Harness racing in New Zealand is more often called trotting in the "old school" rather than the more fashionable name of "harness racing".[1] The sport is long standing with events being held as early as 1864. In New Zealand trotting as a sport involves both pacing and trotting competitions for Standardbred racehorses.[2]
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Trotting races were held as part of the programme of some of the galloping meetings in the Otago Southland area as early as 1864. The first totalisators were introduced about this time. They faced opposition from a curious alliance of bookmakers and anti-gambling factions but were approved by the Clubs and licensed by the Colonial Secretary. The first trotting race on a racecourse in Canterbury, in 1875, before the totalisator was introduced, the stake was only about a "tenner" (£10), but the match created a lot of interest. About 1880, Lower Heathcote Racing Club was founded, supporting gallops, but added trotting events to its programme, giving smaller stakes. Some years later the club discontinued gallops and became the Lower Heathcote Trotting Club, which gave stakes ranging from £15 to £35.[2]
The New South Wales bred, Lawn Derby, racing un-hoppled, was the first pacer to break the two-minute barrier in Australia or New Zealand when he recorded 1:59.4 at the Addington track in New Zealand in 1938.[3]
From these early stages, the sport has developed with top races and top horses from then right up to the present day.
In New Zealand the richest and most important race is the New Zealand Trotting Cup, run for older pacers in November at Addington. Other major races include the Auckland Trotting Cup as well as the Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile and the New Zealand Messenger Championship for four year olds. There are also the New Zealand Derby and the Great Northern Derby for three year olds, and the Dominion Handicap and Rowe Cup for trotters. The Harness Jewels raceday (the end-of year championships for two, three and four year olds) takes place in late May or early June
A marquee event is the annual series which takes place between New Zealand and Australia called the Inter Dominion. The series, which includes a pacing series and a trotting series, is held yearly and rotated around the Australian State Controlling Bodies and once every four years the Inter Dominion Championships are held in New Zealand.
New Zealand racing differs from North American racing in that metric distances are used, generally above the equivalent of one mile and horses are classed by how many wins they have. Another large difference is that in New Zealand racing the leader does not have to hand up the lead to any horse that challenges, often leaving a horse parked outside the leader in the "death seat", "the death", or "facing the breeze", as this horse covers more ground than the leader. New Zealand racing generally has more horses in each race, a field of 12 or 13 is not uncommon. This generally means that with the smaller tracks a "three wide train" starts as the field gets the bell at signal their final lap. There is a system of an 'open lane' or 'passing lane' ('sprint lane' in Australia). These lanes do not operate on all tracks and have been a point of argument between many industry participants. Many horses are able to easily "cross the Tasman" to Australia, as the rules are similar.
The association with trotting in New Zealand and the United States has always been strong, with much of the breeding stock coming from America. Particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, New Zealand horses competed in both Canada and the United States. The first New Zealand horse to be raced in America by a New Zealander was the trotter Vodka, the winner of the 1953 Dominion Handicap. He was taken there in 1956 by his owner, J. S. Shaw, won 11 races and was later leased to American interests.
In 1960 Caduceus was the first New Zealand pacer to compete in the Yonkers International Series with his trainer-driver, J. D. Litten. Despite his nine years, Caduceus showed he was the equal of the top American horses, winning the last race of the series, only to be disqualified. He also was leased to American interests and at 10 years of age was still winning races.
False Step was driven in the Yonkers International series during the 1960–61 season by his trainer C C Devine. False Step's performances showed he was one of the greatest pacers in the world. He beat the acknowledged American champion, Adios Butler, in a 1½ mile race. He was sold in America for 115,000 dollars, the fifth highest price paid for a pacer in the United States.
Arania also entered the series with False Step. She did not do well, but after being leased won several races and proved she was able to race with the best in America, and in fact created a record of 1 min 57 sec for 1 mile in the Lexington Red Mile.[4]
In 1964, Cardigan Bay was to travel to America with reinsman Stanley Dancer, who paid 100,000 dollars for the horse. Cardigan Bay was already an established racehorse in New Zealand, having won the 1963 New Zealand Trotting Cup and other top races in Australia and New Zealand. He went on to win over a million dollars in the United States, the first harness horse ever to do so.
| Name | Distance | Current Value | Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Trotting Cup | 2700 m | $600,000 | Winners |
| Dominion Handicap | 3200 m | $200,000 | Winners |
| Great Northern Derby | 2700 m | $600,000 | Winners |
| New Zealand Trotting Derby | 2700 m | $300,000 | Winners |
| New Zealand Free For All | 2000 m | $200,000 | Winners |
| New Zealand Messenger | 2700 m | $200,000 | Winners |
| New Zealand Sires Stakes | 1950 m | $200,000 | Winners |
| New Zealand Trotting Cup | 3200 m | $750,000 | Winners |
| Noel J Taylor Mile | 1700 m | $100,000 | Winners |
| Rowe Cup | 3200 m | $300,000 | Winners |
| Race | Date | Club | Grade | Type | Stake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon City Ford Cup | Sep | NZ Metro | Listed | Open Pace | $20,000 |
| Ordeal Cup | Sep | NZ Metro | Listed | Open Trot | $20,000 |
| Spring Cup | Sep | Auckland | Listed | Open Pace | $25,000 |
| Superstars Champs | Oct | NZ Metro | Group 2 | 4YO Pace | $50,000 |
| Searells Classic | Oct | NZ Metro | Group 3 | Open Pace | $30,000 |
| D G Jones Trotting Cup | Oct | Banks Pen | Group 3 | Open Trot | $35,000 |
| Kumeu Founders Cup | Oct | Kumeu | Group 3 | Open Pace | $30,000 |
| Canterbury Park Trotting Cup | Oct | NZ Metro | Group 3 | Open Trot | $30,000 |
| Methven Cup | Oct | Methven | Listed | Open Pace | $25,000 |
| Ashburton Flying Stakes | Oct | Ashburton | Group 2 | Open Pace | $75,000 |
| Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile | Oct | Ashburton | Group 3 | Open Trot | $40,000 |
| Kaikoura Cup | Nov | Kaikoura | Group 2 | Open Pace | $60,000 |
| Handicap Trot | Nov | Kaikoura | Listed | Open Trot | $30,000 |
| New Zealand Sires Stakes | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 3YO Pace | $300,000 |
| New Zealand Trotting Cup | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Pace | $750,000 |
| NZ Free-For-All | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 3 | Open Pace | $50,000 |
| Discretionary Trot | Nov | NZ Metro | Listed | Open Trot | $25,000 |
| New Zealand Free For All | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Pace | $200,000 |
| New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Trot | $100,000 |
| Dominion Handicap | Nov | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Trot | $200,000 |
| Pak'N Save Franklin Cup | Nov | Franklin | Group 2 | Open Pace | $80,000 |
| Ladyship Stakes | Dec | Auckland | Group 2 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $70,000 |
| Lyell Creek Stakes | Dec | Auckland | Group 2 | Open Trot | $50,000 |
| Northern 4YO Breeders Stakes | Dec | Auckland | Group 3 | 4YO Mares Pace | $40,000 |
| Northern Stakes | Dec | Auckland | Listed | 3YO Pace | $25,000 |
| Queen Of Hearts | Dec | Auckland | Group 1 | Mares Pace | $100,000 |
| Elsu Classic | Dec | Auckland | Group 2 | 3YO Pace | $70,000 |
| Trotters Flying Mile | Dec | Cambridge | Group 2 | Open Trot | $55,000 |
| Sires Stakes Fillies Final | Dec | Auckland | Group 1 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $150,000 |
| National Trot | Dec | Auckland | Group 1 | Open Trot | $100,000 |
| Manukau Summer Cup | Dec | Auckland | Group 3 | Open Pace | $45,000 |
| 3YO Open | Dec | Auckland | Listed | 3YO Pace | $200,000 |
| Flying Mile | Jan | Cambridge | Group 2 | Open Pace | $75,000 |
| Trotting Cup FFA | Jan | Cen Otago | Listed | Open Pace | $25,000 |
| Flying Stakes | Jan | Cambridge | Listed | Open Trot | $30,000 |
| Cambridge 4YO Classic | Jan | Cambridge | Group 3 | 4YO Pace | $40,000 |
| Waikato Guineas | Jan | Cambridge | Listed | 3YO Pace | $27,500 |
| Southland Cup | Jan | North South | Group 3 | Open Pace | $55,000 |
| 4YO Futurity Stakes | Jan | Cambridge | Group 2 | 4YO Pace | $60,000 |
| Te Awamutu Juvenile Stake | Jan | Cambridge | Listed | 2YO Pace | $25,000 |
| 4YO Classic | Jan | Marlborough | Group 2 | 4YO Pace | $50,000 |
| Caduceus Club Mares Championship | Jan | NZ Metro | Group 2 | Mares Pace | $50,000 |
| Fillies Pace | Jan | NZ Metro | Listed | 3YO Fillies Pace | $125,000 |
| FFA Mobile | Jan | NZ Metro | Listed | Open Pace | $75,000 |
| 4YO Championship | Feb | Forbury | Group 3 | 4YO Pace | $30,000 |
| NZ Sapling Stakes | Feb | Ashburton | Group 3 | 2YO Pace | $30,000 |
| Hambletonian Classic | Feb | Ashburton | Group 3 | 3YO Trot | $30,000 |
| NZ Breeders Stakes | Feb | NZ Metro | Group 1 | F & M Pace | $100,000 |
| City Of Auckland FFA | Feb | Auckland | Group 2 | Open Pace | $60,000 |
| Northern Oaks | Feb | Auckland | Group 1 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $200,000 |
| NZ Kindergarten Stakes | Feb | Wyndham | Group 3 | 2YO Pace | $30,000 |
| Great Northern Derby | Mar | Auckland | Group 1 | 3YO Pace | $600,000 |
| Auckland Trotting Cup | Mar | Auckland | Group 1 | Open Pace | $600,000 |
| Cardigan Bay Stakes | Mar | Auckland | Group 2 | 2YO Pace | $50,000 |
| City of Sails FFA | Mar | Auckland | Group 3 | Open Trot | $40,000 |
| Delightful Lady Classic | Mar | Auckland | Listed | 2YO Fillies Pace | $25,000 |
| Stakes | Mar | Cheviot | Group 3 | 2YO Fillies Pace | $30,000 |
| 3YO Trot | Mar | Rangiora | Listed | 3YO Trot | $60,000 |
| Invercargill Cup | Mar | Invercargill | Group 3 | Open Pace | $55,000 |
| Canterbury Country Cups Final | Mar | NZ Metro | Feature | Open Pace | $30,000 |
| NZ Trotting Derby | Mar | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 3YO Trot | $100,000 |
| Flying Stakes | Mar | NZ Metro | Group 2 | 3YO Pace | $50,000 |
| 4YO Trotters Champ | Mar | NZ Metro | Group 3 | 4YO Trot | $30,000 |
| New Zealand Trotting Derby | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 3YO Pace | $300,000 |
| NZ Trotting Champs | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Trot | $100,000 |
| Fillies Classic | Apr | Auckland | Group 1 | 2YO Fillies Pace | $110,000 |
| NZ Trotting Oaks | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 3 | 3YO Fillies Trot | $30,000 |
| Free-For-All | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 3 | Open Pace | $30,000 |
| Fillies Classic | Apr | North South | Listed | 2YO Pace | $25,000 |
| Easter Cup | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 1 | Open Pace | $100,000 |
| Welcome Stakes | Apr | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 2YO Pace | $100,000 |
| North Island Country Cups Final | Apr | Auckland | Feature | Open Pace | $30,000 |
| Noel J Taylor Mile | Apr | Auckland | Group 1 | 4YO Pace | $100,000 |
| Sires Stakes Trotters Championship | Apr | Auckland | Group 2 | 3YO Trot | $80,000 |
| Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes | Apr | Moriinsville | Listed | 2YO Pace | $30,000 |
| 2YO Fillies | Apr | Auckland | Listed | 2YO Fillies Pace | $150,000 |
| New Zealand Messenger | May | Auckland | Group 1 | 4YO Pace | $200,000 |
| NZ Sires Stakes Fillies Champs | May | Auckland | Group 1 | 2YO Fillies Pace | $150,000 |
| Rowe Cup | May | Auckland | Group 1 | Open Trot | $300,000 |
| Northern Trotting Derby | May | Auckland | Group 1 | 3YO Trot | $100,000 |
| NZ Trotting Stakes | May | NZ Metro | Group 3 | 2YO Trot | $30,000 |
| Southern Country Cups Final | May | Invercargill | Feature | Open Pace | $35,000 |
| Southland Oaks | May | Invercargill | Group 2 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $50,000 |
| Southern Supremacy Stakes | May | Invercargill | Group 2 | 3YO C & G Pace | $50,000 |
| Rangiora Classic | May | Rangiora | Group 3 | Open Pace | $60,000 |
| Fillies Final | May | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $150,000 |
| NZ Sires Stakes Trotting Championship | May | NZ Metro | Group 2 | 2YO Trot | $60,000 |
| Yearling Sales 2YO Open | May | NZ Metro | Listed | 2YO Pace | $200,000 |
| Cambridge 3YO Trotting Stakes | May | Cambridge | Listed | 3YO Trot | $25,000 |
| Memorial NZ Oaks | May | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $150,000 |
| NZ Sires Stakes Final | May | NZ Metro | Group 1 | 2YO Pace | $200,000 |
| Kumeu Stakes | May | Auckland | Group 3 | 4YO Pace | $30,000 |
| Winter Cup | May | NZ Metro | Listed | Open Pace | $25,000 |
| NI Breeders Stakes | May | Franklin | Group 3 | F & M Pace | $30,000 |
| Yearling Sales 2YO Trot | May | NZ Metro | Listed | 2YO Trot | $60,000 |
| Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 2YO Fillies Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 3YO Diamond | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 3YO Fillies Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 4YO Mares Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 2YO Emerald | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 2YO C & G Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 3YO Emerald | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 3YO C & G Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 4YO Emerald | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 4YO E & G Pace | $200,000 |
| Harness Jewels 3YO Ruby | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 3YO Trot | $100,000 |
| Harness Jewels 4YO Ruby | May | Ashburton | Group 1 | 4YO Trot | $100,000 |
| Harness Jewels 2YO Ruby | May | Ashburton | Group 2 | 2YO Trot | $100,000 |
| Trotting Breeders Stakes | Jun | Auckland | Group 3 | F & M Trot | $35,000 |
| Winter Cup | Jun | Auckland | Listed | Open Pace | $25,000 |
| NZ Yearling Sales NHT Pace | Jun | Auckland | Listed | 2YO Pace | $100,000 |
| Greenlane Cup | Jun | Auckland | Listed | Open Trot | $25,000 |
| Thames Cup | Jun | Thames | Listed | Open Pace | $20,000 |