team during the Second World War and was later ordained an Anglican priest. Early li ...

* 2131 Michael Coleman * 2093 David Peake * 2059

Opie Bosson Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Riding career Bosson started as an apprentice for Stephen Autridge, his godfather. He began his race-day riding career as a 15 year old on 25 Oc ...

(retired December 2024), As at 20 January 2025: * the next highest New Zealand winners are

Lisa Allpress Lisa Joy Allpress (née Mumby; born May 20, 1975) is a New Zealand jockey. She was the first female jockey in New Zealand to reach 1000 wins. She is also the first female jockey to win a race in the country of Saudi Arabia. Allpress was born M ...

(1956) and Darryl Bradley (1832). * after

, the next highest female jockey is Trudy Thornton (1174) who is now riding in Queensland, Australia. In April 2014 David Walsh passed Lance O'Sullivan's then record of 2355 for the most New Zealand wins. On 19 December 2020, Chris Johnson took the record for New Zealand winners from Walsh when he rode Sassenach to win at Awapuni. In July 2020 senior jockey Michael Coleman retired after suffering injuries. He had ridden 2131 New Zealand winners, including 39 at Group 1, in his career. On 17 February 2021 Danielle Johnson rode her 1000th winner, when she brought home Feelin’ Fancy in race 1 at Te Aroha. Her father, Peter Johnson, rode 1370 winners in his career.

Women jockeys

Linda Jones Linda Jones (December 14, 1944 – March 14, 1972) was an American soul singer with a strong gospel-influenced style who had the 1967 top 10 R&B hit single, "Hypnotized". Biography Jones was born in Newark, New Jersey, United States. She start ...

was the first to apply for an apprentice's licence and be turned down. She had ridden in a number of lady riders events over many years in New Zealand and overseas such as in Brazil, which highlighted that New Zealand and Australia were outliers in not allowing women to compete with male jockeys in professional races. The first win by a woman in New Zealand was visiting Canadian jockey Joan Phipps, at Te Awamutu in November 1977. In 1977 the New Zealand Racing Conference accepted female jockeys and they became eligible to ride on 15 July 1978 with the first Kiwi woman to ride in a totaliser race in New Zealand being Joanne Hale (Giles) on that day at Waimate. Sue Day (Christchurch), Joanne Lamond (Oamaru) and Vivienne Kaye (Awapuni) rode in later races on that day. Sue Day became the first New Zealand female jockey winner in a totalisator race against males on 22 July 1978 when she won with the Ned Thistoll-trained Jaws in the Waybrook Handicap at Timaru. Another female jockey riding then was Cherie Saxon (Hastings). Linda Jones' first win was on Big Bickies at Te Rapa and soon after Royal Petite was the first Open Handicap winner for a female jockey. Subsequent highlight wins for Linda were Lovaro in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap and Holy Toledo in the Wellington Derby on 22 January 1979 (possibly the first female jockey world-wide to win a Derby). Linda Jones was also the first female jockey to win a professional race against males at a registered meeting in Australia, winning aboard Pay The Purple in the Labour Day Cup at Doomben, Brisbane on May 7, 1979. Maree Lyndon was the first female jockey to win a Group I race in New Zealand when winning the 1982

New Zealand Cup The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch. New Zealand Cup week The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of Nov ...

on Sirtain. Although there was resistance from some industry participants, female jockeys have competed with great skill and success. Female riders have subsequently gone on to win the New Zealand premiership: * Lisa Cropp (2005-2007), 970 NZ winning rides. Winner of the

New Zealand 2000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand cup week The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is hel ...

(2007) and

Kelt Capital Stakes The Livamol Classic is a weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and was at one stage New Zealand's richest horse race. It is run at a distance of . The race is run in October. The weather in the Hawke's B ...

(2006). *

(2012, 2016, 2019 and 2020). Winner of the

(2012 & 2015),

New Zealand Oaks The New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres ( miles) on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand. It was ru ...

(2019),

Wellington Cup The Wellington Cup is a Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in January by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham, New Zealand, Trentham. History Inaugurated in 1874, the Wellington Cup has been ra ...

(2013). * Samantha Collett (2018), 889 NZ winning rides, before moving to Australia (as at October 2022). Winner of the

Auckland Cup The Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club (ARC). It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres (two miles) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race was ...

(2019 & 2020),

(2021). * Danielle Johnson (2021), winner of the

Livamol Classic The Livamol Classic is a weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and was at one stage New Zealand's richest horse race. It is run at a distance of . The race is run in October. The weather in the Hawke's B ...

(2021) and

Telegraph Handicap The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand horse race contested by the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham Racecourse in Upper Hutt. It was traditionally raced during the Wellington Cup carnival in mid-January, however from 2025 it has bee ...

(2021). Other female riders of note include: * Linda Ballentyne, winner of the

(2000). * Sarah Campbell, winner of the

(1995). * Jan Cameron, winner of the

(1996). * Kim Clapperton, winner of the Malaysia-Singapore premiership in 1993 and the first female jockey to ride in Hong Kong (1995). Won the

Raffles Cup The Raffles Cup was a Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore. Contested on turf over a left-handed course, the domestic Group One race was open to horses age three and older. The Raffles Cup was inaugurated in 199 ...

three times in siccession (1993–95). First female winner of the

Singapore Gold Cup The Singapore Gold Cup was a Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at the Singapore Turf Club. Contested on turf over a left-handed course, the domestic Group 1 race was run over a distance of 2,000 metres and was open to local horses ...

(1995). * Alysha Collett, winner of the

Zabeel Classic The Zabeel Classic is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 2000 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The Zabeel Classic is named in honour of Zabeel, son of Sir Tristram and four-time ...

(2016). * Tina Comignaghi, winner of the

(2022). * Tina Egan, winner of the

Great Northern Steeplechase The Great Northern Steeplechase is New Zealand's richest steeplechase jumping race. The race exceeds six kilometres, making it New Zealand's longest horse race, and usually takes over eight minutes to complete. It is one of the great tests of stam ...

(1995). * Leanne Elliot, winner of the

Grand National Steeplechase The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a ...

(1995). * Debbie Healey, winner of the

Geelong Cup The Geelong Cup is a Geelong Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race, held under handicap conditions over a distance of 2400 metres at the Geelong Racecourse, Geelong, Victoria, Australia on a Wednesday in late October. The prize money for ...

(1983) and Moe Cup (1982) with Debs Mate and first female jockey to compete in the

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racin ...

* Debbie Henderson, the first woman to win the

Grand National Steeplechase The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a ...

(1994) as well as the Great Western Steeplechase and Great Western Hurdle in the same year. * Leah Hemi, winner of the

(2019). * Michelle Hopkins, winner of the

(2001 & 2004). * Catherine Hutchison (formerly Tremayne), winner of the

(1989),

New Zealand 1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas is a Group One set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of 1600 metres (1 mile) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the sout ...

(1996),

(1996). * Leanne Isherwood, winner of the

(1993 & 1999). * Debbie Kennedy * Rochelle Lockett, winner of the

Grand National Steeplechase The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a ...

(2000). * Maree Lyndon, winner of the

(1990),

(1982). * Sarah Macnab, winner of the

(2021). * Kelly McCulloch (formerly Myers), winner of the

(2008, 2014 & 2016). * Rosie Myers, winner of the

(2013),

(2011). * Megan Prendergast, winner of the

Grand National Steeplechase The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a ...

(1999). * Joanne Rathbone, winner of the

(2005). * Samantha Spratt, 955 NZ wins (as at October 2022), winner of the

(2017 & 2018),

(2017),

(2016),

(2015),

(2009, 2011 and 2024). * Trudy Thornton (formerly Archer and Collett), winner of the

(2009 & 2020),

(1998),

(2017). * Lee Tiley (formerly Rutherford), winner of the

(1997). * Michelle Wenn, winner of the

Easter Handicap The Easter Handicap or Easter Stakes is a major horse race held at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is raced over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) by three-year-old and upwards thoroughbreds. Race history Althou ...

(1999). * Kylie Williams, 839 NZ wins (as at October 2022) including the Timaru Cup five times. In late February 2020

was the first female to win a thoroughbred race in Saudi Arabia on the horse Matmon at King Abdullah Aziz racetrack in Riyadh. She was competing in the inaugural International Jockeys Challenge in which she competed with 14 other jockeys including 7 women. She won the very first race in the challenge. The challenge was won by American Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Swiss-born Germany based Sibylle Vogt was second while Lisa was third equal with French jockey Mickaelle Michel.

Prominent New Zealand horses

The following contains details of some of the top New Zealand horses. As well as those winning major races within New Zealand, locally owned and/or trained horses frequently go to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

for racing campaigns or permanently due to the higher stake money in that country. Between 1882 and New Zealand-bred horses won Australia's

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is an annual Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia, at the Flemington Racecourse. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and older, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club that forms part of the ...

43 times. During the 2008-09 racing season 19 New Zealand-bred Thoroughbreds won 22

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

races around the world. Horses may also go to Asia (mainly Hong Kong or Singapore) or on occasions to Europe or the United States.

Notable sires

Recent winners of major NZ Cups

The following are the recent winners of major cups. *

Jezabeel Jezabeel (2 November 1992 – 22 September 2017) was a top New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup. In April 1995, as a 2 year old, she won the listed 1600m Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie Racecourse. Later that year s ...

, who was also 2nd in the 1997 Manawatu Cup, won the 1998

Recent winners of major NZ sprint races

The following table contains the recent winners of major races for sprinters (generally distances of 1500m or less). The winners of the Tarzino Trophy over 1400m are shown in the table for New Zealand's Hastings Triple Crown. Enzo's Lad which won the Telegraph Handicap in 2018 and 2019 was 2nd in 2020. El Chico was aged 11 when winning its second Stewards Stakes in 2011, a race record.

Recent winners of other notable Weight for Age or open races

The following are the recent winners of other notable races.

Recent winners of major NZ 3-year-old races

The following are the recent winners of major races for 3-year-old horses. * The Auckland Guineas was reduced from 2100 metres to 1600 metres in 2010. The race was not run in 2014 as the race moved from Boxing Day to New Year's Day. * The Avondale Guineas was not run in 2010 due to the race being moved from Avondale where it was run in December over 1600 metres to Ellerslie where it is run in February over 2100 metres. * The Wellington Guineas was moved from an October meeting in 2013 to a March meeting in 2015 and from 1500m to 1400m.

Recent winners of the New Zealand Triple Crown races

The New Zealand Triple Crown, also called the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown or Hastings Triple Crown as all three races are run there, consists of: *The 1400m

Tarzino Trophy The Tarzino Trophy also known as the Challenge Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's first Group One race of the season. It is run over a distance of 1400m in September. The race is th ...

, which was previously known as the Makfi Challenge Stakes or Mudgway Stakes *The 1600m Arrowfield Stud Plate (Horlicks Plate), which was previously known as the Stony Bridge Stakes and Windsor Park Plate *The 2040m Livamol Spring Classic, which was previously known as the Kelt Capital Stakes. Many of New Zealand's best Thoroughbred horses have raced in the various Triple Crown events. A number of horses managed to win two of the three races and some were beaten into second in the third leg.

Seachange ''SeaChange'' is an Australian television program that ran from 1998 to 2000 on the ABC and in 2019 on the Nine Network. It was created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox and starred Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham, William McInnes, John Howard ...

won two of the three legs of the Triple Crown in both 2006 and 2007. On 5 October 2019 Melody Belle became the first horse to win all three of the Hastings Triple Crown races.

The Messara Report and the New Zealand Government's racing industry reforms

In April 2018 the New Zealand Government Minister for Racing, Rt Hon Winston Peters appointed an Australian, John Messara, to review the New Zealand racing industry's governance structures, and provide recommendations on future directions for the industry. On 30 August 2018, the Minister released the report ("the Messara Report). There was considerable media commentary regards the proposed closure of racetracks in smaller centres. During October 2018 feedback on the Messara Review was sought. In November 2018 a summary report of the submissions was compiled. On 13 December 2018 the Minister for Racing announced a five-member Ministerial Advisory Committee to inform next steps on the Messara Review. Mr Peters appointed Dean McKenzie as chair, supported by Committee members Bill Birnie, Liz Dawson, Kristy McDonald and Sir Peter Vela. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's (NZTR) Venue Plan was released in January 2019. The Report recommended: * reducing the number of thoroughbred race tracks nationally from 48 to 27 by 2030. * racing licences not be allocated to Stratford, Blenheim,

Wairoa Wairoa is the largest town in the Wairoa District and the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mā ...

Reefton Reefton is a small town in the West Coast, New Zealand, West Coast region of New Zealand, approximately northeast of Greymouth, New Zealand, Greymouth, in the Inangahua River valley. Ahaura is south-west of Reefton, Inangahua Junction is to ...

Hokitika Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of ...

Waimate Waimate is a town in Canterbury, New Zealand, and the seat of Waimate District. It is situated just inland from the eastern coast of the South Island. The town is reached via a short detour west when travelling on State Highway One, the main N ...

, Winton,

Dargaville Dargaville () is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the bank of the Northern Wairoa River (Northland), Wairoa River in the Kaipara District of the Northland Region, Northland region. Dargaville is located south ...

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after th ...

and

Wyndham Wyndham may refer to: *Wyndham (name), a surname and given name Places Australia *City of Wyndham, an LGA (local government area) in Victoria * Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley, a LGA in Western Australia * Wyndham Important Bird Area, Western Aust ...

in the 2019/20 racing season. * the Stratford Racing Club track close and its race meeting be held at the Pukekura Raceway in

New Plymouth New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...

. Feedback on the document was sought, with nine regional meetings held and 75 written submissions received. NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry said the NZTR board considered the feedback and decided the Wairoa, Blenheim and Reefton tracks would receive a reprieve, for the 2019–20 season at least. On 17 April 2019, the Minister for Racing announced that the New Zealand Government's Cabinet had agreed to the overall intent of the Messara Report and plans to implement reforms through two Bills to amend the Racing Act 2003. The first Bill, planned to be enacted by 1 July 2019, was to begin the process of structural reform and provide financial relief to the industry. On 20 June 2019 the Racing Reform Bill passed its third reading and final reading in Parliament. On 5 December 2019 the Minister for Racing introduced the Racing Industry Bill as the Government's final legislative response to the recommendations of the Messara Report. It was reported in the media that the Bill extinguished the freehold property rights of local racing club owners who would be forced to sell their courses, money from any sales would not be used in that community but instead transferred to develop clubs in bigger centres elsewhere.

References

External links

Gambling and the TAB (Totalisator Agency Board) in New Zealand

Feature Race Results

Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips

New Zealand Horse Racing Statistics and Information - RaceBase
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoroughbred Racing In New Zealand

History

Race clubs and courses of New Zealand

Major Thoroughbred horse races in New Zealand

Prominent people

Leading jockeys

Women jockeys

Prominent New Zealand horses

Notable sires

Recent winners of major NZ Cups

Recent winners of major NZ sprint races

Recent winners of other notable Weight for Age or open races

Recent winners of major NZ 3-year-old races

Recent winners of the New Zealand Triple Crown races

The Messara Report and the New Zealand Government's racing industry reforms

See also

References

External links