Cup Day Wash Up
It seems that, despite the overall doom and gloom facing harness racing in this Country, there are still a few people who enjoy a punt on our horses, given the record-breaking turnover on Cup Day. Believe it or not, on the big days when large stakes are paid out, the major Clubs budget for a loss, however I’m reliably informed that last Tuesday will see the Club come away with a modest profit.
The astonishing thing is that, unlike Melbourne Cup day and other major race days, the second Tuesday in November isn’t even an official day off work in Canterbury, let alone the Country. Yet it remains the highest turnover day for the TAB for any code and has been for a long time. A great deal of kudos must go to the crew at Addington who, every year put in a huge effort to make the day what it is. Yes, there may be, these days, a lot of emphasis on corporates and high-priced settings, but the reality is that, as with most major events, that is where the money is made. Putting a lot of money and effort into catering for dollar each way punters is a recipe for disaster, that’s just the way of the world.
The question is of course, how do we keep the momentum going. Hopefully some of the people who had a good experience will have had their interest piqued and provide some repeat business, or at least pencil in a firm commitment for next year.
Pete Cook