EASTER HANDICAP · NEW ZEALAND
Easter Handicap prize money
The Easter Handicap is worth £66,135 for the 2026 running . That makes it the 840th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 30th richest in New Zealand.
The race announces its purse as NZ$150,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY £66,135
AS PUBLISHED NZ$150,000
WORLD RANK 840th
RUNNINGS HELD 61
FIRST RUN 1874
What the Easter Handicap is
Group III · 1600m (1 miles) · Turf · Ellerslie Racecourse
- Racecourse
- Ellerslie Racecourse
- Country
- New Zealand
- Grade
- Group III
- Distance
- 1600m (1 miles)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds and up
- Direction
- right-handed
- First run
- 1874
- As published
- NZ$150,000
We hold the total fund for the Easter Handicap and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:36.98 in 2026, the Easter Handicap pays £682 for every second of the race, which is 440th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 26th in New Zealand.
Every Easter Handicap winner
61 runnings, 1965 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lupo Solitario 531:36.98 (soft) | Wiremu Pinn | Danica Guy, Matamata |
| 2025 | Doctor Askar 531:36.51 (soft) | Joe Doyle | Joanne Moss, Waverley |
| 2024 | Snazzytavi 531.36.89 (soft) | Warren Kennedy | Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall |
| 2023 | White Noise1:42.54 (heavy) | Michael NcNab | Andrew Forsman |
| 2022 | Carolina Reaper 531:37.73 (Good) | Ashvin Goindasamy (a) | Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, Matamata |
| 2021 | Demonetization 551:38.72 (Slow) | Samantha Collett | Nigel Tiley, Pukekohe |
| 2019 | Endless Drama 591:33.45 | Leith Innes | Tony Pike, Cambridge |
| 2018 | Megablast 57.51:42.32 | Michael Coleman | Nigel Tiley, Pukekohe |
| 2017 | Seventh Up 551:36.04 | Grant Cooksley | Shelley Hale |
| 2016 | Sound Proposition 551:33.29 | Michael Coleman | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata |
| 2015 | Pondarosa Miss 521:38.50 | Daniel Hain | Peter Hollinshead |
| 2014 | Albany Reunion 52.51:35.28 | Mark Du Plessis | Nigel Tiley, Pukekohe |
| 2013 | Viadana 57.51:34.62 | Mark Du Plessis | Lance Noble, Matamata |
| 2012 | Veyron 591:35.40 | Rogan Norvall | Linda Laing, Cambridge |
| 2011 | Veyron 571:38.79 | Rogan Norvall | Linda Laing, Cambridge |
| 2010 | Time Keeper 511:34.20 | Mark Sweeney | Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Pukekohe |
| 2009 | Prince Kaapstad 531:35.10 | Samantha Spratt | Richard Yuill |
| 2008 | Pasta Post 541:33.02 | Craig Grylls | Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu |
| 2007 | Floydeboy 551:37.80 | Mark Hills | Bernard Dyke, Cambridge |
| 2006 | Rags To Riches 53.51:35.41 | Michael Coleman | Ralph Manning, Cambridge |
| 2005 | Calveen 541:35.16 | Cameron Lammas | Lance O'Sullivan, Matamata |
| 2004 | Pomp and Glory 541:32.29 | Opie Bosson | Alan & Brett Mcdonald, Cambridge |
| 2003 | Sedecrem 54.51:33.95 | Grant Cooksley | Colin Jillings & Richard Yuill, Takanini |
| 2002 | Honor Bound 551:34.74 | Lance O'Sullivan | Terry Wenn, Te Aroha |
| 2001 | Magic Winner 541:37.85 | Mark Sweeney | Graeme & Debbie Sanders, Te Awamutu |
| 2000 | Zayyad 53.51:36.37 | Matthew Williamson | Robbie Sims, Pukekohe |
| 1999 | Oregon Power 54.51:33.18 | Michelle Wenn (Brooks) | Jim Gibbs & Eric Betty, Matamata |
| 1998 | Aimee Jay 521:32.3 | Kelly Davidson | Aiden Schumacher, Stratford |
| 1997 | Moss Downs 50.51:32.34 | Lance O'Sullivan | Chris McNab |
| 1996 | Cactus Jack 49.51:36.3 | Toby Brett | David Cole |
| 1995 | Pakaraka Star 49.51:41.26 | Trudy Thornton | Sidney Gulliver, Waverley |
| 1994 | Ball Park 531:34.16 | Tony Allan | Michael Moroney & Graham Richardson, Matamata |
| 1993 | Moire 511:34.38 | Lisa Cropp | Carl Peterson, Te Awamutu |
| 1992 | Carson's Cash 51.51:33.94 | Vincent Colgan | Roger James, Cambridge |
| 1991 | Rays Hope 51.31:35.2 | Lisa Cropp | Kerry Verner, Takanini |
| 1990 | Status 521:33.66 | Grant Cooksley | Jack Georgetti |
| 1989 | Regal City 561:32.67 | Debbie Healey | Jim Gibbs, Matamata |
| 1988 | Sirstaci 521:34.55 | Tony Allan | Peter Simpson, Cambridge |
| 1987 | Field Dancer 501:38.10 | Michael Coleman | Jim Gibbs & Roger James, Matamata |
| 1986 | Cosmetique 491:34.40 | Gary Grylls | Bill Ford & Roger Verry, Matamata |
| 1985 | Eastern Joy 501:36.54 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1984 | Idaho's Gift 56.51:33.28 | Earl Harrison | Don Couchman, Hawera |
| 1983 | Clear Gold 551:33.19 | Grant Cooksley | I P Morton, Whakatane |
| 1982 | Our Shah 56.61:37.84 | Chris McNab | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan & Michael Moroney, Matamata |
| 1981 | Shivaree 581:41.04 | Garry Phillips | Dave O’Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1980 | Silver Nymph 51.51:37.05 | Warwick Robinson | Gary Mudgway, Te Rapa |
| 1979 | Stipulwin 52.51:40.57 | Paul Hillis | C Tatton, Cambridge |
| 1978 | Silver Wraith 51.251:34 | Peter Johnson | Laurie Laxon, Te Rapa |
| 1977 | Grey Way 60.51:34.74 | Bob Skelton | Pat Corboy, Washdyke |
| 1976 | Tudor Light 561:35.7 | Warwick Robinson | John Malcolm, Te Rapa |
| 1975 | Kiwi Can 57.51:33.2 | Roger Lang | Fred Beguely, Matamata |
| 1974 | Turfcutter 50.51:34.8 | Peter Johnson | Ray Verner, Takanini |
| 1973 | Nordic Star 7.121:43 | Gary Willetts | Gestro & McEwan, Hawera |
| 1972 | Kia Marea 8.11:37 | John Grylls | Tom Mathieson, Hawera |
| 1971 | Evenstead 7.101:35.8 | Noel Riordan | Fred Phillips, Matangi |
| 1970 | Patrida 7.91:36 | David Raklander | Stuart McColl, Woodville |
| 1969 | Choucuana | Rodney Heaslip | Bill Sanders, Te Awamutu |
| 1968 | Tara's Pride | Bill Skelton | Jim Didham, Stratford |
| 1967 | Valiant Rebel | David Peake | Pat McIllroy, Takanini |
| 1966 | Rochdale | J Humphries | Bill Sanders, Te Awamutu |
| 1965 | My Call | David Raklander | Bill Sanders, Te Awamutu |
61 of the 61 runnings name the rider, 61 name the trainer and 0 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Easter Handicap more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
No horse has won the Easter Handicap twice in the 61 runnings on this page.
Most wins by a jockey
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Easter Handicap in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 830 | Prix PenelopeSaint-Cloud Racecourse | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 831 | Prix PerthSaint-Cloud Racecourse | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 832 | Prix SigyChantilly Racecourse | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 833 | Prix TexanitaMaisons-Laffitte | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 834 | Prix Thomas BryonSaint-Cloud Racecourse | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 835 | Prix VanteauxLongchamp Racecourse | France | £68,376 | €80,000 |
| 836 | Bold Ruckus StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £67,100 | CA$125,000 |
| 837 | Manitoba DerbyAssiniboia Downs | Canada | £67,100 | CA$125,000 |
| 838 | G A Towton CupAscot Racecourse | Australia | £66,138 | AU$125,000 |
| 839 | Lee Steere ClassicAscot Racecourse | Australia | £66,138 | AU$125,000 |
| 841 | Great New Zealand HurdleTe Aroha | New Zealand | £66,135 | NZ$150,000 |
| 842 | Premio Carlo ChiesaCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | £65,812 | €77,000 |
| 843 | Premio Elena e Sergio CumaniSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £65,812 | €77,000 |
| 844 | Premio Guido BerardelliCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | £65,812 | €77,000 |
| 845 | Premio Primi PassiSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £65,812 | €77,000 |
| 846 | Premio VerziereSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £65,812 | €77,000 |
| 847 | Ulster DerbyDown Royal, County Down | Ireland | £64,103 | €75,000 |
| 848 | Port Adelaide CupMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | £63,619 | AU$120,240 |
| 849 | Grey StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £61,219 | CA$114,045 |
| 850 | Nad Al Sheba TrophyMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £60,510 | AED 300,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Easter Handicap in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in New Zealand
35 races, 30th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Free For All | Addington Raceway | Group one (G1) | £88,180 |
| New Zealand Sires Stakes 3yo Final | Addington, New Zealand | Group I | £88,180 |
| Rowe Cup | Alexandra Park | Group I | £88,180 |
| Hawke's Bay Guineas | Hastings Racecourse | Group II | £77,158 |
| Great New Zealand Hurdle | Te Aroha | Prestige jumping | £66,135 |
| Championship Stakes | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group III | £52,908 |
| Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile | Alexandra Park | Group I | £48,499 |
| Grand National Hurdles | Riccarton Park Racecourse, Christchurch, New Zealand | Prestige jumping | £44,090 |
Every race in New Zealand we hold a purse for is on the New Zealand prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Easter Handicap prize money?
£66,135, for the 2026 running. The race announces it as NZ$150,000.
Where does the Easter Handicap rank among the richest races in the world?
840th of 997. 839 races pay more, the nearest of them Prix Penelope. In New Zealand it is 30th of 35.
Which jockey has won the Easter Handicap most often?
Michael Coleman, with 4 wins between 1987 and 2018.
When was the Easter Handicap first run?
1874. This page holds 61 runnings, from 1965 to 2026.
How far is the Easter Handicap?
1600m (1 miles), on turf, at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money