Nothing beats clear skies on a race day morning and Racing Tauranga is looking forward to a great day's racing at the Bayleys International Raceday at Tauranga Racecourse today.

Gates open at 11.30am to Racing Tauranga's premier race day featuring the Group 2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy and Tauranga Crossing Fashions in the Field.

The first race gets underway at 12.30pm with the Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (G2) being raced at 4.07pm.

Raceday at dawn today with clear skies and a sunny day ahead. Photo: Supplied.

Admission is free, with the option to book a gazebo or picnic table on the St Leger Lawn or make a day of it with a full hospitality option.

The Bayleys International Raceday Livestream is here

There are stunning prizes waiting ready for today's Tauranga Crossing Fashions in the Field with three categories to compete for. They are Tauranga Crossing Classic Racewear, Tauranga Crossing Contemporary Racegoer, and Tauranga Crossing Best Dressed Man.

Tauranga Crossing Fashion in the Field winners and judges 2021. Judge Janelle Burnside, Supreme Winner Diana Hampton, Best Dressed Man Colin Craig, Bernina Design Award and Contemporary Racegoer winner Brodie Thomas, judge Jason Davies, judge Sarah Rudkin, and winner of the Belinda Green Millinery Outstanding Headwear Award Collette Gordon. Photo: Supplied.

There's also the Belinda Green Millinery Most Outstanding Headwear award and the overall prize for the Tauranga Crossing Supreme Winner.

There is still time to enter online https://racingtauranga.co.nz/fashions-field-2023 or at the racecourse before 12.30pm.

Sponsors of the day include major sponsor Tauranga Crossing, and supporting sponsors New World Mt Maunganui, Belinda Green Millinery, Ado hair and Goldwell New Zealand.

History of Japan New Zealand International Trophy

The Group 2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy, the longest running and highest profile race at the Tauranga Racecourse, is run over 1600 metres for a stake of $100,000.

Tauranga Racecourse. Photo: Supplied.

Originally called the Japan/Bay of Plenty International, it has been won by some of the very best horses in the country since Spectre, ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Ron Taylor, won the inaugural race in 1971.

The seed for the Japan/Bay of Plenty International was sown when Bay of Plenty Racing Club president Bob Silson first travelled to Japan in 1966. The major focus of the trip was to explore the possibilities of meat exports to Japan but a secondary mission was to investigate the computerised totalisator system. While the Japanese tote system never got off the ground in New Zealand, contact had been made between the two countries' racing fraternities. Later discussions with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) resulted in an inaugural reciprocal race being run at Nakayama racecourse.

Tauranga Racecourse is one of the finest provincial racing venues in New Zealand, hosting some of the largest race meetings in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region. Photo: Supplied.

The winners of the Japan/NZ Trophy over the years include Battle Eve, Shivaree, The Filbert, Mickeys Town and Power Chief, along with a myriad of other extremely talented horses. However, just two horses have won the prestigious silverware twice.

Kiwi Can, who triumphed in 1975 and 1977, was a bargain buy purchased by trainer Fred Beguely for a mere $500, as an unraced two-year-old. The six-year-old, ridden by Roger Lang, beat Gold Ducat and Grey Way, carrying the top weight of 59kg in 1975. Two years later he did it all again in beating Vice Regal and Patronize, carrying 54kg.

In 2006 and 2007, people's champion Sir Slick won back-to-back Japan/NZ titles. In addition to his two Japan Trophy victories, Sir Slick won six Group 1 races earning over $2 million in prizemoney.

St Patricks Day

The recent St Patricks Day is one of many events hosted by Tauranga Racing during the year and was held last weekend, with many turning out in bright green costumes to enjoy the day out.

"We had a blast at the St Paddy's Day Races last weekend. Can't wait to do it again next year!" says a Tauranga Racing spokesperson.

Dressing up for St Patricks Day at Tauranga Racecourse in March 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Dressing up for St Patricks Day at Tauranga Racecourse in March 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Dressing up for St Patricks Day at Tauranga Racecourse in March 2023. Photo: Supplied.

History of Tauranga racing

Tauranga city has a long history with racing, dating back to the 1870s.

Tauranga City Libraries has posted to their Facebook page this morning about local Barry Leabourn contributing his book on the subject to Pae Korokī. The book is available to read here:
https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/50640

For future events coming up at Tauranga Racecourse go to https://racingtauranga.co.nz/events