Great Northern Derby (race)
Encyclopedia
The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race
for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse
in Auckland
, New Zealand
. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New Zealand's most prestigious three-year-old race. It was discontinued in 1972 after being combined with the New Zealand Derby
. The new race, also called the New Zealand Derby
was also run at Ellerslie.
The race kept the name Great Northern Derby regularly until 1973 when the Great Northern Derby was combined with the New Zealand Derby from Christchurch to form one race, called the New Zealand Derby
, which was run at Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas.
Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses including the great Desert Gold
. Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the Derby winners' list, including Kindergarten
, Desert Gold
, Mainbrace
and Gloaming
.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Since it was run for the first time as the ARC Auckland Derby Principal race over 12F in 1875, the race had become New Zealand's most prestigious three-year-old race. It was discontinued in 1972 after being combined with the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby (Riccarton)
The New Zealand Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch, New Zealand. The inaugural running of the Derby was in 1860, when racing was held at Riccarton Racecourse...
. The new race, also called the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
was also run at Ellerslie.
History
The inaugural running of the Derby was in May 1875, when racing was held at Ellerslie Racecourse for the first time. Just three horses took part, of which one was withdrawn before the start and another failed to complete the course, leaving Toi to finish the race and become the first Derby winner. In 1887 it was renamed the ARC Great Northern Derby Principal race over 12FThe race kept the name Great Northern Derby regularly until 1973 when the Great Northern Derby was combined with the New Zealand Derby from Christchurch to form one race, called the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
, which was run at Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1600 m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby, the One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas.
Only a small number of fillies have ever won the Derby against the male horses including the great Desert Gold
Desert Gold
Desert Gold was a famous and successful New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who raced at the time of World War I. She raced in Australia and New Zealand, winning 36 races, including a still-standing record of 19 in succession ....
. Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the Derby winners' list, including Kindergarten
Kindergarten (horse)
Kindergarten was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse that raced during the early 1940s. He won many of the premier events in New Zealand including the Wellington Cup and Auckland Cup for more than £16,000 in stake money, which was a large amount during the War.-Breeding:He was a bay colt by...
, Desert Gold
Desert Gold
Desert Gold was a famous and successful New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who raced at the time of World War I. She raced in Australia and New Zealand, winning 36 races, including a still-standing record of 19 in succession ....
, Mainbrace
Mainbrace
Mainbrace was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who won 23 of his 25 race starts and was placed second in the other two. When he broke down he had won 17 races in succession, which was only two behind Gloaming and Desert Gold's Australasian record. He, also, on eight different occasions...
and Gloaming
Gloaming (horse)
Gloaming was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse, owned, trained, and based in New Zealand. He set many records which includes the Australasian record of 19 successive wins, many in Principal Races. Gloaming was unusual that he was a champion who won many major races in both Australia and New...
.