Record wagering turnover in excess of $62 million has been achieved across the three-day Warrnambool carnival.
Punters have shown their support for the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival with a record $62.12 million being wagered across the three days of racing.
With COVID-19 restricting the 2020 to a two-day meeting, wagering figures announced on Tuesday by the Warrnambool Racing Club were an increase of 19% on those from the 2019 meeting.
The WRC also announced an official crowd attendance of 26,549 across the three days.
While that may have been down on previous carnivals, COVID-19 restrictions allowed for only 12,000 patrons to be on-course each day.
WRC chief executive Tom O’Connor said the three-day carnival was a significant event for the Victorian thoroughbred industry as well as injecting $15 million into the local community.
“After a spectator free event in 2020, the goal was always to deliver a grand event for the Warrnambool community in 2021,” O’Connor said.
“Through the support of the volunteer committee, full-time staff, the casual workforce and contractors we were able to achieve this.
“The COVID-19 measures put in place worked well and were looked favourably upon by the Victoria Health authorities on-course during the event.
“The WRC set out to implement a COVID-Safe Event under the Victoria Governments Public Event Framework and we accomplished this.”
O’Connor said the club would continue to work with Racing Victoria on lifting the benchmark and maiden races to mid-week metropolitan standard while prize money increases for the Warrnambool Cup, Wangoom Handicap and feature jump races was also on the radar.
