21 Mar
-
100 Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Auckland
- 09 524 4069
Auckland Cup Week has a range of fun, family-friendly activities and events for the whole family to enjoy
Today we’ve outlined just a few things – aside from the actual horse races – that will help keep everyone entertained at Auckland Cup Week ® 2020 – all of which are FREE for racegoers to enjoy.
Remember too that children under the age of 15 years get FREE general admission at all our racedays throughout the year and we offer senior citizen rates on general admission at the gate on the day.
We’ve also got earlybird* general admission ticket specials!
Back in 1913, the world’s first automatic totalisator machine was operated at a race meeting – a meeting that was held here at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Our new stables provide the public unfettered access to seeing the horses behind-the-scenes on raceday and are a nice, peaceful environment for all
Designed by railway engineer Sir George Julius, the beautifully restored façade of what was the greatest single innovation which racing had known at that time now takes pride of place above our new stabling complex.
Opened in October 2018, the tie-up stalls provide you closer access to the day’s equine athletes than ever before.
Over the course of your day, make sure to go for a wander through this world-class development and say “good luck” to the horses who have travelled from far and wide to compete.
Visit the horses in the stables and see how much their grooms (like this one, pictured) adore them
Within the day’s racebook you’ll find a map of the facility which outlines where the public areas are – plus a list of which horse is in each stall. You’ll see you can get the whole way around the stables to visit each and every horse that is racing.
Keep an eye out too for ‘companions’ that some horses often travel to the races with – it’s not unusual to see ponies or older, retired racehorses that have also made the trip here to give their athletic friends some company.
Finally, make sure to look up at incredible tote ‘centrepiece’ which boasts of two clocks – one that tells the current time; the other that shows the time of the next race.
What makes a day at the races different to most other sporting events is the horses – and we’re keen to ensure everyone can get up close to these magnificent animals.
Danny (left) and retired racehorse, Blizzard (right), are huge crowd favourites
As you enter the racecourse, keep an eye out for crowd favourite ‘Danny’.
Basing himself on the main entranceway for the first few hours of event opening, this cute little pony makes himself available for both pats and selfies with racegoers and has become a regular at our bigger events.
He (right) may be 22-years-old but that hasn’t stopped retired racehorse, Ginger, from starting a new career as one of Danny’s sidekicks who offer themselves up for pats and photos on racedays
Wee Danny is always joined by a friend (or two) – some of which were racehorses themselves – and between them they’re some of the most photographed (and patted!) fixtures on course.
A mobile barnyard is coming to both days of Auckland Cup Week® and with it, some adorable animals for free pats & cuddles, plus ponies that will kindly be offering younger family members free rides for most of the day.
Just remember though that these are real animals and it can be a long day out for them – so they will be taking breaks and, depending on crowd numbers, rides may be restricted to one per child and queues may be a reality.
The team from Kelly Sports will also be here over the week, putting on free organised games and activities for the younger ones.
We’ve also got a bouncy castle and some swingball sets in operation that can be enjoyed free of charge throughout the day.
Well-known trumpeter, John McGough, is our resident buglar and has become a popular fixture at our bigger racedays, recognised for both his smart attire (including top hat) and talent on the trumpet.
Our resident buglar plays the Call to Post about seven minutes prior to each race so you know the horses are about to go out onto the track
An old tradition that, up until a few years ago, had been lost at Ellerslie, the performance of this seven-or-so second call is to alert racegoers to the fact that horses are about to leave the Parade Ring and proceed through the Birdcage out onto the track.
Keep an eye out in the Birdcage about seven minutes prior to each race where you’ll get to see this short and sharp performance in action.
If the thought of getting up close to real horse is a little too much for the younger ones to handle, then make sure you stop to take a look at our impressive statue of famous kiwi racehorse, Bonecrusher.
Bonecrusher’s memorial is a wonderful tribute to the champion racehorse – make sure you come see it when you’re here over Auckland Cup Week®
Widely-regarded as one of the best racehorses ever to race in Australasia, the champion racehorse passed away in 2015, aged 32, and was buried at the site of his statue which is located just outside our administration office (the little brick building on your left as you walk through the main entrance).
Unveiled over Auckland Cup Week® a couple of years ago, the impressive bronze statue features the legend in action and includes his famous shoulder scar and unique protruding tongue.
A labour of time and love, artist Michelle Farrell initially made the statue out of clay before it was broken down into 26 pieces that were then cast in bronze at a foundry in Onehunga.
Sunline was the world’s highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and three thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.
The great mare’s legacy lives on to this day – she was the dam of four foals and, in 2011, became a grandmother for the first time.
Included in that line-up is this handsome fella, Mufhasa.
Champion retired racehorse, Mufhasa (pictured here enjoying an exhibition gallop on Vodafone Derby Day 2019), is no stranger to Auckland Cup Week® having led out the field of his namesake race – the Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes – for the past two years and has confirmed he’s coming back again in 2020. He has also been our equine campaign model too!
This $3.62m-earning / two-time NZ Horse of the Year is now happily retired and spends his days looking after young racehorses, competing at shows and events, modelling in our campaigns, attending press photo shoots AND making appearances at our major racedays, including this year’s Vodafone Derby Day (Saturday 29 February), where he’ll lead out the field of horses competing in his namesake race – the Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes.
Quiet as a lamb at our photoshoots, Mufy (as he’s affectionately known), absolutely LOVES coming along on racedays where he still thinks he’s a racehorse… so don’t be surprised if you’re mislead into thinking he’s still the king of the turf when he does an exhibition gallop here on 29 February.
Back by popular demand is this novelty race which takes place between the ‘real’ races on Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day (7 March).
Grayson, on his way to victory in last year’s Dunstan Feeds Auckland Clydesdale Cup which was the first-ever running of this fun event. This year’s race will again take place on Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day (7 March) as part of Auckland Cup Week®
We always talk about hearing the thunder of the track when the thoroughbred horses race on it, so you can only imagine what you’ll hear when these heavy weight horses charge down the home straight in a bid to win what will be the second running of this fun event!
Pick your favourite and cheer them on as they race to glory!
Vodafone Derby Day (29 February) plays host to The Ned Prix de Fashion – the country’s national racewear final.
The Ned Prix de Fashion (Vodafone Derby Day, 29 February) offers a $20,000+ prize package and is free to enter for all female racegoers aged 18+. The day also has the Hawaiian Airlines Menswear Award for the gents
Throughout the day, women will be taking to the fashion runway in a bid to catch the eye of the judges and win the $20,000+ prize package that includes bragging rights of being the country’s best dressed racegoer for the 2019/20 racing season PLUS a trip to Melbourne to compete in Victoria Racing Club’s MYER Fashions on the Field competition as part of the 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Men will be competing on the day too in the Hawaiian Airlines Menswear Award which will see one well-dressed guy fly home with 100,000 air miles from the competition sponsor.
The fashion competitions are free for racegoers to watch and cheering on your favourites is warmly-encouraged.
You may even like to give it a go yourself! Competition entry is free for all racegoers aged 18yr+ and, behind-the-scenes is a fun & supportive environment with competitors all helping each other out to ensure they look their raceday best.
We’ve also got a fashion competition happening on Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day (7 March) that will see lady luck playing a big part in who the winner will be.
While we do sell tickets into hospitality precincts, we also have plenty of public lawn space available for you to set up your own picnic on.
Picnic rugs, chairs, umbrellas and (personal use) gazebos are most welcome in these areas and you’re able to bring your own picnic lunch and unopened, non-alcoholic beverages too (just no BYO alcohol as we are a licensed facility – you’ll need to purchase those sorts of beverages from us).
If the thought of putting together a picnic lunch is too much, don’t worry! We have food outlets you can purchase from too.
Check out the two days of Auckland Cup Week® 2020 and work out where you’d like to be.
Prior to the running of the Vodafone New Zealand Derby (29 February) and Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (7 March), we all stand up for the singing of the National Anthem.
Stand up and join us in singing the National Anthem prior to the running of Auckland Cup Week®’s big races
Racegoers are encouraged to sing along and, if you don’t quite know the words (shame on you!), don’t fret – they’re put up on our outdoor super screens… giving you no excuse to help us make some noise.
PLUS, prior to the running of the days’ feature races, we also put on a ceremony that sees the races’ respective trophies be brought into the Birdcage and put on the presentation dais where they will stay until the race is run and the 2020 winners can hold them proudly aloft.
Thanks to our friends at Hawaiian Airlines, Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and Globus Family of Brands, you could find yourself either flying to Hawaii OR Las Vegas.
Each day we’re running a “Pick the Winner” competition that’s open to all racegoers aged 18yr+.
Simply pick the winner of the big race on the day, and you’re in the draw.
Like what you’ve read? The above is just a taste of what you & the family can enjoy with a general admission ticket at Auckland Cup Week® 2020.
Auckland Cup Week® truly does offer something for everyone
Keep checking this website for more information and, make sure you’ve RSVP’d to our official Facebook events to keep up-to-date with events news, competitions and more.
Don’t forget too we’re running an earlybird general admission special of four tickets for $60* and that, like they do at all of our racedays, children under the age of 15 years get free general admission.
Learn more about and get earlybird general admission tickets to:
Vodafone Derby Day (29 February)
Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day (7 March)
We also offer senior citizen rates on general admission tickets at the gate on the day annnd we have a bunch of other things happening at the events too!
