LEIGHTON LEVY, STAR Writer

Boosted by an attractive Pick-9 carry over, telephone betting and more competitive fields, Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) raked in almost J$100 million dollars combined on the two last major race days at Caymanas Park.

On Saturday, May 23, Lotto Classic Race Day, CTL pulled in $44 million from local races and $9 million from simulcast betting, while last Labour Day, May 25, the company made $40 million from local races and $6 million from simulcast betting.

The numbers represent the best business done by CTL since the start of the year and possibly in the past couple of years.

According to information received from CTL, the numbers have been trending upwards since December 2014 when the company was attracting between $32 and $35 million per race day.

Chief Executive Officer, Cedric Stewart, said the success of the last two race days is the pay-off for a number of positive changes being implemented, as well as the Pick-Nine Carry Over, which was at $5.7 million on Lotto Day, and $7.5 million on Labour Day.

The introduction of telephone betting, Stewart said, has also helped bring in new business, which is being reflected in the numbers.

"That has had a big impact on sales," Stewart said.

More competitive races are also helping to drive business. Through a collaborative effort between CTL's management and trainers, race favourites are not that easy to pick, and that has also resulted in punters spending more because the odds have been more attractive, he added.

"Overwhelming favourites are a turn off to punters. The harder it is to spot a winner, the better it is for business," he explained.