"CHINAMAN'S LUCK."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 11, 14 January 1929, Page 12

"CHINAMAN'S LUCK."

RECORD TOTE DIVIDEND

What probably constitutes a world's record dividend was paid at the Chinese Jockey Club's race meeting at Shanghai on Sunday afternoon, November 24. A Chinaman was the sole supporter of a horse named Garrison, which proved to be a winner, and paid a dividend equivalent to £ 1084 for 10/. The investor had sdol. on the horse (equal to 10/), and collected 10,84 Idol. The biggest dividend ever paid in Australia was that of £830 5/ for £1, paid to a solitary investor on, Mr. D. O'Dea's horse D.O.D. in the Goodwood Handicap, South Australia, in 1881 That big dividend, however (says "Musket") was the result of a mistake, and caused a deal of comment among other investors, owing to the fact that D.O.D.'s number did not appear as a starter. The totalisator at that time in use was a rather primitive affair, and the vibration in recording business had caused D.O.D.'s number to fall out of its allotted place. The lever used by the operator to emboss the ticket and record the amount was something similar to an ordinary beerpull engine, and the vibration no doubt, caused D.O.D.'a number to fall out of view of the public; but the machine duly registered the fl. Before* the receiving windows were opened to the public, two clerks were told off to see that the machines were set to nought, and to record the numbers of each horse in each separate window. After the race the same two clerks were reading the machine, when they found there was £1 invested on a horse without a number, and on looking at their first record they discovered that D.O.D.'s number had fallen out, and when the operator inside the building put the number into position, there was uproar and confusion. The secretary tried in vain to explain matters to the crowd, and when someone demanded the name of the holder of the ticket, and was told it was a Mr. Smith —well, that settled it! Smith, however, was the name of the lucky backer, and next day was paid a cheque for £836 5/. New Zealand's record dividend was paid out a few seasons back at Blenheim over the trotter Wairoa Belle. She had only one ticket on her chance, and paid over four figures. It is said that the lucky holder on being congratulated afterwards upon his win, remarked that he was sorry he did not put more on it!