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The racing of Thoroughbred horses is a popular sport in New Zealand. The governing body is New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated. The principal racing club, the Auckland Racing Club, races at Ellerslie Racecourse (where the first totalisator machine in the world was installed in 1919, see Sir George Julius).
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Horses frequently move between New Zealand and its neighbour Australia, for races and for breeding purposes. Famous New Zealand racehorses include the great mares Desert Gold, Cuddle, Horlicks and Sunline, plus Carbine, Kindergarten, Phar Lap, Nightmarch, Gloaming, Rising Fast, Il Tempo, Advance, Tulloch and Grey Way. Both Australia and New Zealand claim Phar Lap. Gloaming, an Australian-bred horse, raced in Australia and in New Zealand.
Between 1882 and 2009 New Zealand-bred horses won 40 Melbourne Cups and many other important races in Australia. During the 2008-09 racing season 19 New Zealand-bred Thoroughbreds won 22 Group One races around the world.