The Rowe Cup is a race held annually at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand for standardbred horses.
The Rowe Cup is run over a distance of 3200 m. Along with the Dominion Handicap raced at Addington Raceway it is one of the major harness races for trotters rather than pacers.
The Rowe Cup is currently held in early May on the same night as the Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap (Group 1) for pacers. Previously it was held later in May on the same night as the Auckland Cup and Northern Trotting Derby for 3 year old trotters. In 2024 Australian visitors Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs won both Cups with Just Believe and Better Eclipse.
Between 1918 and 1971 it was raced in December.
Records Most wins: 3 - Lyell Creek (2000, 2001, 2004)
Most wins by a driver: 6 - Tony Herlihy (1991, 1997, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2022) 5 - Peter Wolfenden (1960, 1968, 1969, 1977, 1980) 4 - Anthony Butt (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) 4 - Maurice McKendry (1986, 1992, 1993, 2008) 4 - J T Paul (1926, 1927, 1935, 1936) 4 - R Young (1946, 1949, 1950, 1952) 3 - M F Holmes (1956, 1959, 1961) 3 - L J Mahoney (1938, 1939, 1941) 3 - W Orange (1920, 1922, 1923)
Winners list
The following are winners of the Rowe Cup:
Year Horse Hcp Owner(s) Driver Time 2nd 3rd 2026https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/mr-loves-win-a-huge-thrill-for-hopes-in-rowe-cup/Mr Lovefr (7) Greg & Nina Hope Ben Hope4:07.3Oscar BonavenaHillbilly Blues2025Bet N Winfr (1)Odds On Syndicate, P I Baken, R Cole, P I & G J Kennard Bloodstock Limited, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Mrs M J White, C J Markham, A Di lorio, Est W A Ramsay, P I Marriott Bob Butt4:06:5Mr Love Queen Elida2024Just Believefr (6)Iona Trotter Syndicate Greg Sugars4:06.1Oscar Bonavena Midnight Dash2023Love N The Port fr (1)K P Ussher & Mrs S E WhiteMatthew Williamson4:06.84 Oscar BonavenaEurokash2022Bolt For Brilliancefr (2)Mrs S Herlihy, D I Donaldson, P J Hailes, Mrs J M Mathews Tony Herlihy4:01.24Temporale Sundees Son2021Sundees Son fr Colin & Nancy Hairhttps://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/vale-colin-hair/John Dunn 4:06.61Bolt For Brilliance Temporale2019Sundees Sonfr Colin & Nancy Hair John Dunn 4:06.2Speeding Spur Majestic Man2018 Speeding Spurfr Woodlands Partnership, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, R J Taylor, D Hewett Joshua Dickie 4:08.2 Monty Python Temporale2017Temporalefr D P Biddlecombe, D I Donaldson, Mrs S Herlihy, K J Riseley Tony Herlihy 4:07.9Habibti IvyBordeaux2016Monbetfr Greg Hope, Nina Hope, M J Molloy Ricky May 4:06.3 ValmagneQueen Kenny2015 StentfrTrevor Caseyhttps://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/new-blog-post-150/Colin DeFilippi4:03.6Master LavrosAlley Way2014Master Lavros fr Kypros Kotzikas Mark Jones 4:06.4 SheemonBoizel2013Stig fr T G Butt, Mrs Andrea Butt, J S Boyd, Mrs R I Boyd, R G Thomas, Ms J A Gordon David Butt 4:06.1Springbank Sam Boizel2012I Can Doosit fr Ken & Karen Breckon Mark Purdon 4:05.0Springbank Richard Dr Hook2011I Can Doosit fr Ken & Karen Breckon Mark Purdon 4:08.2Dr HookRaydon2010Sundon's Gift fr Neven Botica Chris Lang 4:08.5 Stylish MonarchLeighton Hest2009One Over Kenny fr L E Williams, Mrs H R Williams Tony Herlihy 4:07.0 Springbank RichardCornishman2008Our Sunny Whiz fr R A, R M & K A Southey, Mrs S D Lean Maurice McKendry 4:12.4Lotsa SpeedBraig2007One Over Kenny fr L E & Mrs. H R Williams Tony Herlihy 4:09.0Our Sunny Whiz Summer Man2006Inspire fr Red And White Syndicate, R G H Thomson, G J & P C Nairn Paul Nairn 4:13.0Rosscoe Romper Stomper2005Martina H fr K D Marr, I D Malcolm, Derek Balle Derek Balle 4:09.4Delft Young Pointer2004Lyell Creek fr Mrs K L Butt, Graham Bruton, The Creek Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:07.7Young Pointer Sophocles2003 Take A Moment fr Long Drive Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:08.0 Martina HCordon Rouge2002La Coocaracha 15 m L J & S Christou/B Meani/G Meani Kerryn Manning 4:05.3Frugal Echo Major Decision2001 Lyell Creek 15 m A M Butt, Graham Bruton, The Creek Syndicate Anthony Butt 4:06.0Fleur's Invasion Last Sunset2000 Lyell Creek 15 m Graham Bruton Anthony Butt 4:05.8Sundon's Way Special Force1999Mountain Goldfr The Dual Code Syndicate Barry Purdon 4:13.8Miss Whiplash Sundowner Bay1998Merinai 10 m J F Bedwell, Miss A M Bedwell, Mrs M E Hill James Stormont 4:08.6McGrady Buster Hanover1997Eastburn Grant fr L A Barnett Ken Barron 4:08.8 1996Wagon Apollo fr N G Aitken, D V Lang Graeme Lang 4:09.5 1995So Long Eden fr Ms M J Millar, W J Bishop Colin De Filippi 4:06.7 1994Diamond Field 10 m Southland St'Breds No 2 Syndicate Tony Herlihy 4:15.6 1993David Moss fr Est H W Cox, O Andersen Maurice McKendry 4:09.8 1992Directorship fr Classic Nine Syndicate Maurice McKendry 4:13.5 1991Gee du Jour fr A D Cain, S J Adlam, J A Lischner Tony Herlihy 4:12.3 1990Idle Scott fr R F Hunt, M K Chubb, G R Mason, D K Gibbons Dave Gibbons 4:10.8 1989 Yankee Loch fr D K Gibson, Mrs R M Gibson Jim Curtin 4:14.0 1988 Highwood fr W E Stapleton, L J Hanrahan Ricky May 4:14.4 1987 Landora's Pride fr C T Allingham, Mrs V M Allingham John Langdon 4:12.8 1986 Mairo Sultan Fr K Miller, Mrs J P Miller Maurice McKendry 4:19.3 1985 Tussle fr Dr C H G Irvine Peter N Jones 4:20.6 1984 Jenner fr Kenwood Syndicate John Langdon 4:13.6 1983 Sir Castleton fr M S MacPherson Patrick G O'Reilly jnr 4:17.0 1982 Stormy Morn 15m P G Moore A J (Tony) Perucich 4:25.3 1981 No Response 10m F T N Black Richard J Brosnan 4:18.2 1980 Special Pride fr P J & Mrs M C Harnett Peter Wolfenden 4:24.6 1979 Even Speed fr I H Langford & Dr B W Nixon Wes Butt 4:22.0 1978 Ritch Hill fr E W & T R Running Bruce Running 4:21.0 1977 Framalda 10m A L Daly & F L H Mooney Peter Wolfenden 4:17.9 1976 Easton Light 40m E W & T R Running Bruce Running 4:19.4 1975 Robyn Evander fr P Butterworth & J E Smith Jim Smith 4:22.5 1974 Cee Ar fr R H De Filippi & V Ford Denis Nyhan 4:17.3 1973 Miss Debra 12 yds J R Longville, V Nicholson & G Wood H P (Paddy) Timmins 4:25.8 1971 Paulette scr A Gibbon Dave Gibbons 4:36.4 1970 Global Hall scr R D Butt & E Gaffaney Robin D Butt 4:18.6 1969 Single Cash 30 yds S R Landon & L E B File Peter Wolfenden 4:19.2 1968 Single Cash 12 yds S R Landon & L E B File Peter Wolfenden 4:22.4 1967 Mountain Pride scr J E Smith & Estate L J Ashworth Jim Smith 4:23.4 1966 Scotleigh scr C R Griffin Cecil R Griffin 4:21.4 1965 Astralight 12 yds W F Woolley Jack Carmichael 4:25.0 1964 Dreaming scr A H Edge Colin McDonald 4:23.0 1963 Pohutukawa 24 yds R J & G M Oliver Doody Townley 4:18.6 1962 Pohutukawa 36 yds R J & G M Oliver Robert J Oliver 4:21.6 1961 Ordeal 78 yds Mrs L M Bradley M Holmes 4:14.0 1960 Jewel Derby 72 yds E C Parker Peter Wolfenden 4:27.0 1959 Recruit 78 yds J J Rooney M Holmes 4:24.8 1958 Battle Cry 72 yds Mrs & E S Baxter Wes Butt 4:21.2 1957 Tapuwae scr Mrs M Adam Lawrence Greenaway 4:32.8 1956 Recruit 132 yds J Rooney M Holmes 4:20.4 1955 Indian Parrish 12 yds A Ogilvie O Nicholas 4:31.6 1954 Quick Silver 24 yds Mrs J N Oliver W K Tatterson 4:30.4 1953 Rewa Scott 36 yds W A Craddock & R Curragh D Jones 4:27.0 1952 Indomitable scr W E Hyslop R Young 4:30.6 1951 Fair Isle 36 yds V Alborn & E J August V Alborn 4:27.6 1950 Gay Belwyn 60 yds Mrs E A Berryman R Young 4:30.6 1949 Single Task 12 yds Brownson Bros R Young 4:26.0 1948 Bellisima 72 yds W E Sticking C R Berkett 4:44.0 1947 Noble Star scr J Mearn A W Broughton 4:32.0 1946 Aerial Scott 24 yds J Spier R Young 4:45.0 1945 Casablanca 72 yds S T Webster J B Pringle 4:34.0 1944 Fantom 24 yds J R McKenzie G B Noble 4:33.0 1943 Douglas McElwyn 36 yds L F Berkett L F Berkett 4:33.6 1942 Fantom scr J R McKenzie G B Noble 4:35.4 1941 Jimmy Drusus scr P V Flexman L J Mahoney 4:42.0 1940 Margin scr C Moran C Moran 4:40.0 1939 Gay Moko 36 yds J Mahoney L J Mahoney 4:41.4 1938 Pirate's Last 60 yds J Mahoney L J Mahoney 4:39.2 1937 Parrish Belle 36 yds A G Pillinger A G Pillinger 4:34.6 1936 Great Admiral 48 yds J T Paul J T Paul 4:33.0 1935 Great Admiral 60 yds J T Paul J T Paul 4:36.0 1934 Nell Volo 108 yds F J Smith F J Smith 4:26.4 1933 Nell Volo scr F J Smith F J Smith 4:41.0 1932 Garner scr E C McDermot E C McDermott 3:27.0 (1.5 miles) 1931 Surprise Journey 96 yds G J Barton W J Tomkinson 4:32.6 1930 Raima 24 yds J H Lloyd J A Gerrard 4:34.0 1929 Raima scr J H Lloyd J J Kennerly 4:45.2 1928 Kempton scr Mrs E Berryman C S Donald 4:40.4 1927 Waikaha 12 yds J T Paul J T Paul 4:36.6 1926 Waikaha 24 yds J T Paul J T Paul 4:37.8 1925 Rose Bingen 36 yds C Johnstone W Willietts 4:36.0 1924 Pyramus 24 yds F J Rayner A J Julian 4:44.4 1923 Mutu scr A W Jones W Orange 4:44.0 1922 Aerial Bingen 36 yds J Pettie W Orange 4:45.8 1921 Native King 24 yds B Shadbolt B Shadbolt Jnr 4:46.0 1920 Grattan Abbey scr W Orange W Orange 4:48.0 1919 Bluewood scr R M Morten J Bryce 4:54.6 1918 Whist 48 yds J R Corrigan A Adams 4:48.4
There was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Other major races Dominion Handicap Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Auckland Trotting Cup New Zealand Trotting Cup Great Northern Derby Noel J Taylor Mile New Zealand Messenger
See also Harness racing in New Zealand
References