Canterbury, New Zealand
Riccarton Park racecourse guide
Riccarton Park is Canterbury’s leading thoroughbred course and the centre of Christchurch’s spring racing celebrations.
Fat Tony’sTrack fileHistory, big days & form
Know the course
A little history of Riccarton Park
The Canterbury Jockey Club has been at the forefront of New Zealand racing since 1854. Riccarton now combines its established turf course with a synthetic track for parts of the winter programme.
What to look for in the form
Check whether a meeting is on turf or the synthetic surface, then compare form at the same surface, distance and likely tempo.
Fat Tony says: Track knowledge helps, but it never replaces current form. Compare today’s distance, surface, draw and likely pace before making a call.
Put these in the diary
Major race days at Riccarton Park
New Zealand Cup Week
New Zealand 1000 Guineas
New Zealand 2000 Guineas
Grand National Festival
Form & results
Latest Riccarton Park races
SPEIGHT'S SUMMIT ULTRA ON TAP MDN HURDLES1 Aug 2026 · Race 1 · 3100AVON CITY FORD SYDENHAM HURDLES1 Aug 2026 · Race 2 · 3100CHRISTCHURCH CASINO 31ST STH ISLAND AWARDS 11/09 3YO1 Aug 2026 · Race 3 · 1200WINTER FASHIONS HERE - 8 AUGUST RATING 651 Aug 2026 · Race 4 · 1200RACECOURSE HOTEL & MOTOR LODGE KORAL STEEPLECHASE1 Aug 2026 · Race 5 · 4250GOLD CLUB RATING 651 Aug 2026 · Race 6 · 1600LISTEN LIVE ON SPORTNATION.NZ RATING 651 Aug 2026 · Race 7 · 1600ZILCO RATING 751 Aug 2026 · Race 8 · 1400WINNING EDGE PRESENTATIONS 129TH WINTER CUP (G3)1 Aug 2026 · Race 9 · 1600GROUP 1 RACEDAY PARTY - 12 SEPTEMBER RATING 751 Aug 2026 · Race 10 · 1800THE PAVILION OPENING NOVEMBER 2026 MDN16 Jun 2026 · Race 1 · 1200NZB WEANLING SALE 25 JUNE HCP16 Jun 2026 · Race 2 · 1200VALE ANNE HERBERT MDN16 Jun 2026 · Race 3 · 1400GRAND NATIONAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW MDN16 Jun 2026 · Race 4 · 1600CUP WEEK HOSPITALITY ON SALE 29 JUNE HCP16 Jun 2026 · Race 5 · 1600RACECOURSE HOTEL & MOTOR LODGE HCP16 Jun 2026 · Race 6 · 1600JANET FRANCIS & TWO AUSSIE FRIENDS2 May 2026 · Race 1 · 2000PGG WRIGHTSON SEEDS2 May 2026 · Race 2 · 1600COMMODORE HOTEL MAIDEN2 May 2026 · Race 3 · 1200BUSH INN OPEN SPRINT HCP2 May 2026 · Race 4 · 1200
Read the race properly
Build better track context
Learn how distance, going, barriers and recent runs work together before you ask Fat Tony for his opinion.