Racing club's $750k punt, guess who? :)

[Murray Fish]

Racing club's $750k punt that's still paying out 17 years on

“It is a big outlay, and a risk, because it is too expensive to insure against a loss, so if we slipped on a banana skin, it could be catastrophic."

 

Logan Savory

Dec 10, 2025

 

 

 

Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew says its annual Christmas at the Races meeting costs the club $750,000 to put on.

That’s a number not for the faint-hearted, let alone a small sporting club with limited resources.

“It is a big outlay, and a risk, because it is too expensive to insure against a loss, so if we slipped on a banana skin, it could be catastrophic,” Bellew says.

“We haven’t had an abandonment at Ascot Park for over five years, and I don’t want to tempt fate.

“I have so much confidence in our track manager and his protocols.”

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Year after year, for 17 years, the public has continued to turn up in big numbers and remains the Southland Racing Club’s “hay-making day”, in terms of the money it brings in.

Bellew says on a good day, Christmas at the Races provides about a $120,000 in profit for the club, with the majority of that coming from the hospitality offerings, rather than punting.

“I would say that 40% of the people there have their backs to the track. They are there catching up with friends and family.

“We expect that and understand that. We don’t expect to convert 100% of them into race participants.”

That $120,000 or so profit that is made from the Christmas at the Races meeting is vital in helping prop up the club for the rest of the season.

It is used to help fund a portion of the club’s stake money at other meetings.

That it is important for the health of the southern thoroughbred industry, Bellew says.

 

Southland Racing Club president says profits from Christmas at the Races help boost the club’s stake money for the rest of the season.

There are 3500 pre-booked tickets for this Saturday’s Christmas at the Races meeting, including those in close to 100 marquees.

“It just never gets old… I would have thought it would work its way through its shelf life, but we keep working away at it, and it manifests in front of you each year.”

“It’s been 17 years, and it keeps staying at capacity.”

Why does Bellew believe Invercargill’s Christmas at the Races has held onto its appeal for so long?

“It’s the colour and the pageantry. I think it’s the glamour… I watch people walk onto the course, and they have put in a huge effort.

“It is the best-dressed public event in Southland… We are talking glitz and glamour.”

 

Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew believes it’s the glamour attached to Christmas at the Races which is why the event has remained popular for 17 years.

The event doesn’t just provide the racing industry with a handy financial boost; it is also an economic winner for the city as a whole.

Last year, only Stag Day surpassed Christmas at the Races, as far as an ILT trading day.

“We’d have to inject seven figures into the economy, because you’ve got to buy a dress, then you get your makeup done, and your hair done, and fake tans, and of course the boys follow and buy a shirt and a tie,” Bellew says.

Race 1 on Saturday is scheduled for 12.40pm, which is the first of nine races.

The last race of the day is scheduled to jump at 5.20pm.

[Chief Stipe]

42 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

Southland Racing Club president says profits from Christmas at the Races help boost the club’s stake money for the rest of the season.

Why put it into stakes when there is a shortfall in maintenance and/or rainy day fund?

[curious]

14 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why put it into stakes when there is a shortfall in maintenance and/or rainy day fund?

Is there?

[PeterLambFan]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why put it into stakes when there is a shortfall in maintenance and/or rainy day fund?

Put a bit aside each year to self insure incase there is an abandonment one day. 

[Freda]

How do you know they don't?

[Murray Fish]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why put it into stakes when there is a shortfall in maintenance and/or rainy day fund?

I be thinking that they actually have that sort of thing covered!

I believe the next big challenge is the closing down of the Dogs,  various people worked across the codes, the unbidden from that is still to play out...