HORSE RACING · 35 RACES
Horse racing prize money in New Zealand
35 races in New Zealand put up £6.6m between them, 2% of all the prize money we hold. the New Zealand Derby leads them on £551,125.
the New Zealand Derby is the 127th richest race in the world, and the average race here is worth £189,020 against £332,712 across every race on this site.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY £6.6m
RICHEST RACE £551k
RACES 35
AVERAGE RACE £189k
SHARE OF ALL RACING 2%
The twelve richest
In New Zealand, by prize money
Every race, ranked
35 races, biggest purse first
| # | Race | Course | Grade | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand Derby 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £551,125 | NZ$1,250,000 |
| 2 | Karaka Million 1200m (2YO) 1600m (3YO) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Restricted Listed | £440,900 | NZ$1,000,000 |
| 3 | New Zealand Oaks 2400 m (12 furlongs) | Ellerslie | Group I | £440,900 | NZ$1,000,000 |
| 4 | New Zealand Trotting Cup 3200m (2 miles) | Addington Raceway | Group I | £440,900 | NZ$1,000,000 |
| 5 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas 1600m (1 mile) | Riccarton Park | Group I | £308,630 | NZ$700,000 |
| 6 | Railway Stakes 1200m (6 furlongs) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £308,630 | NZ$700,000 |
| 7 | New Zealand 1000 Guineas 1600 metres (1 mile) | Riccarton Park | Group I | £264,540 | NZ$600,000 |
| 8 | New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes 1,600 metres (8 furlongs) | Trentham | Group I | £264,540 | NZ$600,000 |
| 9 | Livamol Classic 2040m (10 furlongs) | Hastings Racecourse | Group I | £242,495 | NZ$550,000 |
| 10 | Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes 1,400 metres (7 furlongs) | Awapuni Racecourse | Group I | £242,495 | NZ$550,000 |
| 11 | Telegraph Handicap 1200m (6 furlongs) | Trentham Racecourse | Group I | £242,495 | NZ$550,000 |
| 12 | Thorndon Mile 1,600 metres | Trentham | Group II | £220,450 | NZ$500,000 |
| 13 | Zabeel Classic 2000m/2050m | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £220,450 | NZ$500,000 |
| 14 | New Zealand Cup 3200m (2 miles) | Riccarton Park Racecourse | Group III | £198,405 | NZ$450,000 |
| 15 | Dominion (harness race) 3200m (2 miles) | Addington Raceway | Group I | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 16 | Howden Insurance Mile 1600m (1 mile) | Hastings Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 17 | Levin Classic 1600m (1 mile), 1400m (2025-) | Trentham Racecourse | Group 1, Group 2 (2025-) | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 18 | Mufhasa Classic 1,600 metres | Trentham Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 19 | Proisir Plate 1400m (7 furlongs) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 20 | Wellington Cup 3200 metres | Trentham Racecourse | Group 3 | £176,360 | NZ$400,000 |
| 21 | New Zealand Trotting Derby 2600m | Addington Raceway | Group I | £132,270 | NZ$300,000 |
| 22 | Auckland Pacing Cup 3,200m | Alexandra Park | Group I | £110,225 | NZ$250,000 |
| 23 | Awapuni Gold Cup 2,000 metres ( miles) | Awapuni Racecourse | Group II | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 24 | Grand National Steeplechase 5600 m | Riccarton Park Racecourse | Prestige jumping | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 25 | Great New Zealand Steeplechase 6200m 6400m (Ellerslie) | Te Aroha | Prestige jumping | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 26 | New Zealand Free For All 1,980 metres | Addington Raceway | Group one (G1) | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 27 | New Zealand Sires Stakes 3yo Final 1980m (2018-) | Addington | Group I | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 28 | Rowe Cup 3200m (2 miles) | Alexandra Park | Group I | £88,180 | NZ$200,000 |
| 29 | Hawke's Bay Guineas 1,400 metres (7 furlongs) | Hastings Racecourse | Group II | £77,158 | NZ$175,000 |
| 30 | Easter Handicap 1600m (1 miles) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group III | £66,135 | NZ$150,000 |
| 31 | Great New Zealand Hurdle 4200m | Te Aroha | Prestige jumping | £66,135 | NZ$150,000 |
| 32 | Championship Stakes 2100m (10.5 furlongs) | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group III | £52,908 | NZ$120,000 |
| 33 | Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile 1609m | Alexandra Park | Group I | £48,499 | NZ$110,000 |
| 34 | Grand National Hurdles 4200 m | Riccarton Park Racecourse | Prestige jumping | £44,090 | NZ$100,000 |
| 35 | New Zealand Messenger Championship 2700m | Alexandra Park | Group I | £44,090 | NZ$100,000 |
Which courses hold the money
8 racecourses in New Zealand
| # | Racecourse | Races | Total prize money | Biggest race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellerslie Racecourse | 8 | £2,257,408£2.3m | New Zealand Derby |
| 2 | Trentham Racecourse | 6 | £1,256,565£1.3m | New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes |
| 3 | Addington Raceway | 5 | £925,890 | New Zealand Trotting Cup |
| 4 | Riccarton Park Racecourse | 5 | £903,845 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas |
| 5 | Hastings Racecourse | 3 | £496,013 | Livamol Classic |
| 6 | Awapuni Racecourse | 2 | £330,675 | Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes |
| 7 | Alexandra Park | 4 | £290,994 | Auckland Pacing Cup |
| 8 | Te Aroha | 2 | £154,315 | Great New Zealand Steeplechase |
Ellerslie Racecourse holds 34% of the New Zealand prize money on this page across 8 races. A racecourse's standing in racing is usually told through its history; this is the same standing told through the till.
Flat and jumps
The New Zealand money split by code
| Code | Races | Total prize money | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 30 | £6,240,940£6.2m | 94% |
| Jumps | 4 | £286,585 | 4% |
Who wins in New Zealand
Winning rides across the 35 races on this page
| # | Jockey | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opie Bosson | 60 | 18 | 1998 to 2026 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 2 | Lance O'Sullivan | 39 | 14 | 1982 to 2003 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 3 | Noel Harris | 29 | 15 | 1972 to 2014 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 4 | Leith Innes | 28 | 16 | 1998 to 2022 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 5 | Michael Coleman | 27 | 14 | 1987 to 2018 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 6 | Chris Johnson | 22 | 11 | 1984 to 2019 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 7 | Craig Grylls | 20 | 12 | 2008 to 2026 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 8 | Vincent Colgan | 20 | 9 | 1992 to 2023 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 9 | David Walsh | 18 | 9 | 1979 to 2009 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 10 | Gary Grylls | 16 | 12 | 1982 to 2004 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | £308,630 |
| 11 | Bob Skelton | 15 | 8 | 1959 to 1977 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 12 | Grant Cooksley | 15 | 9 | 1978 to 2017 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 13 | Hayden Tinsley | 15 | 9 | 2000 to 2017 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 14 | Samantha Spratt | 14 | 10 | 2009 to 2025 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | £308,630 |
| 15 | Jonathan Riddell | 13 | 10 | 2006 to 2025 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
The world list of winning jockeys is dominated by whoever rode most in the biggest country. Asked of New Zealand on its own it gives a different set of names.
The trainers
Winning runners across the same 35 races
| # | Trainer | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan, Matamata | 21 | 10 | 1985 to 1998 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 2 | Jamie Richards, Matamata | 18 | 9 | 2018 to 2022 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 3 | Mark Walker, Matamata | 18 | 9 | 2003 to 2023 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 4 | Noel Eales, Awapuni | 15 | 5 | 1962 to 2001 | Livamol Classic | £242,495 |
| 5 | Stephen Marsh | 14 | 11 | 2013 to 2026 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 6 | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | 11 | 9 | 2021 to 2026 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 7 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 11 | 7 | 2014 to 2022 | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 8 | Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen | 11 | 2 | 2014 to 2020 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| 9 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge | 11 | 7 | 2014 to 2020 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 10 | Jamie Richards | 10 | 4 | 2019 to 2022 | Karaka Million | £440,900 |
| 11 | Mark Walker | 10 | 8 | 2000 to 2023 | Karaka Million | £440,900 |
| 12 | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 10 | 7 | 2023 to 2026 | Karaka Million | £440,900 |
| 13 | Ray Verner, Takanini | 10 | 7 | 1973 to 1987 | New Zealand Oaks | £440,900 |
| 14 | John Bary, Hastings | 10 | 7 | 2010 to 2021 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | £308,630 |
| 15 | John Wheeler, New Plymouth | 10 | 6 | 1983 to 2009 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | £308,630 |
The horses that won more than once
Across every race on this page
| Horse | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazarus | 7 | 6 | 2015 to 2017 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Lordship | 7 | 4 | 1961 to 1967 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Chokin | 6 | 5 | 1991 to 1994 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Monkey King | 6 | 4 | 2007 to 2010 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Self Assured | 6 | 4 | 2019 to 2023 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Melody Belle 57 | 6 | 4 | 2019 to 2021 | Livamol Classic | £242,495 |
| Lyell Creek | 6 | 2 | 1999 to 2004 | Dominion (harness race) | £176,360 |
| Auckland Reactor | 6 | 6 | 2007 to 2009 | New Zealand Trotting Derby | £132,270 |
| Author Dillon | 5 | 3 | 1916 to 1920 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Cardigan Bay | 5 | 3 | 1961 to 1963 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Christopher Vance | 5 | 5 | 1991 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| False Step | 5 | 3 | 1955 to 1960 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Harold Logan | 5 | 2 | 1931 to 1936 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Il Vicolo | 5 | 4 | 1994 to 1996 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
| Indianapolis | 5 | 3 | 1933 to 1936 | New Zealand Trotting Cup | £440,900 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the richest horse race in New Zealand?
the New Zealand Derby, at £551,125. It announces its purse as NZ$1,250,000. It is run at Ellerslie Racecourse. Worldwide it is the 127th richest race in the world.
How much prize money is there in New Zealand racing?
£6,615,705 across the 35 races here, which is 2% of all the prize money on this site. 0 of them pay £1,000,000 or more.
Does New Zealand pay more than anywhere else?
It is 8th of 14 countries here on total prize money. The average race in it is worth £189,020 against £332,712 across every race on the site.
Which racecourse in New Zealand pays the most?
Ellerslie Racecourse, whose 8 races on this page put up £2,257,408 between them.
Who has won the most big races in New Zealand?
Opie Bosson, with 60 winning rides across 18 of these races between 1998 and 2026.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money