The race is the part of the Triple Crown raced at Hastings Racecourse, along with the 1,400-metre (0.87 mi) Tarzino Trophy, which was previously known as the Makfi Challenge Stakes or Mudgway Stakes, and the 1,600-metre (0.99 mi) Arrowfield Stud Plate, which was previously known as the Windsor Park Plate, Stony Bridge Stakes and Horlicks Plate.
Many of New Zealand's best thoroughbred horses have raced in the various Triple Crown events.
A number of horses managed to win two of the three races and some were beaten into second in the third leg.
Melody Belle was the first horse to win all three of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown races.
The race was originally known as the Ormond Memorial and took place on the second day of the autumn carnival until the 1985/86 season when it was moved to the Spring.