New Brighton Cup has a long history

The New Brighton Cup has a history of seventy six years, but this Friday night will be the fifteenth year it’s been held at Group Three level.

Avon City Ford has sponsored the feature for 37 years, one of the longest associated sponsorships in harness racing on record.

The Dunn stable has won four New Brighton Cups with Franco Nelson in 2016, Letspendanitetogetha in 2018, Classie Brigade in 2020 and Dalton Shard in 2024.

Stonewall Stud have won the feature three times in the last four years with BD Joe, Alta Wiseguy and Alta Meteor.

Since 2010 the race has been run from the standing start with Classie Brigade’s 2020 winning time of 3-11.7 being the current race record.

Dual winners of the time honoured race have been Vanadium (1973-1975), Lord Louis (1985-1986), Desperate Comment (1994-1995), Iraklis (1997 – 1998), Cool Hand Luke (2002-2003) Terror To Love (2012 – 2014) and Christen Me (2013 – 2015).

Four horses who’ve won it have gone on to win the New Zealand Cup; Van Dieman (1951), Humphrey (1968), Lunar Chance (1975) and Iraklis (1997).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink