The Spring Racing Carnival is the highlight of the racing year within Australia. It sees some of the world’s best thoroughbreds flock to Australia to take part in the action.
The major carnival on the calendar is Melbourne Cup held at Flemington in early November (for which we will have separate mechanics), however the popularity of the Sydney Spring racing carnival in September through to October is also growing interest and should be a focus for venues in 2015.
For a detailed list of Spring Racing Carnival Race Dates, please click the below links:
http://www.horseraceaustralia.com/spring-carnival/
The Spring Carnival catches the attention of people from all walks of life. Understanding what appeals to your customers and potential customers about the Spring Carnival, should guide your choice of activity across the period. For some it may be to focus on the events and ‘glamorous’ side of the carnival by creating special events and function options for corporate clients. For others it will be ensuring you have superior service and activities within your TAB areas across every race meet to appeal to your everyday punters. For all venues however the opportunity is to:
- Increased foot traffic to your venue.
Below is a list of allocated & suggested activity for the SRC. If you would like to run activity, you will be required to submit an A&M Proposal. Please address both allocated and suggested activities in your proposal. |
Below is a list of suggested activity. To view details and costs associated with the activity, please click on the links under the activity heading.
STAR STABLE:
DETAILS: Consider running a Star Stable tipping competition for your punters through your TAB terminals. This will be a great way to keep your tipsters engaged in the off-season!
 Click here to show more information | Hide
Dates will be released shortly.
This should be run in a similar fashion to your tipping comp, with the following information required in your proposal:
- The entry fee
- Prize pool split for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.
- General rules
- Who will manage the competition & prize pool holdings with your relevant accountant?
COSTS
$0 outside of POS costs – the prize pool is funded by the entry fee. |
THE MOUNTING YARD - VIP RACING EXPERIENCE:
DETAILS: Provide your customers with a racing experience superior to your competitors, by bringing the trackside atmosphere to them. Look to create a Spring Racing pop-up zone in your TAB area, where customers can enjoy priority, comfortable seating, complimentary premium finger food, table service, prime view of the TVs showing the racing and some additional theming and decorations to enhance to races atmosphere, every Group 1 race day.
Click here to show more information | Hide
Your VIP Area may include the following items;
- Fencing (white picket or bollards)
- Synthetic grass
- Racing decorations
- Staff uniforms (racing silks)
- Comfortable seating
- Wait staff
- Complimentary food items
You may wish to consider tweaking this package with a better food & beverage option and charging a small ticket price on larger race day meets such as Melbourne Cup and Derby Day.
If you wish to consider this option, please contact Jenny Smith prior to submitting your proposal, as they will work with you to create the right offering for your venue.
COSTS
Dependent on your offering. Theming & fit out support will be supported through TAB & CUB, however the cost of complimentary catering and any other additional items maybe a cost to Entertainment of Patrons (A&M). We would suggest the costs may average $100 - $150 per week. |
WEEKLY SWEEPS:
DETAILS: Similar to the Melbourne Cup sweeps we are all used to, there is an opportunity to run weekly race sweeps on key race days.
Click here to show more information | Hide
Sweeps are available (with 16 starters) from Aussie Sports Marketing. If you wish to purchase these, please contact Jenny Smith, who will arrange these for you.
COSTS
$3 per sweep plus GST & freight. |
FACILITIES FOCUS:
DETAILS: In addition to promotional activity, it is important to focus on the facilities available to potential punters.
Click here to show more information | Hide
These include:
- Platinum TAB & eBet systems
- Multiple large flat screens showing multiple race meets
- Live race coverage all day
If you have had any renovations since last Spring Carnival, you may wish to focus on upgrades eg. More televisions, new TAB, new sports bar etc.
COSTS
Should be nil. You are simply ensuring your customers know how great your facilities are. |
PUNTERS CLUB:
DETAILS: Running a Punters’ Club is a great way to encourage locals to attend your venue for every race meet (thus increasing frequency of patronage to your venue), as well as creating/strengthening relationships between customers and staff over the racing carnival period. The concept of a punters club is to bring a group of people together to take turns using the pooled funds to punt on big sports & racing events.
Click here to show more information | Hide
It does not need to be restricted to the Spring Racing Carnival, but the carnival does provide regular weekly events occurring mainly on Saturdays, which is perfect for the promotion’s mechanics.
How it works:
- Appoint a club captain (Duty manager or trusted staff member that works the right shift).
- Invite patrons
- Set up a club account/funds pool
- Club members chip in a fixed amount (this continues every week).
- Club members then take turns, nominally one member at a time, betting on behalf of the club each week.
- The amount bet can either be all of the money collected for that week, or a percentage where the remainder is ‘banked’ as part of a savings plan towards a trip or event or handed back to the club members.
- A winning punter gets another week in the limelight, while a loser finds their way to the back of the queue to await another shot at peer group glory.
COSTS
$0 cost to A&M, the club is self-funding. |
TIPPING COMPETITION:
DETAILS: Similar to the NRL tipping competition, the Spring Carnival tipping competition is a great way to hook your punters in to the excitement of the SRC, while also encouraging them to frequent your venue on a weekly basis, if not more.
Click here to show more information | Hide
You may either wish to run a tipping competition to run through the entire length of the Spring Racing Carnival, or you may wish to run a reduced competition that focusses on only 4 of the major race days taking place in the October/November period. Let your punters guide you on this – ask them what they would like to see and what the majority of them are willing to commit to.
Jenny Smith will purchase the tipping competition packs for you and arrange delivery to your venue.
COSTS
Full Carnival Tipping Competition pack - $80 from Aussie Sports Marketing |
COMPLIMENTARY SNACKS:
DETAILS: For venues without a bistro, you may wish to offer complimentary snacks on key race days to keep punters satisfied and in your venue longer.
Click here to show more information | Hide
In your proposal please include:
- What food items you will have on offer
- What times they will be served
- Expected numbers you will be catering for.
- Costs per week ad in total across the Carnival.
COSTS
Dependent on your offer. Recommended spend should be no more than $50 per race day. |
TRI-FOLD TENT CARDS:
DETAILS: It may be worthwhile looking into new POS to capture the attention of the customers in your TAB. Consider ordering tent cards with your Spring Racing Carnival activity to sit upon your sports bar tables. This will put your POS material right in front of your customers’ noses which will ensure your message is not lost.
Click here to show more information | Hide
COSTS
50 Tent Cards – Design - $40; Print $75 |
|
