New Zealand Derby - New Zealand, Auckland

Races - New Zealand - Auckland

When: 10h00, Saturday, 01 March 2008

Where: Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland, New Zealand

Description:

The New Zealand Derby has become known as the most popular thoroughbred set-weight race for three-year-olds, with a purse of NZ$700 000.00

With a distance of over 2400 metres, this well known race is the opening day for the famous Auckland Cup Week.

It was in 1875 that the derby had its first running, and quite a performance it was, with only three horses in the starting line. Toi was the final winner, although questionable due to one horse being withdrawn before the start of the race while the other failed to make a start.

It was only in 1887, twelve years later, that ‘the Derby’ was renamed to that of ARC Great Northern Derby and would continue by that name until 1973 when it would be named the New Zealand Derby.