| Class: | Listed |
| Horse Race: | The Race by Grins Mobile Pace |
| Location: | Cambridge Racecourse New Zealand |
| Inaugurated: | 2022 |
| Race Type: | Standardbred - Flat racing |
| Distance: | 2200m |
| Track: | Left-handed oval |
| Qualification: | 3 year old and older pacers |
| Purse: | NZ $1,000,000 (2024) |
The Race By Grins is a race for 3 year old and older harness horses run at Cambridge Raceway, New Zealand, by the Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness club. It is raced over 2200m from a mobile start and is a slot race.
The Race by Grins was first held in 2022. It involves each potential race entry (slot) being sold to a purchaser (slot holder) who secures a spot in the race for three years. The slot holder may then liaise with the trainers and owners of high quality racehorses that may potentially fill the slot and contest the race. The slot holders will enter into independent arrangements with the horse owners/trainers in regards the distribution of any prize money won.
In 2022, one of the horses was withdrawn prior to the fields being drawn. From 2023 the Race by Grins has a pool of horses available from which slot holders can select a replacement for any horse withdrawn prior to acceptance time. There will also be one emergency drawn in the field.[1]
Grins, the initial race sponsor is a ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage associated with New Zealand rugby representatives Stephen Donald, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie.[2] [3] [4]
It was intended to introduce a trotting version of the slot race in 2023 but this did not occur due to a lack of funding.[5] However, in 2024 an inaugural trotters slot event, the TAB Mobile Trot was held for a stake of $600,000 [6] The two slot races have attracted the best combined fields of New Zealand and Australian horses for many years.[7] [8] [9]
The 2024 edition was won by Merlin in a time of 2:35.1 which set a new New Zealand record for the 2200m journey beating the previous record of 2:35.4 by Ultimate Sniper in November 2019.[10]
The past winners of the race are as follows:
| Year | Stake | Winner | Driver | Trainer(s) | Time | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,000,000 | Merlin[11] | Zachary Butcher | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | 2:35.10 | Don't Stop Dreaming | Kango |
| 2023[12] | $1,000,000 | Copy That[13] | Blair Orange | Ray Green[14] | 2:36.3 | Old Town Road | Self Assured |
| 2022[15] | $ 862,500 | Self Assured[16] | Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | 2:37.5 | Majestic Cruiser | Spankem |