Inaugurated 1860 Surface Turf Distance 2,414 m | Website Riccarton Park Track Left-handed | |
Location Riccarton Park Racecourse
Christchurch, New Zealand Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing | ||
The New Zealand Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, New Zealand. The inaugural running of the Derby was in 1860, when racing was held at Riccarton Racecourse. The race is notable, as it was one of the two main races for three-year-olds in New Zealand, the other being the Great Northern Derby. The two races were effectively combined into one. The race is currently run as the New Zealand Derby and is worth $2.2 million.
In 1973, the race has now been moved to from Christchurch to Auckland at Ellerslie Racecourse and it is still currently run as the New Zealand Derby. The Great Northern Derby had been run in Auckland but this was discontinued. Two new 1600 m races for three-year-olds were started in Christchurch, in place of its Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas.
The race was won by three of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame horses Gloaming, Nightmarch and Desert Gold.