New Zealand Messenger Championship prize money
The New Zealand Messenger Championship is worth £44,090 for the 2025 running . That makes it the 945th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 35th richest in New Zealand.
The race announces its purse as NZ$100,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the New Zealand Messenger Championship is
Group I · 2700m · Dirt · Alexandra Park
- Racecourse
- Alexandra Park
- Country
- New Zealand
- Grade
- Group I
- Distance
- 2700m
- Surface
- Dirt
- Race type
- Standardbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Open class pacers, from 2022 onwards (Historically for four-year-old pacers only)
- Direction
- Right-handed oval
- First run
- 1967
- As published
- NZ$100,000
We hold the total fund for the New Zealand Messenger Championship 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 3:13.80 in 2026, the New Zealand Messenger Championship pays £228 for every second of the race, which is 600th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 33rd in New Zealand.
Every New Zealand Messenger Championship winner
58 runnings, 1967 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Got The Chocolates3:13.8 | R K Gordon, Mrs A L Gordon | ||
| 2025 | Republican Party3:18.8 | Mrs C M Dalgety, G E Dickey, Mrs J E Rooney, G A Ayers, First Term Syndicate, D A Schollum, K J Cummings, B A Smith, G P Merlo, A & M Syndicate | ||
| 2024 | Mach Shard3:17.71 | Mrs K J Purdon, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs T L Whittaker | ||
| 2023 | Self Assured3:18.8 | Mrs J L Feiss | ||
| 2022 | Majestic Cruiser3:13.1 | D S Glynn & Mrs H R Glynn | ||
| 2021 | Copy That3:18.81 | M W & M T Butterworth | ||
| 2019 | Spankem3:17.6 | Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, JA Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, GA Woodham, Mrs KJ Woodham | ||
| 2018 | Eamon Maguire3:15.7 | BD Sceats, GJ Anderson, R Chalklin, SR Pulley, AD Gow, Mrs PP Gillan | ||
| 2017 | Lazarus3:25.2 | Mrs GJ Kennard, PI Kennard, TG Casey, KJ Riseley | ||
| 2016 | Field Marshal3:15.8 | Mrs S A Brown, S B Brown | ||
| 2015 | Sky Major3:15.6 | Mrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear View Racing No 4 Syndicate, J Lohman, T F Henderson, The Anzac Racing Syndicate | ||
| 2014 | Elios3:17.4 | Bennett Bloodstock Ltd, C Eynon, M R McKinnon, G Rutledge, B Destounis | ||
| 2013 | Christen Me3:17.7 | C J Roberts, V L Purdon | ||
| 2012 | Mustang Mach3:18.0 | K Farah, A Kheir, G Braude, M Gordon | ||
| 2011 | Franco Emirate3:18.0 | R E Nieper | ||
| 2010 | Tintin In America3:15.8 | ATC Trot 2008 Syndicate | ||
| 2009 | Auckland Reactor3:18.8 | Auckland Reactor Ltd | ||
| 2008 | Gotta Go Cullen3:22.9 | Ian Dobson | ||
| 2007 | Monkey King3:23.9 | Cavalla Bloodstock Limited | ||
| 2006 | Mainland Banner3:23.5 | Ian Dobson, S J Dobson, Lynne Umar | ||
| 2005 | Mi Muchacho3:23.5 | R C Anderson, Ms P C Larsen | ||
| 2004 | Elsu3:22.2 | Mrs J Walters/Double Up Synd/Est D Hudson/Mrs P Small | ||
| 2003 | Just An Excuse3:22.0 | O Haines, Mrs I K Haines | ||
| 2002 | Young Rufus3:21.4 | H Manolitsis, V, T & W Lynch, G J Carey, K R Hyslop | ||
| 2001 | Tupelo Rose3:23.6 | G L Banks, M J Hanover, J D Curtin | ||
| 2000 | Pic Me Pockets3:19.8 | H R Bosher | ||
| 1999 | Homin Hosed3:23.1 | Mrs M A Macey, B L Macey | ||
| 1998 | OK Royal3:20.6 | Jack Smolenski, M J Ward | ||
| 1997 | Agua Caliente3:24.7 | D S Short, Mrs D E J Short, Mrs D E Woods, Miss S M Short | ||
| 1996 | Decision Time3:22.3 | J M Ward | ||
| 1995 | Rain Again3:23.0 | B C Madsen | ||
| 1994 | Montana Vance3:23.0 | J B Hart, Mrs K J Purdon, J B Ede, D H Sixton | ||
| 1993 | Chokin3:23.3 | Pacers Australia Synd, M Joyce, J Loughnan, B De Boer | ||
| 1992 | Abdias3:27.0 | J Butcher, Mrs C M Butcher | ||
| 1991 | Christopher Vance3:19.5 | R R Reid, Lorna Reid Syndicate, Mrs J C Reid | ||
| 1990 | Alert Fulla3:25.8 | J Friedhof | ||
| 1989 | Dillon Dean3:22.7 | D P Dwyer, Mrs H M C Burley | ||
| 1988 | Rostriever Hanover3:23.5 | I A Munro, Mrs A H Munro | ||
| 1986 | Trident3:25.8 | The Horseplayers Syndicate | ||
| 1985 | Placid Victor3:23.2 | Mrs L G Wilson | ||
| 1984 | Roydon Glen3:25.4 | R A McKenzie | ||
| 1983 | Nostradamus3:32.4 | W J Francis & P I Renwick | ||
| 1982 | Hilarious Guest3:26.2 | M G Vermeulen | ||
| 1981 | Melton Monarch3:26.5 | Jim Dalgety | ||
| 1980 | John Tudor3:29.3 | H T & A P Dodds & B C Newton | ||
| 1979 | Tempest Tiger3:27.9 | P K Ryder | ||
| 1978 | Locarno3:34.6 | B J & E J Francis | ||
| 1978 | Sapling3:26.4 | G C Cruickshank & R Given | ||
| 1977 | Stanley Rio3:28.4 | W J Francis & G B & J B Noble | ||
| 1976 | Forto Prontezza3:29.2 | Mrs E & A R J McNaught | ||
| 1975 | Josias3:29.6 | J & Mrs C M Butcher | ||
| 1974 | Speedy Guest3:28.8 | W F Woolley | ||
| 1973 | Tonton Macoute3:10 | N M Allcock & W E Ross | ||
| 1972 | Scottish Warrior3:10.2 | R A McKenzie | ||
| 1970 | Sam Tryax3:11.6 | Mrs & R C Whitford | ||
| 1969 | Western Ridge3:14.2 | T E Renshaw | ||
| 1968 | Bewitched2:55.8 | G B Noble | ||
| 1967 | Governor Frost2:55.4 | C Hadley |
0 of the 58 runnings name the rider, 0 name the trainer and 58 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Races worth about the same
Either side of the New Zealand Messenger Championship in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 935 | Prix YacowlefChantilly Racecourse | France | £47,009 | €55,000 |
| 936 | Schwarzgold-RennenKöln-Weidenpesch | Germany | £47,009 | €55,000 |
| 937 | Silberne PeitscheMunich Racecourse | Germany | £47,009 | €55,000 |
| 938 | Zukunfts-RennenIffezheim Racecourse | Germany | £47,009 | €55,000 |
| 939 | Lamplighter StakesMonmouth Park Racetrack | United States | £45,113 | $60,000 |
| 940 | Select StakesMonmouth Park Racetrack | United States | £45,113 | $60,000 |
| 941 | Esher CupSandown Park | Great Britain | £45,000 | £45,000 |
| 942 | Heron StakesSandown Park | Great Britain | £45,000 | £45,000 |
| 943 | Prix André BaboinVarious, France | France | £44,444 | €52,000 |
| 944 | Grand National HurdlesRiccarton Park Racecourse, Christchurch, New Zealand | New Zealand | £44,090 | NZ$100,000 |
| 946 | Badener Sprint-CupIffezheim Racecourse | Germany | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 947 | Ballysax StakesLeopardstown | Ireland | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 948 | Deutsches St. LegerDortmund Racecourse | Germany | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 949 | Euro-CupFrankfurt Racecourse | Germany | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 950 | Gallinule StakesCurragh Racecourse | Ireland | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 952 | Herbst StutenpreisHanover Racecourse | Germany | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 953 | Kölner Herbst-Stuten-MeileKöln-Weidenpesch | Germany | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 954 | Tetrarch StakesCurragh Racecourse | Ireland | £42,735 | €50,000 |
| 955 | Charlie Barley StakesWoodbine Racetrack | Canada | £41,570 | CA$77,440 |
| 956 | Al RashidiyaMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £40,340 | AED 200,000 |
The 20 races closest to the New Zealand Messenger Championship 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, 35th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| New Zealand Derby | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £551,125 |
| Karaka Million | Ellerslie Racecourse | Restricted Listed | £440,900 |
| New Zealand Oaks | Ellerslie, Auckland | Group I | £440,900 |
| New Zealand Trotting Cup | Addington Raceway | Group I | £440,900 |
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 New Zealand Messenger Championship prize money?
£44,090, for the 2025 running. The race announces it as NZ$100,000.
Where does the New Zealand Messenger Championship rank among the richest races in the world?
945th of 997. 944 races pay more, the nearest of them Prix Yacowlef. In New Zealand it is 35th of 35.
When was the New Zealand Messenger Championship first run?
1967. This page holds 58 runnings, from 1967 to 2026.
How far is the New Zealand Messenger Championship?
2700m, on dirt, at Alexandra Park.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money