Riccarton Races
Introduction
When you talk about horse racing in New Zealand, you cannot go without mentioning the Riccarton races. The Riccarton racecourse was home to the New Zealand derby, before Ellerslie, Auckland became the derby’s new home. Horseracing in New Zealand has a very rich history dating back to the colonial times when the British Empire was the ruling elite. Its contribution to the country’s economy has fast-tracked its establishment as a very serious sport. Riccarton Races
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Since 2004, more than a million people have attended horse racing events in New Zealand. Direct contribution to the Gross Domestic Product from horse racing stands at over 1.5 percent. This translates to millions of dollars, making horse racing a key industry in the island nation’s economy. One of the things that has driven this growth has been the ability to place bets online whether you are in Australia or as far as the United States of America.
Homebred horses perform well. This becomes clear when one looks at the 2008/2009 season where New Zealand bred horses won 19 out of 22 races worldwide. The Riccarton Park Racecourse is home to 24 races organized by the Canterbury Jockey Club. The Canterbury Jockey Club has been in existence for more than 150 years.
The Riccarton Racecourse
The Riccarton Park Racecourse scenery is a marvel to watch. A visit to the racecourse reconnects you with nature and the ambience gives every visitor the peace of mind. The beautiful Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps beyond complement the well kempt racecourse.
The Riccarton Racecourse hosted two main races, The Great Northern Derby and the New Zealand Derby. These two derbies merged to form one and maintained the same name, The New Zealand Derby. The derby later moved from the Riccarton Racecourse to The Ellerslie Racecourse, in Auckland in 1973. The inaugural racing at Riccarton Racecourse was in 1860.
The racecourse is now home to numerous races but the major ones include The New Zealand Cup, the 1000 Guineas and the 2000 Guineas, which compose the New Zealand Cup Week. The 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas replaced the New Zealand derby, after its relocation to Auckland, in 1973.
The New Zealand Cup
The New Zealand Cup is the highlight of all the races held at the Riccarton Park Racecourse and the inaugural event took place in 1874. It attracts large crowds of horse racing enthusiasts from all over the world, as it is the focal point of spring racing in New Zealand. It is a race that involves thoroughbred horses running over a distance of 3200 meters. The long distance spices up the whole event as it becomes very difficult for you to predict who will be the winner. It normally takes place on the final Saturday of the New Zealand Cup week in November. The New Zealand Cup week covers the first Saturday of November to the Second Saturday. The three main races take place during this cup week.
The New Zealand Cup is not only a racing event but also a social extravaganza. The local celebrities fill up the VIP stands showcasing their diverse tastes in fashion and style. There are also other competitions where the lucky winner gets to win a car or other fabulous prizes.
The most recent winners of the New Zealand cup were Hoorang (2008) and Everswindell (2007). As of 2008, the purse stands at 250,000 New Zealand dollars. Although the purse is to some extent lower as compared to other races, the event still draws a large crowd of people and punters.
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas
This race takes place on the final Saturday of the New Zealand Cup week, the same day as the New Zealand Cup. It is a shorter race covering 1600 meters. The inaugural race took place in 1973 as soon as the New Zealand Derby relocated to Auckland. It also involves thoroughbred horses, which are 3 years old. One of the most successful jockeys to have won this race is Chris Johnson. He has four titles to his name. Among the horses, the best recent winners are Seacharge, Taatletail and Tycoon Lil.
This race usually involves fillies, which are young female horses. The purse as at 2008 stands at 325,000 New Zealand Dollars. This is much higher that the New Zealand Cup. Excitement, fashion and glamour are some of the typical features of this event.
The New Zealand 2000 Guineas
Just like the 1000 Guineas, it covers a distance of 1600 meters and involves 3-year-old horses. It is one of the richest horse racing events in New Zealand, carrying a purse of 1 million New Zealand Dollars. It takes place on the first Saturday of November, officially opening the New Zealand Cup week and bringing vitality into the race event.
Since it has the highest purse money, the stakes are very high and punters get a chance to place their bets. Excitement and tension builds-up as the race begins for you might never know if it is your lucky day. Betting depends entirely on luck but there are some information that you must gather before placing a bet like, race history, statistics and jockey history. This will guide you on making the right choice.
Betting Options
All the three events that take place during the New Zealand Cup week are premier events. Other than the competitive races, there are exciting betting options that will give you a chance to claim a stake in the huge sums of money involved in these races.
New Zealand’s proximity to other countries such as Australia and the Asian continent makes it easy for one to plan and make the short trip to New Zealand. However, you are encouraged to place your bets online in case you cannot make it in person, to the Riccarton races. The distance is no longer a barrier when it comes to placing a bet and viewing race results. You can do it right in your living room or study room by just betting online as long as you have access to the internet.