The Livamol Classic is a weight-for-age

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

run at Hastings Racecourse in

Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay () is a region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region is named for Hawke Bay, which was named in honour of Edward Hawke. The region's main centres are the cities of Napier and Hastings, while the more rural ...

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 Bay's means the track conditions are usually excellent. The race is the part of the Triple Crown raced at Hastings Racecourse, along with the

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, and the Arrowfield Stud Plate, which was previously known as the Windsor Park Plate, Stony Bridge Stakes and Horlicks Plate. 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. On 5 October 2019. Melody Belle was the first horse to win all three of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown races.

History

The race was originally known as the Ormond Memorial and took place on the second day of the autumn carnival until the 1985/86 season when it was moved to the Spring. From 1991 to 2009 the race was sponsored by Kelt Capital Limited, and in particular the owner thereof Sam Kelt, a strong supporter of New Zealand and particularly Hawke's Bay racing. 1996 would see it gain Group 1 status and the distance changed from 2000m to 2040m. The growth in prize money was substantial in the decade up to 2008. In 2000 it was worth $250,000; in 2002 it was the equal richest race in New Zealand at $500,000 and in 2004 it was New Zealand's first million-dollar race. The race was worth $2,000,000 in 2007 and 2008, but the stake had to be reduced to $1,200,000 in 2009 as that level was deemed unsustainable. In 2010 the stake was reduced to $250,000, below several major races in New Zealand but still slightly ahead in terms of weight-for-age races. In 2010, after the cessation of the Kelt sponsorship, the Ormond Memorial name was modified in recognition of Lady Katherine (Kit) Acklin née Ormond who had recently died.

Name

* Ormond Memorial (1955–1990) * Kelt Capital Stakes (1991–2009) * Kit Ormond Memorial (2010) * NZB Insurance Spring Classic (2011–2012) * The Turks Spring Classic (2013) * Livamol Classic (2014–present)

Group status

*1955-1978 (Stakes Race) *1979-1992 (Group 3) *1993-1995 (Group 2) *1996- (Group 1)

Notable winners

Balmerino Balmerino is a small village and former monastic centre in Fife, Scotland. It is the home of Balmerino Abbey and the former Abbot of Balmerino, abbots of Balmerino who were great regional landlords. It became a secular lordship in 1605 when th ...

(1977) NZ Horse of the Year (1976) and winner of the

Rawson Stakes The Ranvet Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 2,000 metres, held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March. Total prize money is A$1 ...

(1976) and the

Brisbane Cup The Brisbane Cup is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and upwards, run under handicap conditions over a distance of 3200 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane during the Queensland Winter Racing Carni ...

(1976) * Castletown (1991)

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 ...

stayer and three-time winner of the

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 ...

(1991, 1992, 1994) also won 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 ...

(1992) and the

Caulfield Stakes The Might and Power, registered as the Caulfield Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, ...

(1992) *

Jimmy Choux Jimmy Choux (10 October 2007 – 22 January 2024) was a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 March 2011, he won the 136th running of the New Zealand Derby. In doing so, he became the first horse since Surfers Paradise (horse), Surfers Parad ...

(2011) Champion 3 year old, 5 time group 1 winner and 2011

New Zealand Horse of the Year There is a New Zealand horse of the year in each of the racing codes: - Standardbred or harness racing, either pacers or trotters, and - Thoroughbred racing or gallopers. Harness Horse of the Year The New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year award ...

* La Mer (1978, 1979) Champion mare and 1977

* Lomondy (1986) Winner of the

Adelaide Cup The Adelaide Cup is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 2 Thoroughbred handicap horse race for three-year-olds and older, run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, Australia on the second Monday in March. Total prize mone ...

(1986),

(1986) and the

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 met ...

(1986) * Melody Belle (2019, 2020) Champion mare with 14 group 1 races to her name. Two time

(2019, 2020) *

Redcraze Redcraze (born 1950) was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who raced both in Australia and New Zealand, winning major races in both countries. A chestnut son of the Hyperion stallion Red Mars from the mare Myarion he is considered ...

(1955) Who went to win the

(1956) and 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 ...

(1957) * Solvit (1994) Winner of the

(1994) *

Veandercross Veandercross (14 October 1988 – 18 October 2014) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred gelding who won 14 stakes races, (including eight Group one), and was chosen Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the 1992–93 season. Veandercros ...

(1992) 8 time group 1 winner and 1993

Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, ...

Xcellent Xcellent (foaled 29 November 2001 in New Zealand) is a thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Michael & Paul Moroney. He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including four Group Ones - The New Zealand Derby and New Zealand Stakes at ...

(2005) Champion 3 year old and two time

(2005, 2006)

Results

References