Karaka Million

The 2YO race was run for the first time in 2008, replacing a similar race held at Te Rapa. Up to 2017, horses eligible for the Karaka Million could also be entered in an associated race, the Karaka Three Year Old Mile over 1600m (NZ$200,000), in the following year. However, from 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock introduced a second Karaka Million $1,000,000 race for three-year-olds. Since 2018, the "Boys Get Paid" Facebook group have organized a large gathering of hundreds of members at the Karaka Million meeting with a punting syndicate delivering what are believed to be the largest bets on New Zealand races. Whereas a usual New Zealand race meeting may start before 1pm, have up to 10 races, and finish before 6pm the Karaka Million race meeting is a twilight meeting. For example, 2023 had a six-race card: • 4:09pm - the Karaka Cup, 2200m open handicap for a stake of $120,000 • 4:48pm - the Group 2 Westbury Classic, 1400m set weights + penalties for fillies and mares for $180,000 • 5:28pm - the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy, 1200m 3YO set weight + penalties for $130,000 • 6:08pm - the listed Karaka Million 2YO, 1200m set weight for $1,000,000 • 6:48pm - the Group 3 Concorde Handicap, 1200m Open Handicap for $130,000 • 7:28pm - the listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 1600m set weight for $1,000,000 In 2024 the Aotearoa Classic, a $1 million race over 1600m, was introduced for 4 year old horses. In 2025 the Railway Stakes was moved from New Year's Day to the Karaka Million meeting. ==Karaka Million 2YO==

These are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 2YO race: Melody Belle was a $32 outsider when she won the 2017 edition. Horses that have won the Karaka Million 2YO race and the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes are: • Avantage • La Dorada • Melody Belle • On The Bubbles • The Heckler The victory by Cool Aza Beel in 2020 was the fourth consecutive win by Opie Bosson as a jockey in the Karaka Million 2YO race. He did not ride in the 2021 edition but was successful again in 2022 with Dynastic. The 2022 victory of Dynastic was the sixth consecutive win by Jamie Richards as a trainer/co-trainer in the race. ==Karaka Million 3YO Classic==

The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic raced over 1600m. The 2018 and 2022 Karaka Million 3YO winners Scott Base and Pin Me Up were $22.10 and $24.10 outsiders respectively. In 2020 Probabeel became the first horse to have won both the Karaka Million 2YO and 3YO races, ridden in both races by Opie Bosson. Probabeel went on to win multiple Group races in Australia and was named New Zealand Horse of the Year in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. ==Winners of the Karaka 3YO Mile==

in the years prior to the establishment of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, the meeting had a 1600m race for 3 year old horses for stake money of $200,000 (2010) to $250,000 (2017). The following are winners of that race: • 2010 - Joey Massino • 2011 - Banchee • 2012 - Rock 'n' Pop • 2013 - Choice Bro • 2014 - Spellbinder • 2015 - Volkstok'n'barrell • 2016 - Raghu • 2017 - Volpe Veloce ==Winners of the Karaka Cups (2014-2023)==

For many years prior to the establishment of the Aotearoa Classic the Karaka Million meeting had 2200m races for older horses: • the Karaka Stayers Cup from 2014 to 2017 • the Karaka Cup from 2018 to 2023. The following are the winners of those events. August Edition, the 2018 winner of the Karaka Cup was a $30.60 outsider. ==See also==