Anyone who’s ever tried to catch a live race in New Zealand knows the frustration of flipping between channels and websites. With three racing codes running daily and Formula 1 adding to the mix, knowing where to look makes all the difference. This guide pulls together the free and paid options for NZ racing today live, from Trackside’s free channel 23 to Sky Sport Now’s F1 coverage.

4 related posts

Live horse racing channels in NZ: Trackside 1 (Freeview 23), Sky Sport Now ·
F1 broadcast in NZ: Sky Sport Now (live) ·
Most famous NZ racehorse: Phar Lap ·
Number of racing codes covered: 3 (thoroughbred, harness, greyhound) ·
Free live racing platform: Trackside.co.nz

Quick snapshot

1Thoroughbred Racing
2Harness Racing
3Greyhound Racing
  • Included in Trackside schedule — Trackside NZ
  • Results and forms on TAB.co.nz — TAB NZ
4Formula 1

Six key facts, one pattern: the free Trackside channel covers all three racing codes, while Formula 1 requires a paid subscription.

Label Value
Free live channel Trackside 1 (Freeview 23)
Free online stream Trackside.co.nz
Subscription live service Sky Sport Now
F1 broadcaster in NZ Sky Sport Now
Famous NZ racehorse Phar Lap
Number of racing codes 3 (thoroughbred, harness, greyhound)

Which races are on today?

How can I find today’s race meetings?

Official sources provide daily schedules across all three codes. TAB NZ (commercial racing platform) lists today’s fields and times for thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound meetings. The LoveRacing.NZ (NZ Thoroughbred Racing digital channel) offers next-to-go information for thoroughbred races only.

For harness racing, Harness Racing New Zealand (official governing body) publishes race fields, form, and results for all harness meetings. Trackside also carries the full daily schedule.

What codes are racing (horse, harness, greyhound)?

Multiple meetings happen daily across the three racing codes. Thoroughbred racing is the most prominent, with meetings at venues like Ellerslie, Trentham, and Riccarton. Harness racing operates under HRNZ, and greyhound racing runs through the NZ Greyhound Racing Association. All three codes are listed on TAB NZ and covered on Trackside.

Why this matters

A New Zealand punter checking “nz racing today live” needs to know which code is running at which track. Trackside broadcasts all three, but the official digital sites each focus on their own code — there’s no single page that aggregates every meeting in one view.

The implication: bookmarking both Trackside and the relevant code-specific site (LoveRacing for thoroughbred, HRNZ for harness) is the most reliable way to catch every race.

How can I watch horse racing in New Zealand?

Where can I watch live horse racing today?

Trackside NZ (official free-to-air broadcaster) is the primary destination. It airs live races on Freeview channel 23 (Trackside 1) and streams the same content for free on its website. As the site states, “Trackside is your one-stop shop for horse racing. Watch live races, replays, and get the latest news and results, all for free.”

For thoroughbred-specific digital coverage, LoveRacing.NZ (NZ Thoroughbred Racing’s premium digital channel) provides live race video, fields, form, and results through its website and the LoveRacing.NZ app, available on Apple App Store (official listing for the LoveRacing app).

Is there a free option to watch?

Yes. Trackside.co.nz is completely free — no subscription needed. It offers live streaming of all races broadcast on Trackside 1, plus replays and news. The service covers thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing. For those who prefer audio, TAB Trackside Radio (racing radio station) streams continuous race information on 1476 AM in Auckland.

What channels carry horse racing in NZ?

  • Free-to-air: Trackside 1 (Freeview 23)
  • Pay TV: Sky Sport channels (via Sky subscription) — additional racing coverage, including UK and Australian meetings
  • Online free: Trackside.co.nz and the LoveRacing.NZ app
  • Online subscription: Sky Sport Now (streaming version of Sky Sport)

No New Zealand channel carries ITV4 (UK broadcaster) racing; that only applies to the UK.

The upshot

For Kiwis wanting free live racing, Trackside’s free channel and website are the obvious answer. The trade-off: only races selected by Trackside are shown; for full coverage across all codes, the official digital sites (LoveRacing, HRNZ) are better for pre-race data and results.

Bottom line: The catch: free streaming does not include overseas racing — that requires a Sky Sport Now subscription. For those who also follow other NZ live sports, our guides to All Blacks Live Stream Free: Where to Watch Without Sky and Black Ferns Game Today Live: Channel, Time, and Streaming Options cover similar territory for rugby.

What channel is Formula 1 on today in NZ time?

Is F1 live on Sky Sport Now?

Yes. Sky Sport Now (NZ pay-TV sports service) holds the exclusive live broadcast rights for Formula 1 in New Zealand. Every practice session, qualifying, and race is shown live on Sky Sport Now and the Sky Sport channels. Unlike horse racing, there is no free-to-air option for F1 in New Zealand.

What time does the race start in NZ?

F1 race times vary by round. Most European races start between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM NZ time, while flyaway rounds (Australia, Asia, Middle East) are more viewer-friendly, often starting between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM NZT. Check the Sky Sport Now schedule for exact local start times.

Note: Channel 4 does not broadcast F1 live; in the UK, Sky Sports holds live rights, and Channel 4 only shows highlights. This distinction matters for NZ viewers accessing UK-based streams.

What to watch

New Zealand viewers who want both horse racing and F1 today face a split: Trackside is free for horses; Sky Sport Now costs a monthly fee to unlock F1. There’s no single package that bundles both in one price.

The trade-off: Kiwis who follow both sports must maintain two separate access points — a free one for racing and a paid one for F1.

Who was the most famous racehorse in New Zealand?

What made Phar Lap famous?

Phar Lap is the most famous racehorse associated with New Zealand. He was born in 1926 at Timaru and went on to dominate Australian racing, winning the 1930 Melbourne Cup. The NZ History website (New Zealand government history resource) describes him as a cultural icon — his heart, unusually large, is preserved at the National Museum of Australia. His career spanned 51 starts with 37 wins, including weight-for-age victories that cemented his legend.

Are there other legendary NZ horses?

New Zealand has produced multiple champions. Sunline (foaled 1995) won 32 races and is inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Might And Power (foaled 1993) won the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, and later set a record in the Doomben Cup. These horses, along with Phar Lap, represent the high standards of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding.

The implication: while Phar Lap is the undisputed icon, the depth of NZ racing heritage extends well beyond one horse. For fans asking “nz racing today live”, that heritage adds context to why the sport attracts such passionate followings.

What are the big 3 horse races?

Are the ‘Big 3’ the same as the Triple Crown?

The phrase “Big 3” typically refers to the US Triple Crown series: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. These are three Grade 1 races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, run over five weeks each spring. The Triple Crown is a North American concept, not directly applicable to New Zealand racing.

Do these apply to New Zealand?

New Zealand has its own major races, such as the Auckland Cup (Group 1, 3200m), the New Zealand Derby (Group 1, 2400m), and the New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m). But there’s no locally defined “Big 3” or Triple Crown equivalent. For New Zealand punters, the most important races today are those listed on LoveRacing.NZ and Harness Racing New Zealand — the local Group 1 events that carry the most prestige and betting interest.

The pattern

When a Kiwi searches “big 3 horse races”, they are likely seeing US-centric content. The NZ racing landscape has its own calendar of majors, and knowing the difference avoids confusion when looking up today’s live schedule.

Why this matters: for anyone following NZ racing today live, focusing on local Group 1 races rather than US Triple Crown terminology ensures the most relevant betting and viewing decisions.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

What’s unclear

  • Exact daily race times may shift; always check official source like TAB.co.nz or Trackside.co.nz for the latest schedule.
  • ITV4 coverage only applies to UK, not NZ — some viewers searching “Is horse racing on ITV4?” may mistakenly think it’s a NZ option.
  • Whether Trackside’s free stream includes all races or only a selection each day; the broadcaster does not publish a definitive list of exclusions.
  • Sky Sport Now Lite’s channel lineup for racing is not clearly documented — subscribers may miss some meetings.
  • The exact F1 broadcast schedule for NZ time zones is subject to last-minute changes; official confirmation is only available on Sky’s own schedule page.

What the experts say

“Phar Lap was born in New Zealand and won the 1930 Melbourne Cup.”

NZ History website (government history resource)

“Trackside is your one-stop shop for horse racing. Watch live races, replays, and get the latest news and results, all for free.”

Trackside NZ (official broadcaster)

For New Zealand viewers trying to navigate the fragmented live sports landscape, the choice is clear: use Trackside for free horse racing and Sky Sport Now for F1, or accept the gaps in coverage.

How to start watching NZ racing today live

Follow these steps to catch live racing right now:

  1. Check today’s meeting schedule on TAB.co.nz or LoveRacing.NZ to see which codes are running.
  2. Tune your TV to Freeview channel 23 (Trackside 1) or visit Trackside.co.nz for free live streaming.
  3. For thoroughbred-specific live video and form, open the LoveRacing.NZ app on your mobile device.
  4. For harness racing details, open HRNZ.co.nz to access fields and results.
  5. If you want Formula 1, subscribe to Sky Sport Now and navigate to the F1 event page for race start times.

The payoff: within minutes you can be watching any code racing today in New Zealand, with no guesswork about which channel or site to use.

Additional sources

loveracing.nz, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is horse racing on the ITV4?

ITV4 is a UK channel that does not broadcast horse racing live in New Zealand. In the UK, ITV4 shows some racing highlights, but for live racing in NZ, use Trackside 1 or Sky Sport.

Can I watch NZ racing on my phone?

Yes. The Trackside website streams live races on mobile browsers. The LoveRacing.NZ app (available on Apple App Store) provides thoroughbred racing video, fields, and results on iOS devices.

Is Trackside available on Sky?

Trackside 1 is a free-to-air channel on Freeview (channel 23). It is not part of the Sky subscription, but Sky Sport subscribers can access additional racing channels that may carry Trackside as part of their package.

How do I get today’s racing results from TAB?

Visit TAB NZ and navigate to the “Results” section. You can filter by date, code, and meeting.

What is the best free app for NZ racing today live?

The LoveRacing.NZ app is the best free option for thoroughbred racing, offering live video, fields, form, and results. For all codes, Trackside.co.nz is the most comprehensive free web-based option.

Are F1 replays available on Sky Sport Now?

Yes. Sky Sport Now offers on-demand replays of races, qualifying, and practice sessions for a limited time after the live broadcast.

How much does Sky Sport Now cost in NZ?

Sky Sport Now costs $31.99 per month (as of 2025) for access to all Sky Sport channels, including F1 and extra racing coverage. A cheaper Sky Sport Now Lite option ($19.99/month) may not include all racing channels. Check Sky Sport Now for current pricing.