Trackside is not providing live coverage of the world's richest jumping race for which New Zealand jumper Rand is one of the favourites.
Rand is one of the leading chances in the 152 million yen ($3 million) Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan on Saturday but the TAB said the cost of live coverage was prohibitive.
"It's sad for New Zealand racing fans but [the Japanese television network] NHK wanted to charge us $40,000 to show the race live," said Trackside's international racing producer, Scott Freeman.
The TAB was not betting on the event either and if it was, the turnover would have had to have been considerable to make it viable, he said.
"We would have had to turn over $500,000 to recoup our costs."
Manawatu-trained Rand, who is unbeaten as a jumper and recorded a top-class trial for the race when brilliantly winning a lead-up event in Japan on March 24, is expected to be one of the favourites for the Grand Jump.
Trainer Mark Oulaghan reported from Nakayama yesterday that the horse had progressed well since his victory in the Pegasus Jump Stakes (3350m).
"He's done pretty well and, touch wood, everything will be spot on for Saturday," he said.
Oulaghan was confident Rand could repeat his first-up performance, when he smashed the track record in winning by six lengths. He will have an extra 900m to travel this time but that is not expected to pose any problems.
"As long as he doesn't have any bad luck, I'm sure he will go a big race again," he said.
The opposition will include local horse Gokai, who won last year's Nakayama Grand Jump but has not raced for three months.
- NZPA
Racing: Coverage not worth $40,000 price tag
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