Fingers crossed for Cup day
BY CLAIRE CONNELL
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Blenheim pubs and TAB outlets are expecting a big influx of bets for the annual Melbourne Cup horse race today.
At 5pm, punters on both sides of the Tasman will clutch their TAB tickets and office sweepstake slips and hope for luck in the 149th Melbourne Cup.
The race is the TAB's biggest betting race of the year, last year attracting 700,000 bets.
Clubs of Marlborough TAB manager Ross Jordan said a slight computer glitch had delayed race information by half an hour this morning, but other than that the day was going smoothly.
The venue held the TAB record for the Melbourne Cup pool sale, selling a $4 ticket and getting a $103,000 return.
Mr Jordan said that in 2007, a "once-a-year" punter took two $10 bets, one for the Melbourne Cup and one for the New Zealand Cup and picked up a $3500 return.
He expected punters to start arriving about 11am, but come 5pm "this place will be packed".
Between 400 and 500 people are expected to turn up to watch the race on the big screen. Mr Jordan said the trifecta and the Big Race Pack were usually the most popular bets.
Clubs of Marlborough also ran a competition for the "best and brightest" hat for women, or shirt for men.
Mr Jordan's picks for horses to do well at Flemington were Viewed, Roman Emperor, Capecover and Kiwi horse Daffodil.
Grove Tavern bar manager Marie Vercoe said some keen punters started arriving yesterday to place bets, with the tavern expected to be "full to capacity" by race time.
Paddy Barrys owner Liz McElhinney said the appeal of the Melbourne Cup was that punters could take part even if they weren't in Australia and it gave those who did not normally get involved in horse racing the chance to "have some fun".
Meanwhile, in Timaru a High Court trial will adjourn early today to allow jurors and counsel to watch the Melbourne Cup on television without being distracted.
But Blenheim District Court said it was "business as usual" today.
TV3 coverage starts at 4.30pm, with the race starting at 5pm, while Trackside on Sky Digital channel 35 will broadcast all races from the Melbourne Cup carnival from 11am.
- The Marlborough Express
