SCONE Race Club chairman Noel Leckie believes his club deserves a “second standalone metropolitan meeting” after the huge success of last weekend’s Scone Cup Carnival.
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Leckie said as much when interviewed by Sky Racing’s Greg Radley during last Saturday’s standalone meeting that attracted big fields, the best trainers in the city and country NSW, big crowds and monster turnover.
“It’s staggering we only race 15 times a year here,” Leckie told Radley and his large Sky audience.
“There is room for us to have another Saturday.
“Look at today’s meeting – it’s been well supported by all the best trainers. There’s a case out there for us.”
Indeed, some $11million might have been wagered on Saturday’s standalone meeting, with the NSW TAB turnover more than $7 million and bookmakers holding more than $1million as well as off-course bookmakers and fixed odds betting to be added in.
“Our turnover is up 40 per cent,” Leckie said.
On Friday, about 9000 people lined up for the Scone Cup meeting.
Not bad for a town with a population of 5500.
They attracted all the big stables too such as Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller, John O’Shea, Joe Pride and Peter and Paul Snowden.
The fact Scone trainers Rod Northam and Greg Bennett also had success was another bonus after Northam won the Inglis 2YO for the second year in succession with Sargent Doakes and Bennett won the Listed Denise’s Joy Handicap with Tamworth owned-and-bred In A Wink.
Add to that the brilliant win of Muswellbrook sprinter Artlee in the Luskin Star Stakes for Todd Willan and it made it a big weekend.
Throw in the success of Leaders Road as well for Dubbo’s Dar Lunn and it gave country trainers a windfall.
The fact Tamworth apprentice Sophie Young rode her first metro winner and snared her biggest payday when she piloted Leaders Road on Saturday was another bonus.
She may well be lining up in Sydney or at the provincials in the near future to utilise her 3kg city and provincial claim.
While Friday’s Cup day crowd was down a fraction on last year, betting turnover was up by more than $400,000.
However Saturday’s crowd was the largest since the introduction of Scone’s standalone Saturday meeting.
“Every year the Saturday crowd keeps getting bigger which is really pleasing,” the club’s CEO, Sarah Wills, said.
