The Racecourses of New Zealand
A DigitalNZ Story by Alex Archivists (twitter.com/AlexArchivists)
A pictorial survey of 100 New Zealand racecourses. Many of these courses are now historic having closed in the past 140 years. Another 20 racetracks are earmarked for closure from the 2019-2020 season. 28 venues will remain for horse racing in NZ.
Racehorses, Racecourses, Racetracks, Thoroughbreds, Horse Racing, Racing Clubs, Jockey Clubs.
North Island Racecourses
Waipapakauri Racecourse (Mr Joseph Evan's paddocks)
1903. Waipapakauri Club. This Bay of Islands racing club was situated close to Kaitai.
National Library of New Zealand
Kawakawa Racecourse
1919. Kawakawa Racing Club. The Club closed in the 1930s. Kawakawa is now world famous for the Hundertwasser toilets.
National Library of New Zealand
Rawene Racecourse
1954. Hokianga Racing Club. The first annual picnic race meeting at the Rawene Racecourse was held in 1944.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Kensington Racecourse
1955. Whanagrei Racing Club. The Club raced here from 1902 until 1977 when races transferred to Ruakaka.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Ruakaka Racecourse
1985. Whanagrei Racing Club. The Ruakaka track has a well-earned reputation as NZ's finest 'all weather' track.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Awakino Point Racecourse
[ca 1959]. Dargarville Racing Club. Dargaville Racing Club races once a year in November.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Waipu Racecourse
1953. Waipu Jockey Club. On New Year's Eve 1886 the Waipu Jockey Club held a ball in the Waipu Library hall.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Helensville Racecourse (Mr Hand's Paddock)
1882. Helensville Racing Club. John McLeod built a house named "Helen's Villa" for his wife, which became Helensville.
National Library of New Zealand
Takapuna Racecourse
1910. Takapuna Jockey Club. Racecourse originally owned by the Duder brothers and known as Victoria Park, Devonport.
Auckland Libraries
Ellerslie Racecourse
1916. Auckland Racing Club. The course has a world renowned reputation for the beauty of its grounds, gardens and trees.
Auckland Libraries
Takanini Racecourse
1959. Auckland Racing Club. The Auckland Racing Club used Takanini Racecourse as a training track.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Onehunga Racecourse
1889. Onehunga Racing Club. Onehunga Racecourse was also known as the Epsom Course.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Te Rapa Racecourse
1978. Cambridge Jockey Club. The Waikato Racing Club and Taumarunui Racing Club also race on this track.
Trove
Papakura Racecourse
1896. Papakura Racing Club. The first race meeting held on the Papakura Racecourse was in March 1892.
Auckland Libraries
Avondale Racecourse
1947. Avondale Jockey Club. There are grass, sand, plough and two year old training tracks. Course value: 200 million.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Pukekohe Racecourse
1962. Pukekohe Park. Home to premier horse racing, motorsport, cycling and Franklin’s best Function & Events Centre.
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Pirongia Racecourse
[ca 2000s]. Alexandra Racing Club. The Club was formed in 1867 or 1868 and has raced at least 148 times by 2019.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Cambridge Racecourse
1940. Cambridge Jockey Club. The racecourse is now a significant training complex at 40 Racecourse Road, Cambridge.
Auckland Libraries
Matamata Racecourse
1972. Matamata Racing Club. The Club operates a busy training centre, with an average of more than 700 horses per year.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Thames Racecourse
1913. Thames Jockey Club. Transferred their one day picnic race meeting to Te Rapa from 2019.
Auckland Libraries
Paeroa Racecourse
1906. Paeroa Racing Club. The last race meeting at Paeroa was held in 2012 after 137 years of horse racing.
National Library of New Zealand
Te Awamutu Racecourse
1955. Waipa Racing Club. Te Awamutu is a prospering farming town, with a population of 14,000, 20 minutes from Hamilton.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Tauranga Racecourse
1955. Tauranga Racing. In 2006, there was a $400,000 renovation of the main track, including extensive drainage work.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Opotiki Racecourse
[ca 1910-1930.] Opotiki Jockey Club. The Opitiki Jockey Club raced annually in late January.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Arawa Park Racecourse
1954. Racing Rotorua & BOP Hunt Club. The course boasts an excellent level of lounges, bar and betting facilities.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Taupo Racecourse
2010. Racing Taupo. There are no permanent grandstands at the course but a natural bank runs the length of the track.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Makaraka Racecourse
1950. Poverty Bay Turf Club. Gisborne. The Club held its first meeting in 1870 then built a track at Makaraka in 1891.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Kaiaua Racecourse (Beach)
1938. Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. Tolaga Bay is located 45 kilometers northeast of Gisborne.
National Library of New Zealand
Te Kupenga Racecourse
1958. Wairoa Racing Club. The Wairoa Cup in February is a highlight of the year drawing crowds from Wairoa and Gisborne.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Pukekura Racecourse
1953. Taranaki Racing Inc. New Plymouth Raceway stages meetings hosted by both the Opunake and Taranaki Racing Clubs.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Te Kapua Racecourse
1984. Stratford Racing Club. With its sweeping home turn and testing straight, the course provides quality racing.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Opunake Racecourse
1965. Opunake Racing Club. The Opunake Racecourse was located at Pihama, 23 miles west of Hawera.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Waverley Racecourse
1898. Waverley Racing Club. 2 grandstands. Main Stand and the Members Stand (featured in the movie Good Bye Pork Pie.)
Auckland Libraries
Wanganui Racecourse
1910. Wanganui Jockey Club. Wanganui first raced 1848. They are the oldest club in NZ racing on original land.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Marton Racecourse
1989. Marton Jockey Club.
Archives Central
Bulls Racecourse
1975. Rangitiki Racing Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Feilding Racecourse
1908. Feilding Jockey Club.
Auckland Libraries
Napier Park Racecourse
Ca 1960s. Napier Park Racing Club, Greenmeadows, Napier. Date unknown, probably early 1960s.
MTG Hawke's Bay
Hastings Racecourse
2008. Hawke's Bay Racing Inc.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Porangahau Racecourse
1882. Porangahau Jockey Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Waipukurau racecourse
1976. Waipukurau Jockey Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Paihiatua Racecourse
1903. Paihiatua Racing Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Woodville Racecourse
ca 1920s. Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Ashhurst-Pohangina Racecourse
1929. Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club.
Palmerston North City Library
Awapuni Racecourse
1923. Manawatu Racing Club.
Palmerston North City Library
Castlepoint Racecourse (Beach)
1985. Castlepoint Racing Club.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Clareville Racecourse
ca 1920s. Carterton Racing Club.
Wairarapa Archive
Ruamāhanga Plains Racecourse
Racing club unknown. Māori participated enthusiastically in races during the 1850s.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Tauherenikau Racecourse
1975. Wairarapa Racing Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Otaki Racecourse
ca 1900s. Otaki-Māori Racing Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Porirua Racecourse (Beach)
1889. Porirua Jockey Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Trentham Racecourse
1932. Wellington Racing Club. The track design is widely acknowledged as one of the best in Australasia.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Hutt Racecourse
1910. Wellington Jockey Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Miramar Racecourse
1909. Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Island Bay Racecourse
1880s. Island Bay Jockey Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
SOUTH ISLAND RACECOURSES
Richmond Park Racecourse
[ca 1910s]. Nelson Jockey Club. The first race meeting, almost the first in New Zealand, took place on February 1, 1843.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Waterlea Racecourse
1939. Marlborough Racing Club. The Marlborough Racing Club races twice a year at Blenheim’s Waterlea racecourse.
National Library of New Zealand
Kaikoura Racecourse
1911. Kaikoura Racing Club. Kaikoura (from the Maori “kai,” food, and “koura,” crayfish).
National Library of New Zealand
Reefton Racecourse
1951. Reefton Jockey Club. A straight of 230 metres makes it the smallest course in NZ for galloping meetings.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Omoto Racecourse
[1900s] Greymouth Jockey Club. The Greymouth Jockey Club's first race meeting took place at Omoto, in 1867.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Kumara Racecourse
2004. Kumara Racing Club. Kumara racecourse stages racing once a year in January.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Hokitika Racecourse
1928. Westland Racing Club. The Club was established in 1866 and has raced at the current Hokitika track since 1884.
Auckland Libraries
Kokatahi Racecourse
1913. Kokatahi Racing Club. Kokatahi is 15 km to the south-west of Hokitika.
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Rangiora Racecourse
1978. Rangiora Racing Club. Today Rangiora is used as a training track only.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Okarito Racecourse
[ca 1910]. Okarito Racing Club. The Okarito Racecourse stand in Kumara, SH 73, is listed as an historic place.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Riccarton Park Racecourse
[ca 1930]. Riccarton Jockey Club. Riccarton Park, home to Canterbury Racing, and there has been racing here since 1855.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Motukarara Racecourse
1959. Banks Peninsula Racing Club. Banks Peninsula Racing Club races at Motukarara Racecourse once a year in October.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Hororata Racecourse
1941. Hororata Racing Club. In the 1890s nine train carriages of passengers from Christchurch would travel to Hororata.
National Library of New Zealand
Ashburton Racecourse
1978. Ashburton Racing Club. The course is located just out of town heading north towards Christchurch.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Phar Lap Raceway
[ca1990s]. South Canterbury Racing Club. The raceway is named after Australasia’s most famous racehorse, Phar Lap.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Waimate Racecourse
1937. Waimate Racing Club. Situated 45 kms south west of Timaru, Waimate is located in a strongly agricultural area.
Auckland Libraries
Orari Racecourse
1937. Geraldine Racing Club. Geraldine or Heratini is a town in the Canterbury Region.
Auckland Libraries
Kurow Racecourse
1939. Kurow Jockey Club. If you have a passion for fishing as well as racing, then this is the perfect place to visit.
National Library of New Zealand
Oamaru Racecourse
1956. Oamaru Jockey Club. The Club races three times a year and is known as one of the premier winter tracks in NZ.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Waikouaiti Racecourse
2010. Waikouaiti Racing Club. Waikouaiti is located 30 kms north of Dunedin and is a popular coastal resort.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Wingatui Racecourse
1925. Otago Racing Club. It also hosts the annual fixture of the Beaumont Racing Club.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Beaumont Racecourse
1901. Beaumont Jockey Club. Beaumont J.C. began racing at Wingatui Racecourse in 1986.
National Library of New Zealand
Tapanui Racecourse
1902. Tapanui Racing Club. Tapanui still race once a year at either the Gore or Wingatui Racecourse.
National Library of New Zealand
Matakanui Park Reserve Racecourse
1900. Vincent Jockey Club. In time the Vincent Jockey Club became the Central Otago Racing Club.
National Library of New Zealand
Omakau Racecourse
1959. Central Otago Racing Club. Omakau is one of the most popular country courses in the South Island.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Cromwell Racecourse
1956. Cromwell Jockey Club. The Cromwell Jockey Club closed in the 1980s but the Otago RC still run races at the course.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Moa Flat and Ettrick Domain Racecourse
1880. Ettrick Jockey Club. The racecourse was two miles north of Ettrick township and about seven miles from Roxburgh .
National Library of New Zealand
Alexandra Racecourse
1886. Alexandra Jockey Club. Alexandra is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island.
National Library of New Zealand
Winton Racecourse
1951. Winton Jockey Club. The track is 1600 metres, and as such tends to favour horses who race up with the pace.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Gore Racecourse
1939. Gore Racing Club. Gore is also the Country Music Capital of New Zealand and hosts the “Gold Guitar Awards”.
Auckland Libraries
Riverton Racecourse
[ca 1979]. Riverton Racing Club. The track is spacious with a long straight which gives all runners a winning chance.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Wairio Racecourse
1956. Wairio Jockey Club. Wairio Jockey Club was established in 1885. Now closed.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Ascot Park Racecourse
1962. Southland Racing Club. Wairio Jockey Club also now hosts their annual meeting here.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wyndham Racecourse
1902. Wyndham Racing Club. Last raced on home track in 2016. Now races at the Gore racecourse.
National Library of New Zealand
Chatham Island Racecourse
[1900s]. Chatham Island Jockey Club. The Jockey Club was formed in 1873 by early settlers.
Alexander Turnbull Library