News

Punters set Autumn bet record

28th May 2009

Herlad Sun - Ray Thomas - Thursday, 28 May 2009

SYDNEY'S revamped autumn racing carnival defied wet weather and the harsh economic times to produce all-time record betting figures.

NSW TAB punters wagered more than $116 million across 10 feature race meetings that began with the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes in March and ended with the Group One Sydney Cup meeting on Anzac Day.

The Golden Slipper was the most popular with punters, who bet a massive $20.4 million on the day despite extremely wet conditions at Rosehill.

This was one of five individual race day betting records established during the autumn carnival.

The others were the Randwick Guineas ($10.3 million), Coolmore Classic ($12.5 million), Doncaster Mile ($16.2 million) and Sydney Cup ($14.2 million).

"The success of the autumn carnival is a direct reflection of a co-ordinated marketing campaign by Racing NSW, AJC, STC, Events NSW, Tabcorp and William Inglis and a race program that enabled horses to have multiple starts," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said.

"In excess of $2.5 million was expended promoting the autumn carnival, which helped generate the record TAB turnover."

Betting on horse racing often seems immune to economic reality and V'landys conceded the results exceeded expectations, particularly given a number of the feature race days were held on wet tracks.

In other breaking news:

 THERE is a move to introduce eight Friday night race meetings at Canterbury from October;

 THE introduction of a breeders and owners incentive scheme called BOBS Extra that encourages more staying races, keeps older horses in training longer and improves field sizes;

 RACING NSW is set to establish minimum track standards for racing and training facilities;

 FROM August 1 a new merit-based handicapping system will be introduced in NSW racing that is designed to provide more opportunities for racehorses to compete; and

 EVENTS NSW will be asked to ensure there are no clashes between major sporting events next autumn, unlike the fiasco on Doncaster Mile Day at Randwick when the Swans-Carlton AFL clash was held next door at the SCG.

Racing NSW chairman Alan Brown said plans to introduce Friday night racing at Canterbury later this year were well advanced.

"We are still in discussions with the harness racing industry, but I'm fairly confident we will be able to have eight night meetings at Canterbury during October, November and December," Brown said. "Night meetings will be held in conjunction with Moonee Valley thoroughbred meetings and the Harold Park trots will still race on Friday nights."