Racing industry hit hard by COVID-19, says bookie

A LONG-TERM Darwin Cup bookie has revealed how Darwin Cup was significantly different this year

All the glitz and glamour from the 2020 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival. Great Northern Darwin Cup action. Picture: Che Chorley

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A LONG-TERM Darwin Cup bookie said the day was significantly different this year, with the crowd only a fraction the size of what it usually is, and only a handful of bookies around.

Andrew Billsborrow has been working as a bookie at the Darwin Cup for six years.

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He said even though there were significantly less bookies this year due to coronavirus restrictions, the workload had barely changed.

“There’s two thirds less people here this year so it’s proportionate,” Mr Billsborrow said.

“The lines to the bars are just as long though.”

All the glitz and glamour from the 2020 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival. Bookie Andrew Billsborrow enjoying the Darwin Cup. Picture: Che Chorley

However, Mr Billsborrow said COVID-19 had hit the industry hard in general.

“This is the biggest day of the year, but there’s less people and less money coming through the gate,” he said.

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“We haven’t been noticing the bigger bets, even from the member’s area,” he said.

The crowd at this year’s Cup was capped at 7500 instead of the normal 20,000 person crowd.