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
BERKLEY STUD CHAMPAGNE STAKES (L)2 May 2026 · Race 5 · 1200HORNBY CLUB FOUNDERS CUP2 May 2026 · Race 6 · 2600BIRCHFIELD GLASS & GLAZING (2023) LTD2 May 2026 · Race 7 · 1800AVON CITY FORD EASTER CUP2 May 2026 · Race 8 · 1600MARSHALL BATTERIES2 May 2026 · Race 9 · 1200CARPETDEALZ NZ2 May 2026 · Race 10 · 1200ANZAC DAY LEST WE FORGET RATING 7525 Apr 2026 · Race 1 · 2600POLYTRACK RACING SEASON STARTS 30 APRIL RATING 6525 Apr 2026 · Race 2 · 1800GAVELHOUSE.COM CELEBRATING 10 YEARS RATING 7525 Apr 2026 · Race 3 · 1000DAPHNE BANNAN MEMORIAL GREAT EASTER STAKES (L)25 Apr 2026 · Race 4 · 1400NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK WARSTEP STAKES (L)25 Apr 2026 · Race 5 · 2000COCA-COLA CANTERBURY GOLD CUP (G3)25 Apr 2026 · Race 6 · 2000RACECOURSE HOTEL & MOTOR LODGE RATING 6525 Apr 2026 · Race 7 · 1400WINDSOR PARK STUD LUNCH & YEARLING SALE 23/04 MDN11 Apr 2026 · Race 1 · 1200ANZAC DAY RACES SPORTS LUNCHEON 25 APRIL11 Apr 2026 · Race 2 · 1200PROPERTY BROKERS WELCOME STAKES (L)11 Apr 2026 · Race 3 · 1000HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY MOLYNEUX11 Apr 2026 · Race 4 · 1400REMEMBERING BRUCE CRAIK RATING 6511 Apr 2026 · Race 5 · 1600NZB INSURANCE STAKES (L)11 Apr 2026 · Race 6 · 1600ANGUS MEATS OPEN HCP11 Apr 2026 · Race 7 · 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.