GCST JAN 15 - THE MAGIC OF HORSE-RACING

By Graham Potter | Monday, January 17, 2011

Magic Millions race-day at the Gold Coast means different things to different people but the bottom line is that, as an advertisement for investment in the thoroughbred industry, it pays handsome dividends.

Sure the preamble is all sales pitch and hype. Magic Millions is primarily a sales company and that’s what sales companies and their slick talking salesmen do. And yes, investors do pay their way to be in contention for a big payout with the majority paying their dues for little return, but it is that very imbalance in risk and reward that gets the adrenalin flowing.

If you do get it right, or get lucky (again it is in the interpretation), the rewards are huge and it takes the absolute thrill of winning to a very high level indeed. As was in evidence at the track on Saturday, it is that display of delight by the winning connections that promotes racing’s cause to good advantage.

Most of those who win, as well as those who had their horses run into the money, will walk across the road from the Gold Coast track to the Magic Millions sales complex and, like any good punter, they will give some of their winnings back by investing again in more horseflesh as they get on board for their next roller-coaster ride.

Many of those who didn’t make it this time around will also be back trying to improve on this year’s result.

There will be a percentage drop-off of those who invested and lost, but they will be replaced by newcomers keen on to get in on the action they have witnessed so that they might be the ones celebrating hard with bulging pockets when the next time Magic Millions carnival comes around.

The advertising works and racing is the better for it!

For the record this is the return posted by the two big winners on the day:

Karuta Queen was purchased for $30 000. The filly maintained her unbeaten record to secure the first prize of $1 140 000 in the 2yo Classic. This was on top of the $274 000 she earned while qualifying for the big race. Her total earnings thus stands at $1 414 000, all of which has been earned in a little over three months in four career starts. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt only stepped into race action for the first time on October 9, 2010.

Torio’s Quest was purchased for $15 000. First prize of $570 000 in the 3yo Guineas took his earnings to $685 150 with a race record of four wins from five starts.

The outlay and return of the balance of the winners from Saturday is:

Temple Of Boom: Purchased for $40 000. Has earned $583 995.
Bold Glance: Purchased for $21 000. Has earned $476 950.
Femina Fashion: Purchased for $35 000. Has Earned $338 200.
Gai’s Choice: Purchased for $81 000. Has earned $198 740.
Midnight At Ascot: Purchased for $55 000. Has earned $101 450.
Ready To Rip: Purchased for $55 000. Has earned $103 350.
Stradford: Purchased for $130 000. Has earned $60 800.

Perhaps the most sobering thought for the big spenders is that the only winner on the day who was purchased for more than $100 000 (Stradford) is the only runner whose bank balance is still in deficit.

Clearly, it is not the price of the ticket that is important, but the old racing cliche does remain true. You have to have a ticket to have a chance and, as the results of this year’s Magic Millions race-day so obviously shows, the battlers are in there with as good a chance as the high rollers.

That is the magic of horse-racing.

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