The Howden Insurance Mile is a New Zealand Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay. The race, which is registered as the Horlicks Plate, became known as the Howden Insurance Mile in 2025 and has been previously known as:
the Arrowfield Stud Plate. In 2022 the race sponsor and naming rights changed from the Windsor Park Stud to the Arrowfield Stud. the Windsor Park Plate. the Stoney Bridge Stakes from 2004 to 2008. the Glenmorgan Generous Stakes, in 2003, when it was raced at Otaki. the Glenmorgan Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes.
It is run over a distance of 1600m in late September or early October. It was a Group 3 race until 2001 and Group 2 until 2004.
It is the second of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown of Group 1 weight-for-age races. The others are:
the 1400m Challenge Stakes currently known as the Proisir Plate, and the 2040m Livamol Classic.
Other major races run during the carnival are: the Gold Trail Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Group 3 level. This race marks the beginning of the New Zealand Filly of the Year series. the Hawke's Bay Guineas.
In the COVID-19 affected 2020/21 season the Windsor Park Plate was raced on 3 October 2020. The same meeting held the Hawke's Bay Guineas whereas the Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes was held a fortnight earlier on September 19 along with the Tarzino Trophy.
In 2022 the scheduled meeting at Hastings was cancelled and the race was moved to the following week and raced at Matamata. The 2024 and 2025 editions were also held in the Waikato due to the Hastings racecourse being closed for reconstruction after a horse slipped in a race in September 2024.
Recent results
Year Group Winner Jockey Trainer Time Second Third2026 (Hastings)1Waitak 59Craig GryllsLance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott 1:34.51 (soft)Tuxedo 59She's A Dealer 572025 (Te Rapa) 1Waitak 59 Craig Grylls Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott 1:39.25 (heavy) La Crique 57 Ladies Man 592024 (Matamata)1One Bold Cat 59 Ryan ElliotRobbie Patterson1:35.49 (good)Skew Wiff 57Matscot 592023 (Hastings)1 Mustang Valley 57Joe Doyle Andrew Forsman 1:40.52 (heavy)Malt Time 57Callsign Mav 592022 (Matamata) 1La Crique 56.5Craig GryllsSimon & Katrina Alexander, Matamata1:35.32 (soft)Mustang Valley 56.5Prise De Fer 5920211Callsign Mav 59Jonathan Riddell John Bary, Hastings 1:36.28 (good) Prise De Fer 59Gino Severini 5920201 Melody Belle 57Troy Harris Jamie Richards, Matamata 1:33.88 (good) Avantage 57Callsign Mav 58.520191Melody Belle 57Opie Bosson Jamie Richards, Matamata1:34.17 (good) Sultan of Swing 59Mongolian Marshall 5920181Melody Belle 56.5 Shafiq Rusof Jamie Richards, Matamata1:35.39 (dead) Savvy Coup 56.5 Wyndspelle 5920171 Gingernuts 58.5Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Matamata1:40.15 (slow) Close Up 59 Kawi 5920161Kawi 59 Leith InnesAlan Sharrock, New Plymouth 1:35.52 (dead) Mime 56.5 Rasa Lila 572015 (Trentham) 1Julinsky Prince 59Johnathan Parkes Fraser Auret, Marton 1:37.81 (dead) Allez Eagle 59 Platinum Witness 56.520141Pure Champion 59Craig Grylls Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata 1:34.28 (dead) I Do 57 Soriano 5720131Xanadu 57Michael Coleman Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata 1:35.60 (good) Mufhasa 59Nashville 5920121Mufhasa 59 Samantha SprattStephen McKee 1:34.88 (good) Fleur de Lune 57 Xanadu 56.520111Jimmy Choux 58.5Jonathan Riddell John Bary, Hastings1:34.05 (good) Mufhasa 59Hold It Harvey 5920101Wall Street 59 Michael Coleman Jeff Lynds, Awapuni 1:41.24 (slow)Fritzy Boy 59 Keep The Peace 56.620091Daffodil 56.5 Hayden TinsleyKevin Gray, Awapuni 1:39.78 (slow)Sarrera 59 Sterling Prince 5920081Princess Coup 56.5Opie BossonMark Walker, Matamata1:36.71 (dead) Nom du Jeu 58.5Fritzy Boy 58.520071Seachange 56.5Gavin McKeon Ralph Manning, Cambridge 1:35.89 (good) Sir Slick 59Princess Coup 5620061Seachange 56Gavin McKeon Ralph Manning, Cambridge1:34.37 (good) Darci Brahma 58.5 Hurrah 592005 1Miss Potential 56 Reese JonesBill Borrie 1:35.73 (good)Irish Rover 58.5 Magnetism 5720042Starcraft 57Glen Boss Garry Newnham, Queensland1:36.31 (firm) Miss Potential 56Irish Rover 58.52003 (raced at Otaki)2Irish Rover 58David Walker Eddie Carson 1:36.1 (easy)Miss Potential 56 Tit For Taat 5620022Hello Dolly 56.5Andrew Calder W G (Bill) Wills, Cambridge 1:38.06 (soft) Hail 56 Cent Home 5820013Hello Dolly 56 Hayden Tinsley W G (Bill) Wills, Cambridge1:35.91 (soft) Cinder Bella 56Hill Of Grace 5620003The Message 58.5 Linda Ballantyne John Ralph 1:35.09 (good) Cinder Bella 58Aerosmith 56
See also
A table listing winners of all 3 of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown is included in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand, along with tables showing the recent winners of other major New Zealand races.
References