Auckland Pacing Cup


The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year for the highest grade pacers. It is a Group 1 championship race and has been won by many of the champion pacers in New Zealand.

Cup history

For most of its history the Auckland Cup was raced in December, however at times it has been moved to other calendar dates such as:
  • March, from 2006 until 2015, when it formed part of Auckland Cup Week, a carnival which included feature Thoroughbred races such as the gallops Auckland Cup and greyhound racing. As well as the March 2015 race there was a second 2015 Auckland Cup raced in December. Neither Christen Me or Have Faith In Me competed in the other race that year.
  • January, in 1987 when won by Master Mood over 2,700m. In 1987 there was a second Auckland Cup in December, reverting to the 3,200m distance, won by Luxury Liner. Perhaps evidencing the competitiveness of the fields the January 1987 winner Master Mood could only place 9th in the December race whereas Luxury Liner, the winner in December could only achieve 6th in the earlier race.
  • February, for the 1978 to 1986 years.
  • May, from 2022 until 2024, it was raced to late May, on the same race-card as the Rowe Cup for Open Class trotters. The Northern Trotting Derby for 3 year old trotters was on the same night.
The Auckland Cup was moved back to New Years Eve in 2024. On the same night is the Group 1 National Trot.

Distance

The Auckland Cup is currently run over 3,200 metres from a mobile start.
The race started as a 3-mile event in 1890 to 1894 but it has traditionally been a 3,200m or 2 mile event apart from being a 2,700m journey for the races held from:
The stake money for the Auckland Cup has fluctuated over the years:
  • $250,000 for the 2025 year
  • $180,000 for the 2023 year
  • $400,000 for the 2022 year
  • $196,000 for the 2020 year
  • $245,000 for the 2019 year, which compared to $750,000 for the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
  • $600,000 for the 2009 Auckland Cup.

    Famous Winners

Champion horses which have won the Auckland Cup include Hall of Fame inductees and champions like:
The above horses went on to succeed in the United States and/or Canada.
It has been uncommon for female horses to win the Cup, the most recent being:
  • Amazing Dream.
  • Flight South.
  • Kate's First.
Delightful Lady, who was known as the “Queen of the Park”, won the race twice in 1980 and 1981.

Australian participation

As with the New Zealand Trotting Cup Australian trained horses sometimes make the journey to Alexandra Park, such as the following winners:
Most wins by a driver:
Most wins by an owner:
  • 4 - R A McKenzie

    Winners list