Kiwis win $10 million on Melbourne Cup Day

Wednesday 7 November 2001

Kiwis win $10 million on Melbourne Cup Day

New Zealanders pocketed just under $10 million dollars on Melbourne Cup Day yesterday, as the TAB recorded its third highest Cup Day turnover total, figures released by the TAB show.

Champion Kiwi mare Ethereal won the race in sensational style yesterday, making her trainer Sheila Laxon the first woman to officially train a Melbourne Cup winner.

New Zealanders bet $12.1 million on Melbourne Cup Day, the third highest total ever.

The day’s turnover was made up of $6.5 million bet on the Melbourne Cup itself, plus betting on other races at Flemington and around Australia and on the Ellerslie meeting.

The TAB also paid $9.92 million in dividends back to Kiwi customers.

“Because Ethereal was favourite for the race, a lot of New Zealanders backed her. So Sheila’s dream day was also shared by thousands of New Zealanders. It was a fantastic result,” TAB spokesman Joe Locke said.

The TAB’s Internet site also did a record $525,000 turnover on Cup Day.

The Melbourne Cup Day turnover record of $12.7 million was set last year.

********

© Scoop Media