|
TAB BETTING ON THE WINTER CARNIVAL
WAS BEST ON RECORD
By Bob Bentley
Chairman
Queensland Racing
NOW here’s a ‘good news’ story
that we should be shouting from the rooftops of racing
in this State.
The Winter Carnival just ended has attracted the
strongest off-course betting turnover in the history
of the TAB in Queensland with record betting on nine
of the 11 feature meetings.
UNiTAB, or TAB Queensland as it was formerly known,
has compared figures from the start of the carnival
in late April-early May through to Brisbane Cup day
in early June since 1992.
The turnover for that period this year reached an
amazing $36.4 million, which was $2 million more
than the previous best ($34.4mn) set a decade ago
in 1994.
Incredibly, it smashed the figures for the past
three years of $32.5mn to $32.8mn – which were
exceptionally good – by close to $4 million.
UNiTAB chief executive, Dick McIlwain, who is obviously
ecstatic at the result, describes the record turnover
as part of a very good year.
Mr McIlwain highlights the fact that during this
year’s carnival there were no less than five
days when the turnover on the major meetings eclipsed
the $4 million mark.
These meetings included Doomben 10,000, Doomben
Cup, Queensland Oaks, Stradbroke Handicap and Tattersall’s
Cup (the latter occurring after the record-keeping
period had been completed).
The first $4 million-plus turnover day during the
carnival was the 1998 Stradbroke meeting. Up until
last year the only time that the $4mn barrier had
been bettered was at the combined Doomben 10,000-Cup
Super Day, but in hindsight that proved to be somewhat
of a disaster.
The big double combined on the one day attracted
just over $4 million, whereas this year betting totalled
$4.3mn on 10,000 day and $4.2mn on Doomben Cup day.
By running the races on separate days the turnover
was twice as much, which goes to show what a bad
decision it was to combine the double on a Super
Day.
Last year the Queensland Oaks meeting passed the
$4 million turnover mark for the first time but this
winter we have had no less than five big days eclipse
that figure.
One of the big success stories of recent carnivals
has been the Caloundra Cup meeting where turnover
increased this year by 14 per cent.
Since Queensland Racing broke with tradition and
granted the Sunshine Coast Turf Club metropolitan
status the betting support for this fixture has continued
to grow.
Over three years it has soared from $2.7mn to $3.3mn
and this year reached $3.7mn. It has prompted moves
by the club for another stand-alone Saturday in the
summer carnival period, which SCTC officials consider
they can sustain.
Ipswich Cup day has long been a successful carnival
Saturday when there is no racing in Brisbane. It
continues to attract the biggest crowds of the winter.
This year was no exception, although the turnover
dropped marginally from $3.4mn last year to $3.3mn,
which has largely been attributed to the decision
to move the meeting forward to the weekend following
the Stradbroke-Brisbane Cup.
Prime Minister’s Cup day at the Gold Coast – another
stand-alone success story – again attracted
record turnover, up 13 per cent this carnival to
$3.4 million.
Magic Millions day remains the strongest off-course
turnover race meeting of the year with Queensland
punters.
It has been for the past two years. The record turnover
of $4.82mn in January compared to the recent Stradbroke
day figure of $4.78mn.
The carnival blockbusters from a betting perspective
(and I reiterate that these figures are based on
TAB betting in Queensland) were:
- Stradbroke day $4.78 million
- Doomben 10,000
day $4.27mn
- Doomben Cup day $4.16mn
- Queensland Oaks day
$4.16mn
- Tattersall’s
Cup day $4.08mn
- Caloundra Cup day $3.72mn
The detractors might not agree, but something is
obviously going right for Queensland racing. Sure,
we had great weather, good prizemoney and top fields
this winter, but it takes more than that to ensure
carnival success.
There are those who will point to the absence of
live telecasts of Sydney racing having a positive
affect on our turnover in Queensland.
Interestingly, the off-course betting figures for
the month of June show that punters in this State
bet 14.17 per cent more on Queensland races, 2.9
per cent more on races in New South Wales and 6.38
per cent less on Victorian races.
Queensland Racing believes there is plenty of improvements
that can be made to both the winter and summer carnivals.
The stand-alone status of those clubs outside Brisbane
remains safe.
What we will look to do is improve the programming
at Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast – perhaps
with a couple of Queensland Racing Select Events,
worth $100,000, which would certainly help boost
the support races on those cards.
|
