Canterbury, New Zealand

Riccarton Park racecourse guide

Riccarton Park is Canterbury’s leading thoroughbred course and the centre of Christchurch’s spring racing celebrations.

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Fat Tony’sTrack fileHistory, big days & form

26Meetings in our database

1 Aug 2026Latest recorded meeting

Horse Racing - Australia & New ZealandRacing covered

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

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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.

Read the form guide

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