01 April 2010

The NZ Racing Board and the three Racing Codes today announced that the TAB will be donating a share of its turnover on Tote bets placed on all racing during the finals weekend of The Christchurch Casino and Sky City Auckland Inter Dominion Championships. The appeal will see the TAB donate 5 cents for every Tote ticket sold on all races run, to support the people of Christchurch.
Interim NZ Racing Board CEO, Bill Colgan, said that with the Inter Dominion Championships being relocated to Auckland it was only natural that the weekend be used to raise funds for Christchurch.

“Harness Racing holds a special place for Cantabrians – more than 11,600 participate as owners, drivers or trainers in the region alone, while the industry as a whole injects some $350 million into the local economy.

“The industry wanted to show its solidarity with racing people in Canterbury and help them regain normality in their lives. It’s fantastic to see how the racing industry have banded together to relocate the Inter Dominions to Auckland and we’re very happy to add this fund raising opportunity to our other action such as broadcasting the “Fill the Basin cricket match which raised over $500,000,” he said.

Contested since 1936, the Inter Dominion Championships is Harness Racing’s premier Australasian competition and this year includes international flavour with Annicka from Sweden for visiting trainer Jorgen Westholm. The 2011 event was to be held in Canterbury but since Addington was deemed unable to host the event following the earthquake, the industry has rallied together to ensure the event remained in New Zealand. The Auckland Trotting Club are acting as a “tenant Club” charging no rental and contributing other net revenues to Addington.

During the Inter Dominion Finals racing, Harness Racing New Zealand is also issuing the challenge to punters attending to wear red and black. Prizes for the best dressed are up for grabs with $20 betting vouchers for the first 500 people to arrive on-course dressed in Red and Black and over 18 years of age. Two thousand, five hundred red and black ribbons will also be for sale, with all proceeds going to the NZ Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

Earlier this month, the Auckland Racing Club launched their Racing for Christchurch Appeal Fund earthquake appeal with a target of raising $1million. Fundraising initiatives so far have included donating their on-course profit from turnover from the Telecom NZ Derby as well as hosting a range of fundraising events during Auckland Cup Week. The appeal culminates with a gala dinner on 1 May where a racing memorabilia and stallion services auction will be held.

The TAB donation of 5 cents per ticket will apply to Tote tickets sold on all domestic and international racing between 6am Friday, 8 April to Midnight Sunday, 10 April 2011.

ENDS

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