1996 Race Horses.

$1.80 'Bonecrusher' (used).

The “Sport of Kings” is a well-recognised feature of New Zealand life. The big meetings attract huge crowds and generate much excitement with harness racing also making a big impact along with the more established gallops. The horse racing industry that employs tens of thousands of people and New Zealand-bred yearlings attract buyers from around the world and bring in millions of dollars in export earnings annually. Six of the country's more recent (1996) crowd-pleasers were featured in this special Racehorses stamp issue. 


The Stamps.

40c 'Kiwi' gummed stamp.
A memorable, storming run from the back of the field to win the 1993 Melbourne Cup assured Kiwi of legendary status.

80c 'Rough Habit' gummed stamp.
Well-travelled internationally, Rough Habit was Horse of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and has won more than $5 million - more than any other New Zealand racehorse.

$1.00 'Blossom Lady' gummed stamp.
Blossom Lady has so far paced her way to 43 career wins and earnings of $1.3 million, the most by any harness racing mare in Australasia.

$1.20 'Il Vicolo' gummed stamp.
The 1995 Harness Horse of the Year, Il Vicolo, a four-year-old and still racing, already has some memorable victories to his credit including the New Zealand Derby-Great Northern Derby double and the New South Wales Derby. Recently Il Vicolo won the New Zealand Cup-Air New Zealand Free For All double.

$1.50 'Horlicks' gummed stamp.
Horlicks had already established a proud record in Australasia before lining up in the 1989 Japan Cup. Her victory in that event elevated her to greatness.

$1.80 'Bonecrusher' gummed stamp.
A horse that caught the imagination of the entire country with some stunning victories from 1985-1988, Bonecrusher will be remembered most for a wonderful win in Melbourne’s 1986 Cox Plate.


 First Day Cover - 24 January 1996.

Other Special Collectable Items.

Limited Edition Miniature Sheet with one 40c, one 80c, one $1, one $1.20, one $1.50 and one $1.80 stamp (2,000 numbered copies)

Limited Edition FDC - 24 January 1996.

Miniature Sheet Booklet.
This colourful booklet contained 28 pages, including seven souvenir stamp sheets in miniature sheet format and a wealth of information about horse racing and the horses. 


Technical information.
Date of issue: 24 January 1996.
Designer: BNA Design, Wellington, New Zealand.
Printer: Joh Enschedé, Netherlands.
Stamp size: 40mm x 28mm; Miniature Sheet Size: 99mm x 124mm.
Sheet size: 100 stamps per sheet; Miniature sheets of one and six stamps.
Process: Lithography.
Perforation gauge: 14.25 x13.75.
Paper type: Red phosphor coated, unwatermarked.
Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 24 January 1997.



Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.