About Us
The Levin Racing Club is the heart of racing and equine activity in the Horowhenua District.
First established in the early 1900’s, and represented by a string of preceding clubs, the Levin Racing Club is currently the sole Horowhenua based racing club still running race meetings. From humble beginnings, the Club has survived two World Wars, perpetual industry consolidation and rationalisation pressures, and internal political turmoil, to emerge as one of the richest, most innovative, and forward thinking racing clubs in New Zealand today.
Host to some memorable moments and stars in New Zealand sport, many locals who were around at the time will recall with fondness the days when Bruce McLaren raced around the motor circuit inside the Levin Racecourse, or when Bonecrusher sprinted down the track, to take out the Bayer Classic, the second-richest race in Australasia at the time.
Today, the Levin Racecourse remains a training only venue for a number of teams and trainers, who have collectively enjoyed triumphs in the New Zealand Cup, Guineas, and Oaks, as well as the Doomben Cup, Wellington Cup, New Zealand Cup, Avondale Cup, and the Captain Cook Stakes, to name a few. Other previously Levin based horses and trainers have also tasted success at Group 1 level in New Zealand and Australia, and many jockeys who began their racing life in Levin have achieved top level triumphs at the highest level, from the Melbourne Cup, to the New Zealand Derby.
The Levin Racecourse is also host to the Levin Jumpouts, which are run regularly, and are an essential educational tool for horses in preparation for racing action. For more information about the Levin Jumpouts, check out the dedicated page here, or have a look at this recent article highlighting their value to the wider racing industry, available here.
Since 1990, the Levin Racing Club has run its race meetings at the Otaki Racecourse. We currently run three race meetings. One in July, featuring the Ryder Stakes, the last black type meeting of the racing season, a November meeting, previously the home of the Levin Classic, and now host to the Group 3 Wellington Stakes, and a popular December meeting, in the week before Christmas.
The Levin Racing Club also continues the run the Levin Classic at Trentham as part of the Wellington Cup Carnival, and a free bus is provided to the event for paying members. Membership is open to all racing fans. If you’re interested in becoming a member for $45, check out all the benefits in this membership application form.
From international business leaders and top ranking politicians, to young families, work functions, and social dos, the Levin Racing Club welcomes all on course. We look forward to seeing you sometime soon too.
