Calcutta Rules and How to Play

A Calcutta is an exciting way to get involved with Cluden Park's feature race, the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup.

If you've ever wanted to join in the fun of participating in a Calcutta, on this page we've broken down the Calcutta rules and how to play.

A Calcutta can be broken into four key components:

Ticket Sales

After purchasing your ticket to our Calcutta event, held on the Friday before Townsville Cup Day, you're offered the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to be drawn a horse running in the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup.

Raffle tickets are available for purchase for $20 each, or $100 per booklet. They can be purchased from the club before the event, or they can be purchased at the event up until 6:30PM (before the raffle is drawn).

There is no limit on the number of tickets an individual can purchase. All proceeds from ticket sales contribute to the Calcutta Pool. 

The Raffle

Once raffle ticket sales close, a draw will be conducted. A winning ticket will be drawn for each horse running in the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup, granting the holder 'ownership' of the horse for the subsequent auction (more to come on that below). 

The benefit of 'ownership' grants the lucky ticket holder two choices from the auction:

1. The winning ticket holder will receive 50% of the amount their horse sells for in the Calcutta Auction. The race outcome does not affect this prize.
2. Alternatively, the ticket holder can choose to forfeit this prize by winning the auction and pay only 50% of the final auction price. By doing so, they will forfeit the 50% they otherwise would have received from the final auction price, but will now instead by vying for the 60% lion's share of the total Calcutta Pool (made up by all resulting auctions) if their horse wins the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup. 20% is the prize for a second place result, and 10% for third.

Auction

After all horses have been allocated through the raffle, an auction will be held for each horse.

The final auction amount will be split evenly between the Calcutta Pool and the individual who drew the horse in the raffle. 

For example, if Horse Number 1 sells for $1000 at the auction, $500 will go into the Calcutta Pool and $500 will be given to the raffle ticket holder. 

IF the raffle ticket holder wins the auction at $1000, they only have to pay $500 to the Calcutta Pool.

Calcutta Pool

The Calcutta Pool consists of the total funds raised from both the raffle and the auction.

The Calcutta Pool distribution is determined by the results of the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup.

The pool will be distributed as follows: 60% to the owner of the winning horse, 20% to second place, and 10% to third place. 10% of the Calcutta Pool is retained as an admin fee.

All horses purchased at auction must be paid for immediately, or they will be re-auctioned.