The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand
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 ...
contested by the
Wellington Racing Club at
Trentham Racecourse
Trentham Racecourse is the main thoroughbred horse racecourse for the Wellington city area in New Zealand. It is located in the suburb of Trentham, New Zealand, Trentham in Upper Hutt, next to Trentham Military Camp.
The races are conducted by t ...
in Upper Hutt. It was traditionally raced during the
Wellington Cup carnival in mid-January, however from 2025 it has been shifted to earlier in January.
The Telegraph Handicap, raced over 1200 metres, and the
Railway Stakes contested 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 ...
are
New Zealand's premier sprint races.
In the late 1980s the race was called the Wrightson Handicap.
The nature of the Trentham track ensures fast times and some Telegraph Handicap winners have been able to lay claim to world record times over 1200m.
1954 racebook
File:1954 WRC Wellington Cup Racebook P1.jpg, 1954 WRC Wellington Cup racebook front cover
File:1954 WRC Wellington Cup Racebook P2.jpg, 1954 WRC Wellington Cup raceday officials
File:1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap P1.jpg, 1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
File:1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap P2.jpg, 1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page showing the winner, John Gilpin
File:1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap P3.jpg, 1954 WRC Telegraph Handicap page starters and results
File:1954 WRC Wellington Cup Racebook P6.jpg, 1954 WRC Wellington Cup train arrangements
Previous winners
Wellington Cup Carnival
Other major races include the:
*
Wellington Cup.
*
Levin Classic.
*
Thorndon Mile.
*
Desert Gold Stakes.
See also
*
Recent winners of major NZ sprint races
*
Railway Stakes
*
Waikato Sprint
The Waikato Sprint currently run as the BCD Group Sprint is a Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton in early February.
It is currently held on the same day as the Group 1 New Zeala ...
References
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Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & TipsTAB , Sports & Racing Betting Online in New ZealandNew Zealand Horse Racing Statistics and Information - RaceBase* ''The Great Decade of New Zealand racing 1970-1980''. Glengarry, Jack. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.
* ''New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1976''. Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland
Horse races in New Zealand