The National Tote will be a reality next month after a final week of burning the midnight oil to get a deal done between Tabcorp and the NSW racing codes.
The deal was inked on Friday night after high-level negotiations between Racing NSW, Harness Racing NSW and Greyhound Racing NSW with Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who was in Europe.
The final announcement has yet to be confirmed as the press release is still being worked through between the two most powerful men in the sport, McLachlan and Peter V’landys.
However, part of the NSW hold out will see the National Tote begin on Winx Stakes day on August 22 after technology to run one pool between the six states and two territories has been proven.
While, the World Pool has seen Australia bet as one before, the National Tote will be every meeting, every day.
The NSW racing codes fought hard to get the concessions they wanted from Tabcorp, but it was the HRNSW broadcast rights that was the final hurdle.
The agreement, which covers all harness clubs except Principal Club Menangle, includes guarantees on race nights, among other provisions, including the length of the deal. The compromise was two years.
The advent of a National Tote will most likely see a push from the TAB to promote exotic pools, including quinellas, trifectas, first4s and quaddies.
Liquidity is a major part of a success of any tote pool, so the TAB has been trying to do deals with bookmakers to get them to bet into the tote.
