These were unofficial events run by the first Wellington Jockey Club and not recognised by the NZ Turf Register.

[2] The Wellington Cup is one of New Zealand's most famous and popular races and it generally offers stake money which belies its Group Three status.

In the past years the Group One Thorndon Mile was on Wellington Cup day, it is now raced a week earlier along with the Trentham Stakes.

The Wellington Racing Club responded to the downgrade by reducing the distance to 2400 metres in order to attract a higher quality field.

[7] The biggest dividend paid for a Wellington Cup winner was $180 for Simon de Montfort, ridden by Brian Dodds in 1972.