Entain Edition – September 2024

The Pattern plays an incredibly important role in the broader thoroughbred ecosystem, and we share the concern of the Pattern Committee in relation to the seven Group 1 races that enter the 2024/25 season with a ‘Warning’ status.

With the elevation of the late January TAB Karaka Millions day over recent years (and rightly so), we believe there does need to be a stocktake of the entire shape of the pattern. The prizemoney on offer on TAB Karaka Millions night, and in the following eight to 10 weeks across February and March, will continue to make it challenging for Group 1 races across December and January to achieve the required ratings to maintain their premier status (as we have unfortunately seen this season with the downgrade of the Levin Classic to Group 2).

With that in mind, it may be the time for the industry to make some wholesale changes and reconsider how races such as the Zabeel Classic, Telegraph Handicap and Thorndon Mile are placed. It may also make sense to focus on creating a more defined spring carnival for certain types of horses (particularly in the 1200-1600m range).

As we have said in the past on other matters, an exercise like this should be viewed by the industry as a great opportunity to make the sport better. If the review can then be approached from the perspective of what is best for the overall industry, rather than built from specific club race dates or by who lays claim to what race or because “that’s how it’s always been done”, we certainly believe there can be a better product presented to customers and overall more value created for participants over the next five years.

Lastly, it was truly fantastic to see racing resume at Ellerslie this past weekend. From a wagering perspective, the card was one of our biggest ever results for a non-black type meeting.

A big congrats to the Auckland Thoroughbred Team for the successful day, and for their move earlier last week to inject another $4 million-plus into stakes this coming season, as well as moving the nomination dates for further significant races closer to race day. We recognise that adjusting the nomination window may have a short-term revenue impact for the Club, but we believe it will significantly enhance field quality and reduce costs for owners, both of which will provide substantial benefits to the entire industry.

We’ve had a significant number of sign-ups to this newsletter in the last couple of months, so please continue to share or forward this newsletter to anyone in the industry who you think might like to read this. They can sign up to receive the Entain Edition directly by contacting communications@entaingroup.co.nz. Likewise, if you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please contact the same address.

Cameron Rodger,
Managing Director – New Zealand
Entain Australia and New Zealand

We’ve really been looking forward to the TAB Racing Club launching, and the portal on tab.co.nz will go live from this Friday. Any TAB customer can opt in to the club where they can experience the joys of ownership without spending a cent. Through the TAB Racing Club, club members will receive a whole host of benefits and the opportunity to go into the ballot for experiences. We’ve seen great success in recent months with our corresponding club, Ladbrokes Racing Club, in Australia.

There are currently 18 horses (14 thoroughbreds and four standardbreds), with most of these bought at the yearling sales last season. Several 2-year-olds are getting close to the race track as we head deeper into spring.

Find out more about the club’s horses at the TAB Racing Club hub in the Punters Lounge, and if you’re a TAB customer, simply follow the prompts on tab.co.nz or through the TAB App from 12pm on Friday to join the club.

When the new TAB App and website launched in late April this year, we asked for feedback, to ensure everyone had a place to share their thoughts and suggestions with us freely.

In the first week, we’d resolved and released into production over 64% of the feedback supplied by customers, stakeholders, staff and industry. Others we needed to keep in our back pockets for later, and those have been making their way to the platform in the last few months.

Apple Pay and Google Pay have both been added for quicker ways to deposit. Will Pays are back – as asked for – on doubles, trebles and quaddies. We’ve made design improvements, to make code icons more identifiable, tote clearer and the whole platform easier on the eye for accessibility. We introduced the Chatbot to get answers easily and quickly, and Easybets are coming back, sooner than you might think!

Name: Chris Haigh
Role: Chief Media Officer
Time with Entain: One and a bit years

I had a share in a Snitzel filly called Londinium. This was largely a strategy to prompt my wife to put her name down, in order to have a crack at the women’s ownership incentives as part of Magic Millions. It was a good idea but you need a fast horse as well to go with it. The girls named it and we got a few race days in – call it a win – and she did win a maiden at Tamworth!

What excites you about the strategic partnership?

The size of the opportunity is just massive. We’re so privileged to be part of it and have the Entain playbook behind us. Even after just a year, it’s great to have such an integrated team, and be able to share a passion for racing in particular. From a broadcast perspective, it’s very cool to turn on the TV/Radio and be able to see it happening in real time.

The race event I’m most looking forward to?

This season, NZ Cup Week for sure. It’s a fantastic week, and it really feels like the whole ecosystem of NZ racing is on show, with such a fantastic backdrop. As a bonus for me, my 40th birthday happens to fall on that week.