Wingatui Racecourse

Wingatui Racecourse, New Zealand.

Wingatui Racecourse in Dunedin is home to the  Otago Racing Club.

Wingatui Racecourse also stages meetings hosted by Beaumont and Tapanui Racing Clubs.  The Wingatui Racecourse is the strategic racing and training centre in the Otago region and hosts all the region's Group and Listed races. 

Significant funds have been spent in recent years on improving the facilities. New roofs, new training amenities, new driveways, upgraded viewing and betting areas are amongst the many projects undertaken over the last few years.

However, by the Clubs own admission there is still a fair amount of renovation work to go but they are determined to get there!

Wingatui Racecourse is on Gladstone Road, 12 kms south of Dunedin.  On Melbourne Cup Day, the Taieri Gorge train runs to Wingatui carrying the carriages' full capacity of 400 racegoers.

Melbourne Cup Day - Wingatui Racecourse

Dunedin is one of only three cities in New Zealand entitled to race on this special day, the other venues being the long established meetings in Auckland and Wellington. The day mirrors Flemington and has a glamorous image and a noticeable fashion theme highlighted by the 'Fashions on the Field' competition which attracted around 100 entries in 2005.  The day is extremely popular with Otago businesses who utilise the event to entertain clients and staff.