The Australian Turf Club faces a million dollar-plus "shortfall on overseas betting revenue from its autumn carnival, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club abandoning a simulcast of The Championships," according to Adam Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The "powerful" HKJC will reportedly "not open up wagering" on the two A$10M ($7.9M) racedays to its local audiences, "a percentage of which traditionally flows into the coffers of the ATC." It could leave a seven-figure hole in the "bottom line for the ATC," which last year "reaped" income from Hong Kong wagering on the Golden Slipper program as well as the two The Championships meetings at Royal Randwick. Each meeting "is capable of generating" upwards of A$500,000 ($392,500) for the ATC. The HKJC "also blocked wagering" on last weekend's Super Saturday program at Flemington featuring the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup. The changes "come as local officials try to resolve an ongoing quarantine impasse with the HKJC that has severely restricted the movement of horses between the home of Asian racing and Australia" (SMH, 3/12).
