More than 15,000 people flocked to Addington on cup day. PHOTO: John Davidson/Photosport.
Punters splurge $7.5 million on trotting cup day - a 25-year record for any code
By Barry Lichter • 9 November 2022
Record betting figures were posted on Tuesday’s trotting cup day meeting at Addington.
New Zealand punters wagered $7.5 million on the 13-race card, the highest turnover of any meeting, both harness and thoroughbreds, in the last 25 years.
The previous record was also set on Addington’s cup day, when $7.1 million was bet in 2007, the year Flashing Red won his second cup.
The highest take at a gallops meeting was $6.7 million turned over on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie in 2021.
Addington’s Racing Industry Manager Darrin Williams reports turnover on the cup was close to $2million with $131,689 on-course, $1,039,400 off-course and $743,179 on the fixed odds market. That took the total to $1,914,267, or $127,618 per starter.
Strong fields have been carded again at Addington for Show day on Friday with Australian Rock N Roll Doo the big winner in the draw for the $200,000 NZ Pacing Free-for-all.
The Victoria Cup winner blew the start of the IRT Cup from the second row and beat only one home but reverts to a mobile on Friday.
Self Assured, one of the most unlucky runners in Tuesday’s cup, is a little wider out in seven.
His effort to finish fifth, less than two lengths from the winner Copy That was enormous after scrambling away, becoming buried on the markers then being held up leaving the final bend and locking wheels and puncturing a sulky tyre near the 300m.
Addington’s official GPS tracking system StrideMASTER clocked Self Assured to run his last 1600 metres in a staggering 1:51.89.
Alta Wiseguy, who did well for seventh on Tuesday, gets the coveted ace draw, with stablemate B D Joe on his back.
The two big guns in the $300,000 Dominion Trot both drew the front row, Muscle Mountain in one and Sundee’s Son in seven.
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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“She normally runs on better but, after looking like she was going to round them up on the turn last week, she just flattened out. But she’ll be hovering around there somewhere.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.55pm
“She’s such a tough little filly who tries so hard. I wish I had one with speed with those qualities. It would be nice if they go hard, and she gets a suck along, then she might get a small piece of it. She never goes a bad race.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
6.55pm
“She’s been going all right but she keeps getting awkward draws and getting pushed back to the rear. Because of her initial success (as a two-year-old) she’s been badly off in the ratings but she’s slowly losing points.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
6.55pm
“He’s a serious winning chance. He’ll go forward from his outside gate and try to dominate again in front. He’s not just winning, he’s demolishing them.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.45pm
“He got fired up at Cambridge with the long delay and, after he went forward to get a position, Fergie was just a passenger. When they pull that hard they don’t run on. He’s been racing well and can’t be ruled out if he gets a good trip.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.45pm
”If he gets a half decent trip, he’s the one to beat. Ignore the Cambridge run last week from a stand. We know what he can do from the mobile.”
