There is nothing quite like continuing the Christmas festivities in to Boxing Day, and there is no better place to do so than the SkyCity Boxing Day Races at Ellerslie.

The iconic meeting has been held for the past two seasons at Pukekohe Park, and nearly a year into the StrathAyr track at Ellerslie, the Boxing Day Races are back to their original home, with all of the traditional hospitality on offer.

The signature carnival atmosphere of Ellerslie can be felt across a number of hospitality areas, and while Silks is sold out, there are still coveted tickets for the Cuvée ($410pp) on offer and selling out fast. The prestigious Champagne Lawn ($220pp) offers the perfect track-side view while Guineas ($600 per table) gives the perspective from the famous Ellerslie grandstand.

If you’re looking to kick off the New Year celebrations early at the races, go no further than The Paddock ($125pp), in association with The Grand Tour Racing Festival. Live DJ’s will be on the decks all day, while food trucks, chilled drinks and some spectacular racing action keep you entertained on the Barrett Lawn.

Ellerslie wishes to welcome all racegoers, with General Admission ($30pp) and The Infield ($15pp) also options, with under 15’s free.

The equine stars of the show will be on track and chasing a number of time-honoured features throughout the afternoon, with a trio of Group races kicking off in the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m). An evenly matched field of three-year-olds are currently headed by the sole filly of the field in Damask Rose, who put on a big show finishing runner-up in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in January.

Top Victorian hoop Blake Shinn will travel across the ditch to partner Damask Rose, while he will be chasing back-to-back Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) crowns with Wexford Stables, partnering last-start Group Three winner Sethito. A more familiar face returning from Australia will be Rory Hutchings, a former champion Kiwi apprentice who will ride Customized and Real Class in each of those races.

The big one, the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m), is primed to be a showdown of the country’s top middle-distance horses, with a flying Snazzytavi aiming to take the crown for her owners, who sponsor the $500,000 feature. Out to spoil the party will be Taranaki raider Ladies Man, who defeated race-rival La Crique in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month.

Boxing Day also features the finale for the Dunstan Stayers Championship and the Stella Artois 1500 Championship races, both featuring a number of classy up-and-comers.

Half of the fun in feature racedays is dressing up to the nines, and Ellerslie welcomes patrons to do so with the motivation of over $8,000 in prizes. The Maman Fashions In The Fields competition has been running for over six decades, with this year’s edition offering a place for the winner in the The Ned Prix de Fashion 2025. With categories for men and women, best millinery, accessories and more, register from 11am on the day on the Fashion Lawn and get ready to strut your stuff in front of the fabulous judges.

Boxing Day at Ellerslie has everything and more for the racing fan, and if you’re wanting to finish 2024 in style, join the team at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing this Thursday, 26th of December!