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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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
