Welcome to the Ashburton Trotting Club's website.

The Ashburton County has been a prominent part of the New Zealand harness racing landscape for over 140 years. The first race in the district was run in Rakaia in 1865 and the Ashburton Trotting Club was formed in 1890.

Today there are over 125 licence holders (about 15% of the total licences held in New Zealand) of different types - from public trainers, owner trainers and drivers to stablehands as well as hundreds of owners racing and breeding horses.The Club runs several of the major races on the New Zealand calendar and pays out stakes in excess of $700,000 rising to $2.2m in the years in which we host the Harness Jewels. Although restricted to just 9 race days a year the club has excellent facilities for viewing and catering to the public and a track which is perfectly designed for mile racing and recognized as the fastest in New Zealand.

The Ashburton Trotting Club is certainly acknowledged as a major player in harness racing, a fact evidenced by the decision of Harness Racing New Zealand to stage the inaugural running of the prestigious Harness Jewels. Saturday 2nd June 2007 was a fabulous success with a glittering array of age group horses on display in nine one mile races for stakes totalling $1.5m. It was a day many experienced racegoers declared to be their best ever day at the races. And in 2009 we're doing it all again!

So please have a look around our Website and learn a bit more about us. You might be interested in becoming a member, or using our facilities for a family function or a major event. Maybe you just want to catch up on our news or learn a little more about our history.

Whatever your interest, welcome. We look forward to seeing you on course making use of our great venue.

John Rollinson

President