BETTING SYSTEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 6

BETTING SYSTEMS.

As an old and prominent member of the Auckland Pacing C'lub, Mr. M. M. McCaHnm is to be commended on his excellent letter and the courage of his convictions regarding the betting system in practice at Ellerslie. With betting experience of 40 years in many lands, I am quite in accord with his view that the single-pool system is the best and fairest for the public, excluding the parasitic habitues of our racecourses. The single-pool system, a double '"tote" and with licensed and approved bookmakers on the course (off the course betting should and could be totally eliminated within three months), and an embargo on broadcasting races or results j would, in my humble opinion, be the ideal I system, and wotjld prove most popiflar with | the public, owner, trainer and jockey. Althongh l am in favour of the single-pool system, I am in accord with Mr. McCallum in suggesting that a vote be taken on the vexed question, single pool versus win and place, and I suggest that the vote be taken at Ellerslie'over thre* meetings, the votes to be recorded at and by the turnstiles; signs, loud-speakers and attendants could indicate to patrons that they enter by the single pool or win and place turnstile and so record their vote. The assertion of "Sportsman" that the drop in the "tote" figures on Anniversary D*y was due lo the adoption of the single-pool system la arrant nonsense and demonstrates the unreasoning bias of the average win-a ml-place advocate; any knowledgeable person knows that bad weather is fatal to any outdoor attraction, irrespective of its attractive value, and the heroes and heroines who braved the elements last Monday week are in the minority of Let the Auckland Racing Clnb. after taking the suggested vote, provide better stand accommodation inside and out, modernise, enlarge and make hygienic the refreshment bars, reduce prices of admission. put on sale a more attractive and informative race book, and attendances need never drop below the 30.000 mark. The public is not one whit concerned about huge "tote" returns., but it seeks good entertainment. Clean sport, comfortable all-weather accommodation, pleasant surroundings and eight races between noon and 4.45 p.m., and a day at Ellerslie would be a great social event for Dad. Mum and Dave, who, win or lose, will come again. FAIR.

I hare jf*st read "Pegaway's" letter in the "Star." On mentioning the reduced attendance and totalizator figures on the first day of the lnidsnmnaer meeting, he quite ignores the fact that last year the first day was .Tannary 29. a public holiday, whereas this year the holiday was observed on Monday, January 30, which proved to be one of the \forst days for weather on which racing has ever been carried out iu Auckland. "Pegaway" should know (and probably does) that the attendance and "tote" turnover on any public holiday is always 50 to 75 per cent mora than on any other .day. "Pegaway"' is quite entitled to his opinion, but let him be fair. M.M.M.