Early birds catching the 6am worm

Racing is starting an hour earlier – and it will soon be open for business for an extra hour at the end of the punting day.

Since Monday, the TAB Onopened up an hour earlier – at 6am instead of 7am.

Tellytrack is showing live Australian races an hour earlier, too, giving punters more opportunities to win. Even if you’re not involved in the overseas action, you can place bets on local meetings at crack of dawn – a great help if you start work early.

Mervin Gamble, GM of said TAB and Tellytrack would soon extend operations at night – to 1am instead of midnight.

“We are expanding coverage in the USA and Canada,” he said. “Agreements are being finalised with American racetracks and a later closing time could happen in the next six to seven weeks,” he added.

There is currently wagering on USA East Coast tracks, but West Coast meetings will soon be available. Exceptions to the 1pm shutdown will be Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays.