The Great Northern Steeplechase is New Zealand's richest steeplechase jumping race. The race exceeds six kilometres, making it New Zealand's longest horse race, and usually takes over eight minutes to complete. It is one of the great tests of stamina and fitness in thoroughbred racing, for both horse and rider. It is run in winter when the grass tracks are soft or heavy.

Location and scheduling

For most of its life the race was run over 6,400 metres (21,000 ft) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland. The contestants cleared 25 jumps during the 6400m race. 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 was called the DB Draught Steeplechase in the 1990s when sponsored by DB Breweries.

The race has been run in early September since 2005, after previously being held in early June. The Great Northern steeplechase is now raced on the same day as the Great Northern Hurdles.

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 3, due to COVID-19 restrictions in Auckland.

The race is no longer held at Ellerslie after the Auckland Racing Club sold land for housing development.^[1] From 2022 the race has been held at Te Rapa.

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, who won the race three times 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.^[2]

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). ^[3] 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. ^[4] In 1995, Tina Egan was the first woman jockey to win the race.

The 2012 winner, Tom’s Myth, was the first horse to win the Wellington Steeplechase, Pakuranga Hunt Cup and Great Northern in the same season.

Recent results

Previous winners

^[49]

See also

• Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

References