Livamol Classic

The race was originally known as the Ormond Memorial and took place on the second day of the autumn carnival until the 1985/86 season when it was moved to the Spring. From 1991 to 2009 the race was sponsored by Kelt Capital Limited, and in particular the owner thereof Sam Kelt, a strong supporter of New Zealand and particularly Hawke's Bay racing. 1996 would see it gain Group 1 status and the distance changed from 2000m to 2040m. The growth in prize money was substantial in the decade up to 2008. In 2000 it was worth $250,000; in 2002 it was the equal richest race in New Zealand at $500,000 and in 2004 it was New Zealand's first million-dollar race. The race was worth $2,000,000 in 2007 and 2008, but the stake had to be reduced to $1,200,000 in 2009 as that level was deemed unsustainable. In 2010 the stake was reduced to $250,000, below several major races in New Zealand but still slightly ahead in terms of weight-for-age races. In 2010, after the cessation of the Kelt sponsorship, the Ormond Memorial name was modified in recognition of Lady Katherine (Kit) Acklin née Ormond who had recently died. Name • Ormond Memorial (1955–1990) • Kelt Capital Stakes (1991–2009) • Kit Ormond Memorial (2010) • NZB Insurance Spring Classic (2011–2012) • The Turks Spring Classic (2013) • Livamol Classic (2014–present) Group status • 1955-1978 (Stakes Race) • 1979-1992 (Group 3) • 1993-1995 (Group 2) • 1996- (Group 1) ==Notable winners==