Addington Raceway

The first race meeting at Addington was held on Monday 6 November 1899.  The racecourse was then approximately 36 acres and was leased from the Charitable Aid Board.  It wasn’t until 1980 that the lease was purchased by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc. (NZMTC) and since then land area has grown to what is now 65 acres (26.44 hectares) owned by the Club. The NZMTC is a membership based organisation which operates the premier venue for Harness Racing in New Zealand.  It is governed by a member elected board consisting of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and six other directors.  The CEO reports to the board. The Club has an annual turnover of over $20M and an asset base of $90M, employs nearly 800 staff (at its peak during Cup Week in November) and the business focuses and concentrates on Harness Racing, Events, Function and Venue Management and Property Development.  In October 2013 a new bar and bistro “Spectators” opened for business on the premises that operates seven days a week. The Clubs principal race, the New Zealand Trotting Cup was introduced in 1904 when it was won by Monte Carlo in a time of 4 minutes 44 3/5 seconds for the two miles.  The current race and New Zealand record is held by Changeover who won the Cup in 2008 in a time of 3 minutes 56.4 seconds for the 3200 metres (formerly two miles).  Over the last three years from 2011 to 2013 the Cup has been won by champion Canterbury pacer Terror To Love who joins Idianapolis (1934-36) and False Step (1958-60) as the only three time winners of the race.  Champion Mid Canterbury reinsman Ricky May has won the Cup a record seven times. These days the NZMTC conducts 36 race meetings a season at Addington with four meetings held by guest clubs including the Ashburton, Cheviot, Rangiora and Timaru Clubs.  Eight of the meetings staged by the NZMTC are Premier Meetings held throughout January, March /April, May, October and November (Cup and Show Day).