Record number of accounts active for NZ Trotting Cup Day

Wagering on the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting yesterday (Tuesday, 9 November) has held up well in spite of challenging trading conditions on the back of last year’s record harness racing meeting, TAB NZ figures show.

The 3200m pace was won by North Island-trained Copy That, who led most of the way to win, providing Pukekohe trainer Ray Green with his first New Zealand Trotting Cup after decades of training. Driver Blair Orange set the race up well in front to win by 2-½ lengths, giving Orange his second Cup win after winning with Cruz Bromac in 2019.

Last year’s winner Self Assured fought on well into 2nd, with another North Island-trained pacer South Coast Arden digging in to claim 3rd.

The continued closure of TAB retail outlets in Auckland until 11.59pm on Tuesday night, and limited outlets open in Waikato, had an effect on sales on the day. However, as with activity on Melbourne Cup Day last week, betting through accounts increased, with a seven percent increase in account bettors from 40,000 in 2020 to 43,000 this year.

This is a new high for account bettors on NZ Trotting Cup Day, with last year’s figure of 40,000 exceeding the previous high set in 2018.
The day was held under Alert Level 2 conditions at Addington Raceway, which affected crowd numbers on course but the day’s overall activity across all betting of $10.9 million was just $400,000 down on last year’s record figure of $11.3 million.

With one less race on yesterday’s card (12 races) compared to last year’s 13 races and subsequently fewer runners (150 in 2021 against 173 in 2020), total turnover from all bets placed on the meeting up to and on the day was $5.5 million, down on last year’s total of $6.6 million.

On-course turnover ($100,000) was down due to patrons being restricted to around 1200 on course, compared to 12,000 in 2020 under lighter Covid-19 restrictions, where turnover of $900,000 was generated on course. On-course betting options were restricted to limited self-service terminals, or customers betting through digital channels.

Jake Beleski TAB New Zealand
e jake.beleski@tab.co.nz m +64 22 354 0581