What is the Calcutta?

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

In 2024 the final prize pool was $26,580.

For the uninitiated, here's how it all works.......

1. TICKET SALES / DRAW

From late FRIDAY afternoon, race books ($10) and Calcutta tickets ($5) are sold at the designated Calcutta table, at the front of the PUB. We no longer use paper tickets. Your name will be allocated to a number(s) on a spreadsheet, depending on how many tickets you purchase.

Ticket sales will cease at 7pm.

The draw commences shortly after.

The draw takes place with a random number generator ap in front of the crowd. If your ticket is drawn, you are listed on the big whiteboard as the “drawer” of a horse ahead of the auction.

Once the ticket sales are calculated, 10% is taken out for the Louth Turf Club and 10% for our chosen charity, which was Macquarie Home Stay in 2024. The remainder is the STARTING PRIZE POOL.

 The race we use for the Calcutta is not necessarily the Louth Cup. It may be one of the Benchmark Races if that has a bigger field. We advise any scratching’s to the program prior to the auction, based on information available at the time from Racing NSW.

2. THE AUCTION

Immediately following the draw, an auctioneer will sell each horse, with the favourite being sold last.

For every horse bought at the auction, 50% of the sale price of the horse goes to the "drawer" and the remaining 50% goes into the prize pool. This is tallied on the big whiteboard for everyone to see. The FINAL PRIZE POOL in 2024 was $26,580.

WINNING BIDDERS MUST PAY FOR THEIR HORSE ON THE NIGHT, AND WE ONLY ACCEPT CASH. At the conclusion of the auction, drawers and buyers must present immediately with photo ID to settle up. This applies to EVERYONE.

3. THE RACE

On Saturday at the Louth Races, following the running of the race the calcutta was based on, the FINAL PRIZE POOL is paid out as follows:

70% to the buyer of the winning horse;
20% to the buyer of the second place getter;
10% to the buyer of the third place getter;

*in 2024 we changed the split, however based on feedback, we have gone back to the 70/20/10 breakdown going forward.

Prize money can be collected from the designated Calcutta Committee Member at the Secretaries Office following correct weight being called. The same ID used to settle on auction night must be presented to collect winnings.

THERE ARE NO REFUNDS IF THE HORSE YOU PURCHASE IN THE AUCTION IS SCRATCHED PRIOR TO THE RACE.