Inaugurated 1904 Distance 3200m (2 miles) | Website www.addington.co.nz Surface Dirt | |
 | ||
Location Addington Raceway
Christchurch, New Zealand Race type Standardbred - Flat racing | ||
Christchurch casino new zealand trotting cup 2016
The New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. As of 2013 the prize was NZ$650,000. Previously the total prize money was $1.2 million in 2008, reduced to $1 million in 2009 and $750,00 in 2010. The total prize money for the 2011 and 2012 races was $600,000.
Contents
- Christchurch casino new zealand trotting cup 2016
- Harness racing christchurch casino new zealand trotting cup 2013
- Cup history
- Records
- References
The race is held during Show Week on the second Tuesday in November, three days before the Show Day public holiday. The New Zealand Free For All is held on Show Day. The public holiday in Christchurch is the observance of the Canterbury Anniversary Holiday (16 December in reality). The race meeting, along with the New Zealand Cup for thoroughbreds and greyhounds, forms part of Canterbury's carnival week, along with the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Until 1999, the A&P show was held at showgrounds adjacent to Addington Raceway. The New Zealand Trotting cup is considered as Canterbury's biggest day on its social calendar. Most flock to Addington for the glitz and glamour of the event.
Harness racing christchurch casino new zealand trotting cup 2013
Cup history
The cup has been won by three times by three horses, Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love. False Step later went to the United States where he beat the acknowledged American champion of the time, Adios Butler. A number of horses have won the race twice including Harold Logan and Highland Fling who both won their second cups off the very large handicap of 60 yards.
In 2007 a crowd of 25,000 people packed the race track. This Tuesday is also known for having remarkable weather, it had not rained at the New Zealand Trotting Cup since 1962, the year that mudlark Lordship beat the hot favorite Cardigan Bay. It did rain in 2007, but only after the New Zealand Trotting Cup had already been run.
Cardigan Bay, the beaten favorite in 1962, did eventually win the race the next year in 1963, and also won the Inter Dominion in Australia in 1963. Cardigan Bay, in association with New Jersey master reinsman Stanley Dancer went on to become the first million dollar winner in the sport's history.
The 2008 running of the race was won by Changeover, driven by David Butcher and trained by Geoff Small, in race/world record time (1.58.8 mile rate). The race was delayed by over 6 minutes due to fractious horses and a damaged wheel to one of the favoured runners. After being slow away, Butcher moved forward to lead, and soon after took a trail behind one of the other favourites, Baileys Dream. In an exciting finish, Butcher used the passing lane to pass Baileys Dream, with Report for Duty third for Anthony Butt (who was trying for 3 wins in a row in the NZ Cup). It was another dream result for the ATC Trotting Syndicate, who own the horse. The last horse home, favoured runner Monkey King, was credited with a time of 3.58.7, which was fast enough to have won every NZ Cup, except the 2007 running, won by Flashing Red.
Terror To Love equaled the record for most wins in 2013, having won the previous two years. Despite breaking stride at the start of the race, giving the leaders a 15-length head start (about 37m or 3 seconds), Terror To Love made up the distance slowly and worked towards the front, taking the lead in the back stretch of the final lap. The horse managed to hold off late-charging runners to record the unusual win by a head. The race announcer called the race the greatest win in the New Zealand Trotting Cup's history. The race time was the second fastest behind the 2008 win by Changeover.
The 2015 running of the New Zealand Cup was won by Australian-based horse, Arden Rooney, in a slowish overall time of 3.57.4, driven by Kerryn Manning. It was the first time in the history of the race that a female had driven the winner. Arden Rooney was given a leisurely time in front after a great beginning and with a last half mile in 55 seconds under a vigorous drive, gave little else a chance to catch it. Subsequently the driver was given a two-week suspension and $1000 fine for "Excessive use of whip". It was her second fine for a similar offense in New Zealand within 8 days.
In 2016 the race was run and won by the dominant Purdon/Rasmussen training combination, with their horse Lazarus. It was won in a very fast time in completely dominant fashion by 10 lengths, running 3.53.1 for the 2 mile event (a mile rate of 1.57.2). The Purdon/Rasmussen combination filled 3 of the first 4 finishing positions.
In 2016, the ZM Body Art final was held at the Trotting Cup.
Records
Most wins:
Most wins by a driver: