The Great Northern Steeplechase is
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
's richest
steeplechase.
For most of its life the race was run over at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, making it Australasia's longest horse race, and usually took over eight minutes to complete.
The contestants must clear 25 jumps during the 6400m race, making it one of the great tests of stamina and fitness in thoroughbred racing, for both horse and
rider. A notable feature of the race was the Ellerslie Hill, on the eastern side of the steeplechase course, which the horses must climb three times during the race.
The race is no longer held at Ellerslie after the Auckland Racing Club sold land for housing development.
History
The inaugural race was won by
Macaroni, who carried a weight of 12 stone (76 kg). The record weight carried to victory was 12 stone 13 lb (82.5 kg) by Kiatere in 1907. One of the most notable winners of the race was
Hunterville
Hunterville is a small community on State Highway 1, in the Rangitikei district of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located halfway between Taupo and Wellington and has a population (2018 census) of 411, a decrease of 18 people from 2013 ...
, who won the race
three times
''Three Times'' ( Chinese: 最好的時光; ''Zuìhǎo de shíguāng''; lit. 'Best of Times') is a 2005 Taiwanese film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. It consists of three separate stories of romance, set in different eras, using the same lead actors ...
in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
Hypnotize also achieved three victories, following wins in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
The fastest winning time was 7:39.35 by Ballycastle in 1978, and the slowest was 9:31.50 by Wise Men Say in 2017. There was a dead-heat in 2001 between Smart Hunter, which had won the Great Northern Hurdles two days earlier, and Sir Avion, which had won the Great Northern Hurdles in 1998. It was the first dead-heat in a major New Zealand jumping race since the Otago Steeplechase in 1918.
Ken and Ann Browne won the Great Northern Steeplechase a record nine times with Ascona (1977 and 1979), Ardri (1990), Brother Bart (1991), Lord Tennyson (1992), Sydney Jones (1995 and 1997), Smart Hunter (2001, dead-heated with Sir Avion) and Wanderlust (2004). After Ken's death, Ann Browne has won the race with Fair King (2009), Ima Heroine (2011) and Tom's Myth (2012).
In 1986 Trudy Thornton was the first woman to ride in a Great Northern Steeplechase.
The race has been run in early September since 2005, after previously being held in early June.
The race was moved to Te Aroha in:
* 2018, raced over 6300m, due to a track upgrade at Ellerslie
* 2021, raced over 6200m on October 3rd, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The 2022 race was held at Te Rapa.
Recent results
Previous winners
*1986 - Rock Crystal
*1985 - Hunterville
*1984 - Hunterville
*1983 - Hunterville
*1982 - Mountain Gold
*1981 - Bean's Beau
*1980 - Guess Who
*1979 - Ascona
*1978 - Ballycastle
*1977 - Ascona
*1976 - Loch Linnhe
*1975 - Loch Linnhe
*1974 - Specialist
*1973 - Bob's Luck
*1972 - Brockton
*1971 - Brockton
*1970 - Spray Doone
*1969 - Falada
*1968 - Royal Polo
*1967 - Eiffel Tower
*1966 - Confer
*1965 - Smoke Ring
*1964 - Johnny Dee
*1963 - Blue Rock
*1962 - Sabre
*1961 - Patrick Molloy
*1960 - Patrick Molloy
*1959 - Ben Vola
*1958 - Irish Ace
*1957 - Knight's Star
*1956 - Hit Parade
*1955 - Every Time
*1954 - Dunwold
*1953 - Dunwold
*1952 - Dural
*1951 - Redingote
*1950 - Jon Rosa
*1949 - Golden Reign
*1948 - Brookby Song
*1947 - Brookby Song
*1946 - Our Nation
*1945 - Dauber
*1944 - Dozie Boy
*1943 - Chat
*1942 - Dozie Boy
*1941 - Streamline
*1940 - All Irish
*1939 - Survey
*1938 - Valpeen
*1937 - Irish Comet
*1936 - Billy Boy
*1935 - Royal Limond
*1934 - Valpeen
*1933 - Callamart
*1932 - Copey
*1931 - Master Lu
*1930 - Aurora Borealis
*1929 - Uralia
*1928 - Glendowie
*1927 - Beau Cavalier
*1926 - Dick
*1925 - Sir Rosebery
*1924 - Sir Rosebery
*1923 - Mary Bruce
*1922 - Sea De'il
*1921 - Coalition
*1920 - Lochella
*1919 - Master Lupin
*1918 - Waimai
*1917 - Gluepot
*1916 - El Gallo
*1915 - El Gallo
*1914 - Peary
*1913 - Bercola
*1912 - Hautere
*1911 - Corazon
*1910 - Red McGregor
*1909 - Capitol
*1908 - Loch Fyne
*1907 - Kiatere
*1906 - Sol
*1905 - Kiatere
*1904 - Moccasin
*1903 - Haydn
*1902 - The Guard
*1901 - Moifaa
*1900 - Voltigeur II
*1899 - Dummy
*1898 - Muscatel
*1897 - Levanter
*1896 - Levanter
*1895 - Liberator
*1894 - Bombardier
*1893 - Despised
*1892 - Shillelagh
*1891 - Parnell
*1890 - Jenny
*1889 - Don
*1888 - Allegro
*1887 - Silvio
*1886 - Belle
*1885 - Macaroni
See also
*
Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
The racing of Thoroughbred horses (or gallopers, as they are also known) is a popular gaming and spectator sport and industry in New Zealand.
History
Thoroughbred horse racing commenced soon after European settlement. The first totalisator machi ...
References
{{Reflist
Horse races in New Zealand