Drop in betting turnover at Christmas race meeting
Fifteen years ago, a reported $262,000 was bet on course at the Christmas at the Races in Invercargill, but that has since taken a hit.
While the 2024 Christmas at the Races continues to be one of Invercargill’s more popular social events, it appears punters are more cautious with their money as betting turnover again took a hit this year.
Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew was delighted with how Saturday’s meeting played out, but acknowledged on course betting turnover was down compared to previous years.
Bellew said there was a $18,000 drop in on course betting compared to 2023, which he said could be put down to a few things. It included the current financial climate.
“The cost of living, the economy, we are coming out of a hard time… People just don’t have the money,” Bellew said.
In 2009 it was reported the Christmas at the Races meeting that year generated $262,000 in betting on course at Ascot Park.
Ten years later - in 2019 - it was reported on course betting turnover had dropped to $182,000.
It is understood to now be down a further $30,000 since then.
During the past decade or so, more people have started to bet through the TAB App on their phone while they are on course. That betting spend counts towards the off-course betting figures.
“That’s the educated punter,” Bellew said about those betting on their phone on course.
“But 20-30% of people are probably going to their first race meeting, we need to make it easier for them.”
He said on Saturday there were long queues of people wanting to get cash out at Ascot Park and then place a bet.
Bellew is keen to investigate ways to sort that in coming years, including the possibility of creating a new Southland Racing Club App.
“Hopefully you could upload, download your money from an App on your phone rather than queuing for money. That would speed everything up.
“It will be started in Invercargill and have a real impact on events throughout New Zealand I believe. Watch this space”
“There’s nothing worse than coming to an event and people can’t consume. I hate it.”
The Southland Racing Club gets a “single figure” percentage return on the amount bet on course, but the club’s biggest revenue generator from Christmas at the Races is the hospitality arm of the event.
Although betting turnover still does remain an important figure as Bellew pushes national racing authorities for the Christmas at the Races meeting in Invercargill to remain on a Saturday long-term.
It is understood the amount bet at Invercargill on Saturday was significantly less than what was wagered at the other thoroughbred meeting at Te Rapa on the same day.
In the lead up to Saturday’s meeting Bellew raised fears that the Christmas at the Races meeting in Invercargill could be moved to a twilight Friday event or a Sunday in future.
That would potentially free up the prime Saturday slot for a premier meeting in a bigger centre elsewhere in New Zealand.
“We are like a third-grade cricket team, and they will say we shouldn’t be on the main oval.
“We are just minnows in the fishing scheme of things and being one of the minnows I worry,” Bellew said at the time.
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In response to Bellew’s comments, Entain - which is involved in the scheduling - released a statement that said the dates committee process for 2025/26 is underway and “is still quite early in the process”.
Entain representatives are scheduled to visit Invercargill on Friday for the Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s big Invercargill Cup meeting.
Bellew will meet with them then.
He said he won’t be “banging his fist on the table” but feels he can put a good case forward as to why regional racing is important to New Zealand racing long-term.
“You just can’t say it’s a business, it is a way of life,” Bellew said.
Meanwhile Friday’s 99th edition of the Invercargill Cup at Ascot Park is the third running at Group One level and is tipped to be the best field yet.