NZTR Enters Into Agreement with 123racing.com

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has entered into an agreement with 123racing.com to provide nominated race meetings for the purpose of 123racing.com running a free competition from their website.

The first competition will start on Saturday 5 August on the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting and will then run every Saturday with the meeting selected being the meeting that has Pick6 assigned to it.

123racing is an internet-based sweepstakes competition, which is free to enter. It provides an opportunity to pick a horse in each race at a designated race meeting. A cash prize goes to the person who returns the most points for their virtual picks. Points are accumulated with 3 points for 1st, 2 points for 2nd and 1 point for 3rd. Bonus points are added based on the official tote payout.

New Zealand-based Racingworld Technology Limited -- formerly known as Interactive Gaming Systems, launched its on-line virtual racing game in New Zealand in March and has been running a harness version of the competition since that time, which has proved very popular.

On making this announcement, Paul Bittar, Chief Executive of NZTR stated: "This type of competition can only increase awareness and interest in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand and encourage people who do take part to also follow their selections by backing them on course or at the TAB.

"Our agreement relates only to providing the fields to 123racing.com while the competition remains free, with NZTR reserving the right to renegotiate this agreement if the competition moved to a 'pay to play' scenario."

Rob Earle, the Chief Executive of Racingworld Technology, added: "Since launching the 123racing.com game in March this year, the site has achieved in excess of 10 million hits and 100,000 unique visitors ranking it as one of the most popular horse racing sites in the world."

"With several real money prize competitions per week, 123racing.com is helping promote racing to a wider audience. It hopes to win back players of online casinos and lotto into horse racing where it can be just as exciting

2006-08-02