YEAR: 1969 22 March - Jackpot betting was introduced at Tauranga with a modest opening pool of $733. Over the next three years "jackpot fever" was to to bring sudden riches and bitter dissappointment without precedent in New Zealand racing. It culminated on 27 July 1972 with a mammoth pool of $831,564 on the final day at Te Awamutu. The biggest individual jackpot was Peter Moran's $482,687 at Matamata in July, 1970. This was an On-Course only promotion where the participants were required to select the winners of six races and as the funds were not invested on the totalisator, no deductions were made. |