AUCKLAND, Today: New Zealand’s richest sporting event is heading to Sky Sport, with The NZB Kiwi locked in for live coverage on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
Held at Ellerslie on Champions Day, the $4 million race now claims the title of the country’s biggest prize pool, drawing huge crowds and growing international interest.
Sky Sport will team up with Entain Group for a 90-minute special from 5pm on Sky Sport 1 and Sky Sport Now, simulcast on Trackside.
The broadcast will feature the Group 1 New Zealand Derby over 2400 metres, followed by the 1500-metre NZB Kiwi, now the richest race in the country.
Racing royalty Glen Boss joins the line-up, bringing serious credentials including three Melbourne Cups, four Cox Plates and more than 90 Group 1 wins.
Gary Burchett, Sky’s Head of Sport Content said the coverage will go beyond the track. “At Sky Sport, we are always looking for events that are of national significance to New Zealanders. The NZB Kiwi is not just a race, it’s a cultural moment.
“Bringing a mainstream sports broadcaster on board has been a key growth objective for 2026, and it marks a significant step forward, not just for The NZB Kiwi, but for racing more broadly.” – Matt Ballesty, NZTR Chief Executive
“The atmosphere, the entertainment, the stories and the personalities all make for brilliant television. The NZB Kiwi has captured New Zealand’s imagination in record time, and we’re excited to help grow this into a new national tradition.”
NZTR Chief Executive Matt Ballesty said, “Bringing a mainstream sports broadcaster on board has been a key growth objective for 2026, and it marks a significant step forward, not just for The NZB Kiwi, but for racing more broadly.
“This distribution opportunity aligns perfectly with the new sports audience we’ve been building around the race, with coverage created for sports fans as much as racing fans, particularly the younger audiences that are critical to the future of the sport.”
Jeff Wilson, Ash Tulloch and Tia McDougall will also front the coverage as part of a packed weekend of sport on Sky. “This weekend is a perfect example of the incredible breadth of sport we’re able to deliver on Sky Sport,” said Burchett.
“From world-class racing at Ellerslie, to the Warriors’ season opener, Super Rugby Pacific clashes, A-League football and the start of the Formula One season, it shows the scale and diversity of live sport available to Kiwi fans in one place.”
Across 6–8 March, viewers can catch Warriors v Roosters, multiple Super Rugby Pacific matchups, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix featuring Liam Lawson, A-League fixtures and the T20 World Cup Final.
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