"PICKING 'EM."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 10

"PICKING 'EM."

•PUNTERS' HOBBY.

LOVE OF TAKING CHANCES.

"TOTE ALWAYS ATTRACTS."

(By J.S.)

It was an Indian potentate, wasn't it? who, when on a visit to England and invited to attend Epsom Downs to see the Derby run, turned the invitation down "flat" because, as he said, it was perfectly obvious to anyone that one horse was bound to gallop—he said "run"—faster itlian the others. By the way, it wasn't the Aga Khan. To-day in Auckland two questions are a«ked above all others. One is, 'What'll win the Cupf" and the other, "Oh, milkman" (it may be grocer or butcher) "you might let the account stand _ver till after the holidays." And the reason? Simply because on Tuesday the racing and trotting carnival extending to seven days will begin. Fifty-six races and, if there should happen to be three place dividends in each event, no fewer than 224 dividends will be paid. Will the milkman's money be lucky? He certainly hopes so. Racegoers Are "Queer Fish."

Husbands and wives, who have for Pf- 8 ' been complgining about the high prices of onions, potatoes, hair net«, and t'he like, will be planking their (or the tradesmen's) ten "bobs" on quadrupeds which have about as much chance of succeeding as a man would have of selling hot water bottles in Hades. But racegoers are like that. They are queer fish, and, like the latter, hunt in schools. We read so often aibout the sportsmen who go a-racing because of their love for the thoroughbred. But is it true that the horse is

the attraction? Isn't it the 'tote? Ninety per cent of the thousand* who attend Elleralie next week would be there if the horses were replaced bv hounds, hares, or cockroaches moving round the course—providing there was a 'tote. There will be thousands who will not see a race. They will have their little bets and adjourn to the bar where they will wait to hear the result from someone who dashes in for "a quick one." On a real summer's day the bar is preferable, and much mora comfortable to sitting on the stand in the sweltering sun.

A Shuffling Queue. Real gamblers, they, with no silly nonsense about the ability of horseflesh in their minds. Once decided which "neddy" shall be entrusted with their bet, they push contemptuously through the throng, that, around the 'tote, shuffles in the queue, to purchase that small piec4 of pasteboard, which entitles the purchaser to a dividend perhaps. Perhaps not. Racegoers there, are who can reel off the performances of any horse, his breeding, the name of the owner and trainer; in fact, could write a complete biography of the party •but .to whom the monetary question and the A plus B theorem is eomething they know nothing about. Crowds Are Graded.

Race crowds are graded by the racing clubs. There is the jpner, the leger and the outer. Once you pay and enter the inner, or ledger, you are a prisoner for the day. You can, of course, leave your particular area whenever you wish, but you cannot get back unless you are prepared to pay again. Like Eden, it is a place to which, once left, there is no return. The are a staid crowd. With them everything is taken seriously. It is not a day to be jolly. But let us move to the outer. The Hill is packed. Here we find a happy, carefree crowd, men, women and kiddies. With a pie in one hand and a tote ticket in the other, men will shout the name of their hope furlongs before the finish, j Others with disgust will watch their hope tailing the field in such a position that it's only chance would be if the field, when half way, was ordered to turn and race back again. It is on the outer that the fun of racing is to be found. There the crowd do not take their racing so seriously. They are not above laughing outright. They eat their pies and sandwiches, make tea in the bushman's billy, and squat down in circles to enjoy a snack of lunch. They can see the funny sid? even though they back losers. Ye*, the real enjoyment of a race meeting can lbs got if you mingle with these on the outer. It is even more enjoyable if vou back a winner occasionally.