Australia’s largest calcutta will be held on The Kosciuszko in October with a starting pool of $100,000 being guaranteed as part of the sales from the $5 sweepstakes tickets.
The concept will see 12 lucky winners take a slot in the race and share in the ownership of country-trained horses in the 1200m dash at Randwick on October 13.
Kusciuszko favourite: Care To Think wins Magic Millions Cup.
The interest in the $1.3 million race has country trainers starting to advertise their best gallopers, with the early favourite being Magic Millions Cup winner Care To Think at $4, in front of Country Championships winner Victorem and The Monstar, which was third in the Missile Stakes last weekend.
There is a second chance for ticket holders to win. Another 12 tickets will be drawn for a horse in the calcutta and get 50 per cent of what the horse brings at a public auction, which is part of the tradition of bush racing. The pool for the calcutta, which will be held in the days leading into the race, could exceed $300,000.
“It is another dimension to the race that one of the driving forces behind it, Pat Gurr, wanted to have, as calcuttas are always popular parts of country cups,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said. “There will be a $100,000 from ticket sales to start the pool and we think it will be the largest calcutta in Australia.
“We are in the process of organising a venue where it could be broadcast live on Sky channel, so that registered bidders will be able to sit at home and bid on the horses. A $5 ticket really gives people two opportunities to win. They could win a slot and have a horse running in the race for them or they could draw a horse and get a big windfall from the calcutta.”
V'landys said tickets sales had been solid, despite some early teething problems.
"The tickets are starting to become very popular and teaming with pubs is certainly working. This is a way for anyone to become involved in the biggest racing event," V'landys said. "When we held The Everest for the first time last year, we had The Kosciuszko in mind and we are happy with the way it is tracking with ticket sales so far."
Racing NSW has pledged $125,000 from Kosciuszko ticket sales to the Aussie Helpers charity to support NSW farmers.
"We are aware that the farmers are doing it tough and we want to support them as well," V'landys said.
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