Punters will have to adapt to self service terminals as operator-assisted totes are phased out.
Brace yourselves for serious stake cuts - RITA to reveal its funding budget on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 23 June 2020
Funding to the codes for next season’s race stakes will be known on Friday and it could be up to 25% down on this year.
The revelation yesterday, from Harness Racing New Zealand’s interim chief executive Phil Holden, confirmed fears that the industry is on the verge of severe stakes reductions.
The Racing Industry Transition Agency board is meeting today and Holden says it will reveal its budget to the codes on Friday.
“We’ve had some broad conversations with them and it’s fair to say it’s going to be significantly less. It could be anywhere up to 25% less.”
Holden said the three racing codes had yet to come to an agreement on just how RITA’s bulk funding will be divided between them.
But already talk around the traps is that there will be a severe cap placed on prizemoney for all Group races, a move that is sure to see even more horses and trainers abandon New Zealand.
Cambridge Raceway CEO David Branch is hoping that the coming cuts won’t mean that speculation about $5000 races proves to be correct.
Of the four clubs which raced in the last two weeks, Cambridge recorded the lowest turnover of $589,234. Branch, however, said it wasn’t far removed from what he’d expect on a normal mid-winter Thursday.
$7000 on-course turnover
The official on-course turnover was just $7000, though Branch pointed out that another $12,000 was put through its Clubhouse, which as a stand alone TAB comes under off-course turnover.
Cambridge had four operator-assisted terminals open in the grandstand and one self service terminal.
The second lowest turnover, $598,472, was at the other northern meeting at Alexandra Park where, on its first night open to the public, on-course betting was also a pitiful $7000.
The Auckland Trotting Club also has a TAB next to the Alex Bar which would have added more turnover, again grouped under the off-course total.
Total turnover on the ATC’s nine races was $598,472, an average of $66,497.
Invercargill saw a turnover drop on the previous two weeks, its $700,175 last Saturday testimony to competition from the first gallops meeting at Pukekohe.
Addington, with it’s prized Friday nights, continued to post strong figures, with averages per race of $89,886 and $112,870.
Asked if the low on-course turnovers were disturbing, Harness Racing New Zealand racing and marketing manager Darrin Williams said they probably indicated people were already using their own devices to bet.
On-course betting totals in the last two weeks were:
Cambridge: $7000.
Auckland: $7000.
Invercargill: $10,000, $12,000.
Addington: $18,000, $12,000, $11,000, $17,000.
Under the present bulk funding rules, clubs gain no extra income from increased on-course turnover.
Turnover details
Thursday night, June 11 Cambridge (10 races) $589,234, average per race $58,923
On-course $7000, off-course $282,000, fixed odds $300,000.
Friday night, June 12 Addington (12 races) $1,078,639, average per race $89,886
On-course $18,000, off-course $525,000, fixed odds $534,000.
Saturday, June 13 Invercargill (10 races) $754,963, average per race $75,496
On-course $12,000 off-course $477,000, fixed odds $265,000.
Sunday, June 14 Addington (9 races) $671,021, average per race $74,557
On-course $12,000, off-course $376,000, fixed odds $283,000.
Thursday night, June 18 Auckland (9 races) $598,472, average per race $66,497
On-course $7000, off-course $269,000, fixed odds, $322,000.
Friday night, June 19 Addington (10 races) $1,128,700, average per race $112,870
On-course $11,000, off-course $548,000, fixed odds $568,000.
Saturday, June 20 Invercargill (10 races) $700,175, average per race $70,017
On-course $10,000, off-course $382,000, fixed odds, $307,000.
Sunday, June 21 Addington (12 races) $966,098, average per race $80,508
On-course $17,000, off-course $554,000, fixed odds $394,000.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
