Salhus Dubbed King of Australia, Wins Trip to Melbourne Cup

A lifelong horseplayer who got into betting racing from Australia via simulcasts during live racing at Canterbury Park will get a trip of a lifetime courtesy of TwinSpires.com and Sky Racing World.

Real estate agent Brad Salhus outlasted 60 other players during the final round of the King of Australia Contest to earn $1,000 and a trip for two to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

“I first started betting it because it came on the simulcasts during live racing at Canterbury,” said Salhus. “When I saw the contest on TwinSpires and saw what the prize was, I figured I’d give it a try.”

The most international racing Salhus has experienced in person is Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, Canada, and he’s yet to witness a Grade or Group 1 race in any country. The grand prize trip to Australia for The Race That Stops a Nation will change that.

“I started betting once I was 18, and I’m 46 now, so I’ve been enjoying this all my adult life,” Salhus said. “But Assiniboia is as international as it’s gotten for me.”

Salhus said his strategy for the final round was to only bet longshots, but his preparation for his trip to the Melbourne Cup will be very different.

“The biggest preparation is getting ready for that flight,” said Salvus. “It’s 15 ½ hours from L.A. I’ve been doing some research on how to handle it. Hopefully we can sleep most of the way.”

TwinSpires.com offers wagering on Australia nightly as well as from South Africa, England, and Ireland during the day plus selected race dates from Hong Kong, France, and New Zealand.