A & P Association - Nelson

Nelson Harness Racing Club Inc
Nelson is famous for fabulous weather, wonderful sunny days, great beaches, extensive arts and craft and beautiful national parks.

What many people don't know is that Nelson can lay claim to staging the first official race meeting in New Zealand in the 1840s. Racing has since been a distinctive part of our culture.
The Nelson Trotting Club was founded in 1890. Race meetings were held at Richmond Park and are still held there today. In 1994 the Club changed its name to the Nelson Harness Racing Club in recognition of the growing percentage of pacers to trotters now racing.

Visit the N.Z.Harness racing site. www.hrnz.co.nz

2008 Summer Meeting
Nelson Harness Racing (dates coming soon)

For more information contact the NHRC Secretary:
Anna O’Toole
Phone (03) 544-6616 for all enquiries

1985 saw the installation of the all-weather track at Richmond Park. This was a forward thinking move to ensure the progression of harness racing in the Nelson Region.
Many top horsemen rate the track as one of the best in New Zealand. Anthony Butt, driver of Lyell Creek, rates Nelson's all-weather track second only to Addington. He says that the surface and the cambered bends ensure that if a horse is caught back in the field it still has an opportunity to win.
The new millennium has seen the Club install pylons to replace the existing running rail, thus greatly reducing the risk of accidents and creating better viewing for the public.

Hospitality
The Nelson Harness Racing Club is renowned for its hospitality. The hospitality provided by the Club, and its affiliated organisations, is what distinguishes it from other racing clubs around the country. The local hoteliers, moteliers and restaurateurs are great supporters of the Club, thus ensuring all visitors to Richmond Park are well looked after.
The hospitality, the Club's determination to offer attractive stakes and endeavouring to race on circuits with either the West Coast or Marlborough, will continue to attract trainers from all over the South Island and a number from the North Island.

The Club will be hosting many prominent trainers, including Tim Butt, Peter Jones, Warren Stapleton and Murray Edmonds, who all bring competitive teams up to Nelson, making the racing a very high standard.
The feature race of the meeting will be the Nelson Cup for C2 and faster horses. This race attracts class horses making it one of the more prominent country cups held in New Zealand.
Not only will there be high-class harness action to get the adrenalin pumping, but the meeting will be about providing quality entertainment for both young and old, including special activities for children.
The centre of the track will be open for the public with full betting and bar facilities. This will enable people to set up their boot party, barbecue or picnic and enjoy the racing right where it happens.
Richmond Park has two grandstands for excellent race viewing. There are also a number of facilities available to host guests. On-course caterers are available to provide refreshments for any size group.