TROTTING Auckland, betting shows substantial increase

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33601, 1 August 1974, Page 8

TROTTING Auckland, betting shows substantial increase

Betting records were shattered at the 23 meetings held by the Auckland. Franklin, and Thames clubs at Alexandra Park last season. The total rose by 19 per cent to $16,001,713, making the season by far the most successful on the course.

Betting on the 17 meetings of the Auckland club rose by $2,051,121 over the previous year’s total of $10,936,098. On-course betting at meetings of the Auckland club rose by 16 per cent to ; $6,550,579. while the offI course total rose by a similar i percentage to $6,436,640. The average increase onIcourse was $62,102, andjiff- : course it was $58,575. The influence of inflation is indicated by attendance figures of 190,859, which decreased slightly by 2446. The largest crowd of the

year, 15.835 (excluding children), was on Auckland Trotting Cup day, December 29, when the on-course turn-] over of $545,788 was a record: for the club. At the other end of the scale the lowest turnover was recorded on the first day of the club’s July meeting. The comparative failure of: the two meetings in July! proved* the superiority ofl night racing, from a betting! angle at least. The situation will not be as bad next season with a two-day meeting in June winding up the club’s year. In spite of the slight fall in attendance figures, gate takings rose to $133,410 from $128,887. On-course betting at the three meetings of the Thames club rose by 26 per cent to $1,056,023.50, while the offcourse total rose by 20 per cent to $1,040,414.50. The Franklin club’s turnover suffered as a result of a clash, with a meeting at Addington Raceway in August. The on-course total for the three meetings was $776,570; an increase of 23 par cent, while the off-course total rose 2 per cent to $891,403. Abandoned The trials, which were to have been held yesterday at Addington Raceway, were abandoned because of rain. The trials will be held as usual next Wednesday, with fresh entries closing on Tuesday. Gone south Nevele Holiday and Pacific Hanover, American-bred stallions which have been located in Canterbury for the last few years, will do stud duty in Southland this spring. Nevele Holiday has been leased by the Greenpark trainer, R.D. Butt, to Mr D. Q. Legat, of Invercargill. He Has averaged 70 mares in each of the three seasons he has been at Greenpark.

Pacific Hanover, which was:: at the property of rhe ; Templeton trainer. M. A. Butt. | is to be located near Gore at J !the Galliano Stud being'i established bv Mr J. Barclay. I Increased charges i There has been a sharp in- ' crease in the costs of trans-;' porting horses by air be- . I tween Christchurch and I. Wellington and Christchurch!! and Auckland. It will cost' $357 each way to fly a’, horse to Auckland, while theL cost to Wellington will be.' $lBO each way. A full load] of six horses on a charter'* flight to Auckland will cost? $1560 each way, while the ■ cost of a full flight to Wei-! 1 lington will be $756 each U way. There have also been, 1 quite substantial increases in the costs of transport by sea and road. The increases are expected to result in a reduction in the number of Canterbury horses racing at Auckland' and Wellington. Form at trials Not only form at trials held at Addington Raceway, but form shown at trials held anywhere will be taken into consideration when fields to be run by the three clubs racing at Addington are selected, said the racing

secretary (Mr T. H. Davis) yesterday. “Some trainers in Mid- . Canterbury and South 'Canterbury are under the impression that they will have to race their horses at trials at Addington to be sure of a start at meetings ion the course, but this is Inot the case.” said Mr (Davis. “So long as we are .advised of results from itrials held outside Christjchurch, form shown there iwill be given every consideration,” he added. I The results of trials at I Addington each Wednesday I are to be sent to other clubs 'so that they can consider 'the form shown there when ! they select fields for total■isator meetings.