The only New Year's Day event you need to know about

Our summer of racing is THANKFULLY about to kick off (albeit starting under ‘Red’ restrictions on Boxing Day) and we’re stoked – mostly because the weeks have been so loooong without being able to dress up, cheer on your favourite horses and jockeys and sip champagne nearly every second week.

If you haven’t heard, Ellerslie is the place to be in Auckland on 1 January when we host what’s could arguably be the city’s biggest New Year’s Day event.

But, the best bit is that 1 January is serving up a fantastic taste of summer with the SkyCity New Year’s Day Races here at Ellerslie.

If you haven’t heard, the racecourse is the place to be in Auckland on 1 January when we host what’s could arguably be the city’s biggest New Year’s Day event.

Not only does it have the champagne, food and people you can expect at other New Year’s Day events, but it’s got HORSES too (you read that right… you’ve got endless opportunities to get yourself a gorgeous ‘new you’ picture to start your 2022 ‘gram grid off right).

There’s plenty of spots on course to soak up the atmosphere in too – Cuvée is the one for those of you with a penchant for the most glorious of buffet meals or get into the shorts and jandals and bring a picnic lunch set-up (remember, no BYO alcohol – but you can buy from the bars onsite) for the general admission lawns.

A glorious buffet meal is just the ticket on New Year’s Day

While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Auckland and associated Government regulations have put an end to what’s usually some rad children’s entertainment on the lawns (with the exception of a free bouncy castle, corn hole games and swingball sets – PLUS under 15s get free general admission) and limits on hospitality numbers, that doesn’t mean Ellerslie isn’t the only place to be in Auckland on 1 January.

Children can keep entertained between races with free swingball, a bouncy castle and corn hole games

As we said just before – there’s racing, and then there’s more (epic) racing – 10 races, in fact.

Act like you’re in the know by saying you can’t wait to watch the action of the Group I Sistema Stakes which is our biggest race of the day.

Te Akau Racing’s Avantage returns to scale with jockey Opie Bosson saluting the judge after their win in the 2021 Sistema Stakes here at E

AND the best bit? There’s a lot more where that came from with more Group races – plus the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Final – to boot.

Star Tsar and Troy Harris returning to the Birdcage after their win the in Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship

Go on, treat yourself and start the New Year off right at the SkyCity New Year’s Day Races.

Go on, treat yourself and start the New Year off right at the SkyCity New Year’s Day Races.