Auckland Cup Week Tipped for Racing Success

Media Release

23 February 2015

Auckland Cup Week Tipped for Racing Success

This year’s Auckland Cup Week at Ellerslie Races looks set to be bigger and better then ever.

Auckland Racing Club (ARC), which runs three days of top tier thoroughbred racing, from Saturday 28 February to Saturday 7 March, says ticket sales are up on the same time last year with the increase across all days.

ARC CEO Cameron George says there are a number of sold out areas at the racecourse and a noticeable growth in businesses booking corporate hospitality.

“While some of this can be attributed to a strong local economy, we’ve also brought on exciting new sponsors, including BMW New Zealand, and increased the prize pool for our fashion competitions across all three days,” he says.

Racing starts on Saturday 28 February with TV3 Derby Day, featuring the 140th anniversary of the running of the $750,000 Group 1 New Zealand Derby which this year takes place at 5.48pm. “This time was chosen to allow race-loving cricketers and fans to catch the Derby during tea break at the Black Caps v Australia Cricket World Cup match at Eden Park that afternoon,” Cameron George says. “And for cricket-loving racegoers, we will be showing the match on screens in various venues around the course.”

In spite of the plethora of other sporting and culture events on this summer, Auckland Racing Club believes thoroughbred horse racing is undergoing a resurgence, helped by the performance of many local horses in Australia and further afield, and the size of the stakes on offer over Auckland Cup Week, which totals more than $2.7million.

This year Auckland Racing Club has announced a new partnership with BMW New Zealand that extends across both Derby Day and Diamond Day (Saturday 7 March). Managing Director of BMW New Zealand Nina Englert says, “This is the first time in many years that BMW New Zealand has partnered a race, let alone across the two weekends of Derby Day and Diamond Day.

“It’s clear to understand why it’s a very natural fit as, in addition to pure thoroughbred horsepower, both the BMW range and thoroughbred racehorses display attributes including breathtaking acceleration, power, poise and precision.

“These are qualities that one would expect in a premium racehorse, and indeed are qualities demanded by enthusiasts when driving an Ultimate Driving Machine from BMW.”

In addition to the $200,000 Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes for the country’s best two year old horses, Diamond Day will see the running of the Group I $200,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand Stakes. Throughout summer, the club has been fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities and last week, cooked and served nearly 100 meals to families staying at the Auckland house.

The Club is hoping to raise around $80,000 to help the charity build desperately needed additional bedrooms at the Auckland house and are undertaking a number of fundraising initiatives including partnering with the TAB who will be making a significant contribution by donating a percentage of the final field fixed odds win bets placed on the Ellerslie races on 7 March 2015.

The $500,000 Group 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, on Wednesday 4 March, is a gruelling handicap race for any age horse, run over 3200m and first held in 1874.

Peter Thompson, Managing Director of Barfoot & Thompson, a long time sponsor at Ellerslie, says Auckland Cup Day as one of NZ's premier sporting events. "Barfoot & Thompson is proud to be involved in one of NZ's premier sporting events bringing Aucklanders together. The Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup offers something that all Aucklanders can be part of - whether it is getting dressed up or just going and sitting in the stands. We encourage Aucklanders to come along and experience the ultimate half day off."

FAST FACTS:

• $2,710,00 total stakes over three days racing at Ellerslie

• $4,150,000 total stakes over Auckland Cup Week across thoroughbred, trotting and greyhound

• Over $65,000 in prizes in the fashion competitions across Derby Day, Auckland Cup Day and Diamond Day at Ellerslie

• In excess of $10million is expected to be wagered over the week

• Food prepared at Ellerslie alone includes 500 dozen oysters, 150 kg scallops and 500kg of champagne ham

• Ellerslie will employ 124 chefs and 680 additional temporary staff over the week

• Local hotels, retail stores and taxi companies are expected to be extremely busy with Cup Week, Cricket World Cup and Super Rugby all on in Auckland from this weekend

NOTES TO EDITORS:

RACE DAYS AND TIMES:

TV3 Derby Day, Saturday 28th February 2015

Gates open 10.30am

First race 12.55pm

Viva Prix de Fashion commences 1.05pm

Viva Prix de Fashion Daily Winner announced approx. 3.25pm

Viva Prix de Fashion National Winner announced approx. 4.00pm

Group 1 $750,000 TV3 New Zealand Derby is run at 5.48pm

Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day, Wednesday 4th March 2015

Gates open 11.00am

First race 12.53pm

Cup Couture presented by Viva and Stamford Plaza Auckland awarded at 4.40pm

Group 1 $500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup is run at 5.45pm

Diamond Day in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities®, Saturday 7th March 2015

Gates open 11.00am

First race 12.30pm

BMW Diamond Darling timings to be confirmed

AUCKLAND CUP WEEK 2015 – 27th February – 7 March 2015

Held across three venues, Auckland Cup Week is the biggest and most glamorous event on the region’s social calendar. Within the action-packed event calendar the best of racing will be showcased with the nation's finest horses, greyhounds, jockeys, drivers, trainers and fashionistas competing for some of the country’s biggest prizes.

For a full list of events visit www.theraces.co.nz. Alternatively, visit the hosts at ellerslie.co.nz,alexandrapark.co.nz, or agrc.co.nz

Auckland Cup Week Diary

• Friday February 27 Harness racing opening night, Northern Oaks, Alexandra Park

• Saturday February 28 TV3 Derby Day, Ellerslie Racecourse

• Sunday March 1 Plaster Board Auckland Greyhound Cup, Manukau Stadium

• Wednesday March 4 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day, Ellerslie Racecourse

• Friday March 6 Auckland Trotting Cup, Alexandra Park

• Saturday March 7 Diamond Day in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities,

Ellerslie Racecourse

Ends

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