The Wairio Jockey Club is unique among New Zealand thoroughbred racing clubs having raced at five venues. The club has settled on holding an annual race meeting at Ascot Park, Invercargill (1800m, 300m straight, track) in the autumn after racing at Wairio, Riverton, Wingatui and Winton.

The club, established in 1885, shifted from Wairio (67km from Invercargill) to Riverton in 1967. The club raced at Riverton until the mid-1970s before shifting to Ascot Park. The Wairio meeting was held at Wingatui on April 21, 2008. It had been abandoned after two races due to track conditions at Ascot Park four days earlier. The Wairio Cup that year was won by Jovial Jock, ridden by Brian Hibberd and trained by Roger and Darrel Lang, of Cambridge. The Wairio club raced at Winton in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Royal Lancer, trained at Invercargill by Fred Ellis, won the 1941 Wairio Cup and the 1942 New Zealand Cup. Ed won the 1994 Wairio Cp when ridden by Debbie Kennedy and trained at Riverton by Cecil Beckett for owners Bert and Margaret Crooks. Ed won the Wellington Cup in 1995  (trained by Beckett) and 1997 trained by Noel Eales.

To hear the different hospitality options available for this annual racemeeting held at Ascot Park mid May each year, please contact  Jo 0212465889 or email [email protected]