BETTING SYSTEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 10

BETTING SYSTEMS.

I must congratulate Mn McCalliim on hi*,. sensible letter. Hie allusion to the parasites of the turf was not etrong enough. It w trtHj? ! -\ known that quite, a large number of mea all over New Zealand live on*~betting, M|L~ make a regular profit by following "iniide: information." Xaturally, this gang of proffceeiotials prefer the win-and-place system, fc». ■' on the epeeial information they procure from inside sources they go for the win. Much of their betting is through bookmakers, but : they collect the larger dividends juet the same. In reading the reports of race meetings all over New Zealand during * the holiday season I noticed that the clube which used the one-pool system of betting all had substantial increases of "tote" turnover, varying from 15 to 40 per cent. After all, "tote" turnover is not everything. The main object of racing clubs in the Dominion should be to keep the public happy and satisfied. Racing authorities aim at giving a fair deal to horse owners, trainers, jockeys and also to the public, the people who keep the game going by their continued patronage. It the majority of. the patrons of racing prefer win-and-place letting Ivy ell mea lie let them have it ; but first make sure that they do want it. Take a vote. RACBGOKR.

Mr. M. M. McCallum, a member of the committee of the Auckland "Racing Club, tefera to a previous letter by "Sporteman , * m "an arrogant assertion." He (Mr. McCallum) goes on to imply that the win-and-place system is favoured only by "the few Hundred professional racegoing parasites who make a fiving by attending all race meetings and who fatten ignorance of the general public, many of whom are 'mugs'.'* A statement like the above given the general publi* eome Blight indication how the A.R.C. welcomes any criticism of Ellerslie. The plain substance d"f the matter is that the committee of the AMJ2. Ie quite out of touch with the requirements of the general racing public;—non-smoking on stands, race cards with insufficient information regarding prior iheetings, a birdcage which only a small portion of the public can view, poor broadcasting, the loud-epeaker should be out in front between the two number boards. The men's bar in the • inside enclosure is a disgrace. No, Mr. McCallum, it is not only a question of single pool or win and place that ie causing Ellerslie to gradually lose popularity—the club has really become "dyed-in-the-wool" conservative and requires, "new blood on the executive side. ADVANCE.