Strong support for new Auckland Cups Carnival

10 March 2006

Strong support for first new Auckland Cups Carnival

Punters and the public have soundly vindicated the new Auckland Cups Carnival, according to the Racing Manager of the New Zealand Racing Board, Michael Dore.

Highlights of the Carnival week so far include on-course betting on the feature SKYCITY Auckland Cup gallops. Run for the first time on a Wednesday - 8 March - it outstripped its New Year’s Day 2005 on-course turnover by 30%.

And last night’s Auckland Greyhound Cup set the season record for a greyhound race with $90,000 bet on the New Zealand tote and fixed odds betting. It was also broadcast for betting in Australia, where it generated record greyhound export turnover from customers in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

Tonight sees the Carnival highlight for harness racing, the Trillian Trust Auckland Trotting Cup at Alexandra Park.

Saturday is the final day of the Auckland Cup Carnival, with the running of two Group One races at Ellerslie – the Ford Diamond Stakes and the Starcraft New Zealand Stakes.

“The Auckland Racing Club can now look forward to a wonderful closing day of the Carnival, knowing their season’s figures have benefited from the boldest move in New Zealand racing in 50 years,” said Michael Dore, Racing Manager for the NZ Racing Board.

The Auckland Racing Club shifted New Zealand’s biggest raceday, the Auckland Cup, from its traditional New Year’s Day spot. The Cup is now the weekday centrepiece of the new Auckland Cups Carnival that includes Cup races for all three racing codes.

ENDS

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