NEWS | Turnover records smashed at TAB Karaka Millions

A staggering jump in turnover has propelled the TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday to new heights, with $9.5 million wagered on the meeting – the most on any New Zealand meeting spanning back to at least 1998.

The mammoth figure is $2m more than the previous highest meeting on record, the 2022 New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting ($7.5m) but Saturday’s record total was achieved in just six races, less than half that of the Trotting Cup meeting (13 races).

Year-on year-turnover for the TAB Karaka Millions was up 66%, and the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO – the final race on Saturday’s card – set a new record for the most wagered on a single New Zealand race with turnover of $2.6m, eclipsing the $2.1m wagered on the 2022 NZ Trotting Cup. Average turnover by race was almost $1.6m.

Image credit: Auckland Thoroughbred Racing

Cameron Rodger, the Managing Director – New Zealand for Entain Australia and New Zealand, the operators of TAB, said Saturday’s meeting was a phenomenal result built on a lot of hard work over the past year.

“The energy at Ellerslie yesterday and these figures gives us so much cause for confidence as we continue to work with the great people in racing to supercharge the industry.

“This is a brilliant way to kick off the week of yearling sales at the New Zealand Bloodstock sale complex at Karaka and provides further impetus for the industry after the launch of The NZB Kiwi slot race and a revamped summer racing calendar earlier this week.”

More than 48,000 TAB customers placed a bet on Saturday’s meeting, up from 36,000 last year, 35,000 in 2022 and 30,000 in 2021.

“Word is certainly spreading that racing is back in a big way, and that’s reflected in more of our customers wanting to be part of the action,” Cameron Rodger said.

Previous highest turnover meetings

• $7.5m – 2022 NZ Trotting Cup – 13 races
  $7.4m – 2023 NZ Cup, Riccarton – 12 races
  $7.1m – 2007 NZ Trotting Cup – 12 races
  $6.9m – 2023 NZ Trotting Cup – 12 races
  $6.7m – 2021 Ellerslie NY Day – 10 races

Turnover for the past three Karaka Millions meetings:

• $5.7m (2023)
  $5.5m (2022)
  $5.0m (2021)

Source: TAB Media Release