All-Star Mile 2021 records record turnover of more than $70 million

The All-Star Mile has emerged as the wagering summit of Victoria’s autumn carnival, with record turnover unveiled on Thursday for the world’s richest mile.

Punters turned over $70.32 million on the All-Star Mile meeting at The Valley on March 13 – up 26 per cent on last year – including $17.88 million on the $5 million main event – up 12 per cent.

This was despite the veterinary drama and subsequent scratching of pre-post All-Star Mile favourite Arcadia Queen and inclement race day weather, which resulted in rapid track downgrades.

For the third-straight year the fan-voted race also exceeded the Group 1 benchmark.

The All-Star Mile was the highest turnover race of 2021 Festival of Racing, ahead of the Newmarket Handicap, Blue Diamond Stakes, Australian Cup and Futurity Stakes.

Moonee Valley Racing Club general manager Alastair Dwyer said record wagering showed the race is getting “cut-through”.

“It’s a really pleasing result for The All-Star Mile and the first running of it at The Valley,” Dwyer said.

“The atmosphere on the day was like a cauldron and to have the wagering reflect the overall success of the event, it’s a great result.

“While it is a new wagering record … we hope it continues to be broken as it will indicate the race is now entrenched in the Melbourne autumn calendar.”

Mugatoo storms to victory in the All-Star Mile. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

The seven-week Victorian autumn carnival, which includes nine Group 1s, the All-Star Mile and 17 country cups, culminated with the Mornington Cup last Saturday.

RV Executive General Manager Racing Greg Carpenter hailed the success of the All-Star Mile.

“It was the highest turnover race held during the 2021 Festival of Racing and indeed the highest since Melbourne Cup Week,” Carpenter said.

The inaugural All-Star Mile race day at Flemington recorded $65.8 million in wagering turnover, which at the time was commensurate with Super Saturday and Blue Diamond Stakes Day.

The corresponding meeting at Caulfield last year, which incredibly coincided with the start of COVID-19 restrictions, turned over $55.4 million.

The All-Star Mile is provisionally scheduled to return to inaugural host Flemington next March.

RV with the three metropolitan clubs will review the 2021 meeting over the coming months to ultimately determine the plans for next year.

Originally published asBetting bonanza: All-Star Mile rakes in record turnover

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