Kurow Racecourse

Kurow racecourse, New Zealand.

The Kurow Jockey Club races once a year at Kurow racecourse.  It's situated on the south bank of the Waitaki River in North Otago and if you have a passion for fishing as well as racing, then this is the perfect place to visit with plenty of salmon and trout fishing nearby.  Like many one day venues, they rely on voluntary labour and the goodwill of the community to bring their venue up to a high level for their annual race meeting and comments from trainers and jockeys are always very praising of the facilities, which are being slowly improved.

Kurow is located on the Omarama-Oamaru Road on the south side of the Waitaiki River. It is approximately 40 kms west of Oamaru. The drive through to Omarama takes 30 minutes but is a very spectacular one with views over Lakes Benmore and Aviemore towards McKenzie Country.

Kurow Races -

Kurow turns on a wonderful race day that is one of the highlights of the North Otago year. They offer much higher than average stakes for racers who make a habit of targeting the meeting - "just to be there". The patrons are more often than not a holidaying, picnic-orientated crowd but most local residents have the date inked their diaries as an annual outing.  Families are naturally welcomed with well organised kid's activities.  This is a prized gem amongst New Zealand's many great race days.  Racing in Kurow has a very rich and colourful past with many of the Committee's fathers and grandfathers also working for the Club - so traditions understandable run high - and thus the meeting has a very unique and "old-time" country feel to it.

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