Great Northern Derby (race)

The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New Zealand's most prestigious three-year-old race. It was discontinued in 1972 after being combined with the New Zealand Derby. The new race, also called the New Zealand Derby was also run at Ellerslie.

History

The inaugural running of the Derby was in May 1875, when racing was held at Ellerslie Racecourse for the first time. Just three horses took part, of which one was withdrawn before the start and another failed to complete the course, leaving Toi to finish the race and become the first Derby winner. In 1887 it was renamed the ARC Great Northern Derby Principal race over 12F

The race kept the name Great Northern Derby regularly until 1973 when the Great Northern Derby was combined with the New Zealand Derby from Christchurch to form one race, called the New Zealand Derby, which was run at Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas.

Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses including the great Desert Gold. Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the Derby winners' list, including Kindergarten, Desert Gold, Mainbrace and Gloaming.

Winners

See also

• New Zealand Derby
• New Zealand Derby (Riccarton)