Harness racing has been playing out to empty stands at Addington but its turnovers have surprised. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Dr Darrin’s harness health check-up: Turnovers show the patient is still breathing
By Barry Lichter • 8 June 2020
A ray of light has emerged for the racing industry with betting on harness meetings stronger than expected since racing resumed 12 days ago.
Figures obtained from Harness Racing New Zealand for the first eight meetings predictably show the highest turnovers in the South Island, with public track-based North Island stables still cranking up their operations.
Friday nights at Addington have been particularly pleasing, says HRNZ racing and marketing manager Darrin Williams, with fixed odds betting clearly more popular than tote betting on weekdays.
With 12-race cards, and the prime betting slot, Addington has returned figures of $1.17 million and $1.01 million for its Friday meets.
“It’s certainly better than we thought it would be,” says Williams.
“I’d like to think betting will keep going up too with still a lot of horses to come back.”
Invercargill’s two Saturday meetings have also exceeded the traditional numbers, returning $781,000 and $833,000 for 11-race programmes.
“Normally you’d expect Invercargill on a Saturday to turn over between $500,000 and $550,000, and if you got to $600,000 that would be very good.
“Once the gallops come back on Saturdays it could be different of course. If people are wanting to have a bet on New Zealand racing at the moment they could be betting on the trots by default.”
While there were only 46 horses in six races at the first meeting on a Thursday at Auckland, Williams says to generate an average of $62,000 per race wasn’t too bad.
And Cambridge also got a tick on its Sunday card, with 95 horses in nine races attracting $582,000.
Thursday’s meeting at Cambridge will see 106 runners, a sign that more northern trainers have their charges nearing race fitness.
Williams is hopeful that more of the code’s top liners will be seen out on the racetrack soon too, with the cancellation of the traditional late season Harness Jewels allowing them to be spelled earlier.
Williams is reluctant to read too much into the figures just yet, knowing people’s disposable incomes have been hit hard by COVID-19 and many coming off subsidies might not now be able to afford to gamble.
He points to the tradie who used to have a few jugs and some bets at the pub on a Friday night.
“Maybe now if they lose $20 on the first race, they’ll be out.”
Turnover details
Harness turnovers since racing resumed:
Thursday May 28 Addington (9 races) $624,586
Average per race $69,398
Fixed odds $319,000, tote $305,000
Friday May 29 Addington (12 races) $1,168,115
Average per race $97,342
Fixed odds $607,000, tote $560,000
Saturday May 30 Invercargill (11 races) $781,228
Average per race $71,020
Fixed odds $307,000, tote $473,000
Sunday May 31 Cambridge (9 races) $582,750
Average per race $64,750
Fixed odds $251,000, tote $331,000
Thursday June 4 Auckland (6 races) $374,321
Average per race $62,386
Fixed odds $221,000, tote $153,000
Friday June 5 Addington (12 races) $1,013,898
Average per race $84,491
Fixed odds $552,000, tote $461,000
Saturday June 6 Invercargill (11 races) $833,246
Average per race $75,749
Fixed odds $355,000, tote $478,000
Sunday June 7 Addington (10 races) $790,727
Average per race $79,072
Fixed odds $353,000, tote $437,000.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
