The Easter Handicap or Easter Stakes is a major
horse race
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 ...
held 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
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, New Zealand. It is raced over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) by three-year-old and upwards
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 ...
s.
Race history
Although previously a Group 1 race, from 2017 it was reclassified to Group 2 and from 2022 to Group 3 level.
In 2016, the conditions of the race changed from a handicap to set weight and penalties, but reverted back to handicap conditions in 2018.
The race has been won by many of New Zealand's greatest milers, including
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...
(twice), Sleepy Fox (four times) and
Grey Way
Grey Way, the ''Washdyke Wonder'', was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. He was foaled in Washdyke in 1970 near Timaru by Grey William out of Waybrooke who won the 'Broodmare of the Year' title in the 1977–78 season. Another famou ...
.
The Easter Handicap is now raced in late April on the same date as the
Championship Stakes.
Winners Since 1965
Previous winners
*1964 - Tasman Sea
*1963 - Final Command
*1962 - Otematata
*1961 - Waipari
*1960 - Waipari
*1959 - Marie Brizard
*1958 - Japonica
*1957 - Solepic
*1956 - Coleridge
*1955 - Fair Chance
*1954 - Tesla
*1953 - Misprint
*1952 - Peter Boy
*1951 - Wandering Ways
*1950 - Lord Revel
*1949 - Rosslare
*1948 - Iwo Jima
*1947 -
Sleepy Fox
*1946 -
Sleepy Fox[
*1945 - Sleepy Fox][
*1944 - Sleepy Fox][
*1943 - Landveyor
*1942 - ]Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...
*1941 - Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...
*1940 - Black Thread
*1939 - Beaupartir
*1938 - Francis Drake
*1937 - Tooley Street
*1936 - Royal Appellant
*1935 - Red Manfred
*1934 - Jonathan
*1933 - Golden Wings
*1932 - Great Star
*1931 - Hunting Cry
*1930 - Pegaway
*1929 - Bright Glow
*1928 - In The Shade
*1927 - Civility
*1926 - Reremoana
*1925 - Reremoana
*1924 - Hipo
*1923 - Roseday
*1922 - Grotesque
*1921 - Silver Link
*1920 - Gazique
*1919 - Uncle Ned
*1918 - Parisian Diamond
*1917 - Menelaus
*1916 - Chortle
*1915 - Merry Roe
*1914 - Ventura
*1913 - Jack Delaval
*1912 - Kakama
*1911 - Antoinette
*1910 - Waiari
*1909 - Aborigine
*1908 - Gold Crest
*1907 - Waipuna
*1906 - Mobility
*1905 - Scotty
*1904 - Regulation
*1903 - Golden Rose
*1902 - Nonette
*1901 - Rosella
*1900 - Advance
*1899 - Rex
*1898 - Rex
*1897 - Day Star
*1896 - Acone
*1895 - Folly
*1894 - Lottie
*1893 - Impulse
*1892 - Cynisca
Cynisca (; or Kyniska, ; born ) was a wealthy Spartan princess. She is famous for being the first woman to win at the Olympic Games. Cynisca first entered the Olympics in 396 BC, where she won first prize competing with a team of horses she had t ...
*1891 - Impulse
*1890 - Hilda
*1889 - Leorina
*1888 - Friendship
*1887 - Spade Guinea
*1886 - Clogs
*1885 - Turquoise
*1884 - Radames/The Administrator
*1883 - Leonora
*1882 - Louie
*1881 - King Quail
*1880 - Yatapa
*1879 - Yatapa
*1878 - Elsa
*1877 - Bide A Wee
*1876 - Parawhenua
*1875 - Yatterina
*1874 - Batter
See also
* Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
The racing of Thoroughbred horses (or gallopers, as they are also known) is a popular gaming and spectator sport and industry in New Zealand.
History
Thoroughbred horse racing commenced soon after European settlement. The first totalisator ma ...
* Championship Stakes
* Awapuni Gold Cup
The Awapuni Gold Cup is held annually in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is a set weight and penalties race over 2,000 metres.
History
First held in 1915, the race has been won by many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses including:
* Balme ...
* 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 ...
* New Zealand Stakes
The New Zealand Stakes, currently run as the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes, is a Group One thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand.
It is run at Ellerslie Racecourse on Champions Day in March of every year, with a stake of $1 million.https://www ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Youtube video - Champion racehorse Grey Way winning the 1977 Easter Handicap
Horse races in New Zealand
Open mile category horse races