New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is extending its national support of Cure Kids to Auckland, joining Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) for the Christmas Raceday for Cure Kids at Ellerslie on Saturday 29 November.
The initiative builds on a longstanding support of the Thoroughbred racing industry for Cure Kids, which has grown from an initial raceday at Ellerslie into feature days for Cure Kids at Riccarton Park and Te Rapa Racecourse.
Founded in 1971 by Rotary, Cure Kids is dedicated to enabling high-impact, New Zealand-based medical research into serious health conditions that affect children. Over the past five decades, the charity has invested tens of millions of dollars into research across a wide range of conditions, from childhood cancers and inherited heart conditions through to epilepsy, infectious diseases and child and adolescent mental health, improving outcomes for many young New Zealanders and their families.
As part of the Christmas Raceday for Cure Kids at Ellerslie, one runner in six of Saturday’s races will carry special co-branded Cure Kids x LOVERACING.NZ colours. For every race won in those colours, NZTR will donate $1,000 to Cure Kids.
NZTR Chief Executive Matt Ballesty said the initiative is a simple but powerful way for the industry to get in behind Cure Kids.
“Cure Kids does incredible work to improve the lives of children living with serious health conditions, and our industry is proud to stand alongside them,” said Ballesty.
“We’ve seen the enthusiasm for Cure Kids raceday initiatives at Riccarton Park and Te Rapa, and it’s great to see Ellerslie once again at the heart of that support. Every time the Cure Kids colours cross the winning post, it’s a win we can all celebrate.”
The racing community’s support of Cure Kids was first forged at Ellerslie, where the Club established an on-course partnership that has stood the test of time. That original raceday for Cure Kids created a template that has since been picked up by other Clubs around the country, with similar initiatives now a regular feature at venues such as Riccarton Park and Te Rapa Racecourse.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing Chief Executive Paul Wilcox said that enduring connection with Cure Kids is something the club treasures.
“The Cure Kids raceday has become a really special part of our calendar at Ellerslie,” said Wilcox.
“It brings our racing community together behind a cause that is all about giving Kiwi kids a better shot at a healthy future, and that’s something our Club, participants and customers are incredibly proud to support,” he said.
The Christmas Raceday for Cure Kids will take place at Ellerslie on Saturday 29 November, and pairs a quality programme of Summer racing, including the $120,000 Group 3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) and $100,000 Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m), with premium on-course hospitality, free children’s entertainment (Santa will make an appearance between 2:00pm and 4:00pm), fundraising activity and promotion across LOVERACING.NZ and ATR platforms.
On Saturday, these horses will proudly step out in the Cure Kids colours:
- Race 2: Cure Kids 2400 (2400m) at 1:06 pm - Santa Catalina (NZ) (Puccini)
- Race 4: NHR Group 1300 (1300m) at 2:15 pm - Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy)
- Race 5: Vomo Racing for Curekids 2100 (2100m) at 2:57 pm - Poetic Justice (NZ) (Almanzor)
- Race 6: Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at 3:33 pm - Faultless (NZ) (Tivaci)
- Race 8: Group 3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at 4.42 pm - Habana (AUS) (Zoustar)
- Race 9: Prezzy Card 1300 (1300m) at 5:18 pm - Bellarista (NZ) (Belardo)
Further information about Cure Kids is available to view here.
Did we also want to include event details such as:
What: Cure Kids Christmas Raceday
Where: Ellerslie Racecourse, 100 Ascot Avenue, Remuera, Auckland
When: Saturday, 29 November 2025 – gates open 11:30am
More information: ellerslie.co.nz/cure-kids-christmas-raceday