Queensland’s marathon ‘Super Saturday’ wagering turnover figures revealed

Senior racing writer Ben Dorries reveals the wagering turnover figures on Queensland’s “Super Saturday” of racing which featured a marathon 21 metropolitan races across two tracks.

Hearts Are Better races away with the QTIS Jewel 3YO last Saturday at the Gold Coast. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

The wagering turnover figures from Queensland’s marathon “Super Saturday” of 21 metropolitan races across two venues can be revealed.

Scheduled after washouts due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the monster raceday had sparked some criticism in the lead-up including from champion trainer Tony Gollan.

Gollan felt the rich Gold Coast Jewel meeting should have been staged on Friday night – in similar fashion to how the washed out Magic Millions meeting was rescheduled in January – rather than being run as the second pillar of a two-pronged Saturday metropolitan card also including Eagle Farm.

Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said he felt wagering turnover figures justified the decision to stage Super Saturday, although they weren’t so compelling that it would necessarily return.

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Eagle Farm kicked off the day early with 11 races and then there were 10 races at the Gold Coast in the twilight/night period, including the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 2YO and 3YO races.

“The preliminary wagering numbers certainly support the programming of Super Saturday,” Murray told Racenet.

“Despite the early start, the Eagle Farm meeting reached $20m in turnover whilst a further $16.6m was wagered at the Gold Coast for the Jewel.

“Pleasingly, the final race on the card was the best turnover race at the Gold Coast meeting, with the 2YO Jewel and 3YO Jewel also well supported.”

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Fatigue could have been an issue for participants on Saturday although that was eased somewhat with several jockeys and trainers flying in a helicopter from Eagle Farm to the Gold Coast meeting, which overlapped.

The Jewel meeting the previous year reported $22.9m in turnover, although this meeting was run during the prime day slot.

Murray felt, in remarkable circumstances, the right decision was made to race the Gold Coast Jewel meeting in the Saturday twilight/night slot rather than in the same slot 24 hours earlier on the Friday.

Steady Ready scores at the Eagle Farm meeting on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

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“By comparison, the Sunshine Coast meeting on Friday night did $6.5m, so even if we doubled the turnover by staging the Jewel as a feature meeting, we still would have left turnover on the table by not staging the meeting on Saturday,” Murray said.

“The wagering numbers were not so compelling that you would guarantee a return of Super Saturday, – these were unique circumstances given Tropical Cyclone Alfred – but it will help inform our decision-making for future rescheduled events.

“It’s important that we also consult with our key stakeholders to understand how they were impacted at the weekend.”

Originally published as Queensland’s marathon ‘Super Saturday’ wagering turnover figures revealed