The All-Star Mile continues to grow in stature and was the highest turnover race of the seven-week Festival of Racing that concluded at Mornington last Saturday.
Run for the third time and at The Valley for the first time on March 13, The All-Star Mile attracted a record $17.88 million in turnover, an increase of 12% on the 2020 figure.
Overall turnover on the meeting, the second half of which was conducted under inclement weather that resulted in track downgrades, was a record $70.32 million, an increase of 26.5% on 2020.
The All-Star Mile, in which Mugatoo beat home the recently retired Russian Camelot, lead home the Newmarket Handicap, Blue Diamond Stakes, Australian Cup and Futurity Stakes as the highest turnover race during Melbourne’s autumn carnival.
In addition to strong support from punters, The All-Star Mile also exceeded the Group 1 benchmark for the third year in succession, underlining the quality of Australia’s only fan-voted race.
RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, said The All-Star Mile was an amazing race that brought together nine Group 1 winners as well as Group 1 winner in-waiting Mugatoo.
“Punters right across Australia certainly embraced The All-Star Mile investing a record amount on the race, despite the high-profile raceday scratching on vets’ advice of Arcadia Queen who was the most popular horse in the public vote,” Carpenter said.
“The support for The All-Star Mile is perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that at $17.88 million, it was the highest turnover race since Melbourne Cup week.”
The All-Star Mile is provisionally scheduled to return to inaugural host Flemington next March.
Written by Craig Brennan
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au