CROUPIER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20587, 1 July 1932, Page 14

CROUPIER.

NOMINATION REJECTED. OWNERS OMIT TO REGISTER JOINT INTEREST. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, June SO. A position unprecedented in the history of racing in New Zealand has arisen in connexion with tho racehorse Croupier. His sensational seizure at Eiccarton last November, followed by the recent Supreme Court proceedings in Auckland, have kept him well in the public eye. Now a new development has arisen. Croupier was entered for events at the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting at Trentham next month, and his name duly appeared in the nomination lists. He was not, however, in the list of handicaps published this week. The secretary of the Wellington Racing Club says that his entry has been refused, on the ground that it is not iu order under tho Bules of Eacing. The rule under which tho nomination was refused is 115, Clause 2, sub-clauso A, and Clause 1, which state that any horse affected by an unregistered .-joint interest shall be declared to bo ineligible to be entered for, or to start in, any race. He shall, under the same rules, be prohibited from being trained upon any racecourse or training track owned or occupied by, or in any way under the jurisdiction of, any racing club. From 'August last Crsupier raced under the registered joint interests of Mr J. J. Corry and the Messrs John and James PaterßOn, in the ratio of fifty per cent, to Mr Corry, and 25 per cent, to each of the Messrs Paterson. Acting through an agent, the Messrs Paterson seized the horse on the concluding day of the New Zealand CupMeeting last November, as he was leaving the courso after competing in the Stead Cup. Croupier was taken to Auckland where he has remained under the orders of the Messrs Paterson ever since. Mr Corry went to law, but after a hearing in the Supreme Court at Auckland Mr Justice Herdman found in favour of the Messrs Paterson, and dissolved the partnership. It was not within his power or jurisdiction to dissolve the registration of the joint interest of the parties lodged with the Racing Conference. A Wrong Impression. Apparently the Messrs Paterson liavo entered Croupier for events ahead under tho impression that the Supreme Court judgment cancelled the legistered joint interest in the offices of the Eacing Conference. That is not so. They have neglected to apply for a registration of a joint interest between themselves in the racehorse Croupier, as required under the Rules of Racing, and no joint interest being so registered the Wellington Eacing Club has rofused the entry. If the action of the Wellington Club is correct, which it has every appearance of being, Croupier, who has been working regularly on the Ellcrslie tracks for several weeks, has had no right, under the Rules of Racing, to be there. So far as the legal aspect of the situation is concerned, Mr Corry has appealed against the judgment of Mr Justice Herdman, but pending such appeal it. will be in order for the Messrs Paterson to make application for registration of Croupier in their joint interests. What action tho Racing Conference might take, or what is their View of the complicated situation, the president, Mr O. S. Watkins, at tho moment, is not prepared to state. It is certain, however, that interesting developments are pending. totalisator in BRITAIN. Experience op thrkp years. INCREASE IN TURNOVER. (fsom our own correspondent.) . LONDON, May 27. According to the third annual report of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, considerable progress has been made in totalisator bettiag and the position of the Board's finances. The total amount invested during 1931 was £3,886,650, an increase, compared with the preceding year, of £627,148. The income, it is stated, "has been sufficient to mee|; all operating and administrative expenses and to provide a substantial portion of the interest on the borrowed capital." The balance-sheet shows, among the liabilities of the Board, "advances for installation, development, and general expenditure," £2,206,448, compared with £1,811,044 *at the end of 1930 and £466,340 for 1929. Bank interest appears in the accounts as £110,346, compared with £54,343. Tho balance of expenditure oyer revenue before charging depreciation appears as £43,685. During 1930 the administrative and 'operating expenses exceeded the receipts by £16,573. Expenditure during last year included £85,408 on buildings, £134,976 on equipment, £247,291 on operating expenses, and £51,509 on administration expenses. The report attributes the increased bank interest charge primarily to advance for installation purposes, "but the lu t ,h bank rate since September 21st, 1931, has also been an important factor in the increased cost." A record for the modern method of betting was achieved at Ascot, where, in spite of very wet weather, £227,698 passed through the machine in four days, the largest turnover on a'single day being £66,808 on Gold Cup day. Nearly 12,500,000 cash bets were handled on racecourses during the year, more than 9,000,000 of these being for tho minimum unit of 2s. The Board provided totalisator facilities on 108 courses under Jockey Club and National Hunt jurisdiction on 305 flat racing days, 259 National Hunt race days, and at 104 point-to-point and 15 bona fide hunt meetings. The totalisator was also in operation on 68 racing days at Meetings hold under the Pony Turf Club rules. Prerace betting was made available on 17 important- races, and pre-race period pools were held on the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire. Five special double event pools were operated during t"he year. Experiments in this direction/ will be continued during 1932. Survival of the Bookmaker. "Three years' experience of the totalisator on English racecourses has left a variety of expectations unrealised," comments the "Daily Telegraph." "The bookmakers have not folded their umbrellas and crept away, nor has the horse-breeding industry benefited by largesse distributed by the Racecourse Betting Control Board. None the less the Board is probably justified in stating in its third annual report that throughout 1931 there was no diminution of public interest in the totalisa-

tor or in its popularity with the racing public. What is needed if the 'tote' is to prove itself the benefactor that was promised is clearly a great increase in popularity. "The survival of the bookmaker is due, no doubt, in part to innate conservatism and also to the effect that he a virtual monopoly of 'off-the-course' betting. With the return of normal times the Board should at least pay its way; and it is not unreasonable to hope that as it becomes an established institution it will begin to fulfil 1 some of the objects with which it was set up." ■ •

METHVEN T.C. NOMINATIONS. Following aro the nominations for the Mothven T.C.'s Meeting on July 9th: — TRIAL HANDICAP (in harness), of 60 govs; 3min 45sec class; one mile and a half —Guyson, Dolly Huon, Dark Girl, Titri, Little Nelson, Directum, Doubtful Moments, Vester Ray, Betty Wrack, Cannon Shot, Royal Wrack, Imposter, Dolly Derby, Guysiah, Doll Dance, Matohlight Junior, War Officer, Coral Prince, Red Hope. LYNDHURST TROT HANDICAP (in harness), of CO sovs; 3min Slsec class (trotters) ; on© mile and a half—Amonos, Alf Parrish, Harvest Dillon, Don Denver, Silk Coat, Lee Boy, Enigma, Don Giovanni, Master Wrack, Tanepai, Bingen Lin, Fairyland, Trickful, Merrijigs, Raclaim. IMPROVERS' HANDICAP (in saddle), of 60 sovs; 3min 41sec; one mile and a half— Raywood, Chenwood, Lavanter, Redbreast, Bingen Junior, Reylet, Royal Wrack, Lorelei, Bingen Chief, Guyziah, Wheat King, Zest, Matehlight Junior, Cornforfl, Little Victor. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP (in harness), of 180 sovs; 4min 42seo class; two miles— HoUy Bank, Tempo, Kreisler, Todd Lonzia, Bonota, Millie de Oro, Guy Denver, • Arißtotle, Mountain Ore, Rokena, Awaiti, Ac.cras. SPRINGFIELD HANDICAP (In harness), of'6o sovs; 3min 7seo class; one mile and a quarter—Guyson, Dolly Huon, Author Maid, Dark Girl, Titri, Directum, King's Cup, Vester Ray, Golden Direct, Betty Wrack, Great Mac, Zane, Essay, Raider Waress, Doll Dance, Smoke Screen, Great Seaman, War Officer, Tecla, Matchless Bingen. WINTER HANDICAP (in harness), of 80 sovs; 2mln 56sec class; one mile and a quarter —Flying Cloud, Bingen Patch, Wild Guy, Oopper Nob, Willie Derby, Millie de Oro, Adjuster, Nelson Guy, Harold Dontrer, Gumdigger, Bankhead, Pointal, Accrae, Great Huon, Worthy King, Great Chenault. TRADESMAN'S HANDICAP TROT (in harness), of 70 sovs; 6mlu 6see Class (trotters) ; two miles—Anonos, Bonora, Alf Parrish, Dob Denver, Lee Boy, Enigma, Doa Giovanni, Master Wrack, Appear, Tanepai, Fairyland, Trickful, Merrijigs. DASH HANDICAP . (in saddle), of 80 sovs; Smin 22eee class; one - mile—Le Fashion, Jean D roans, Fairhead, Wild Guy, Stella Bing"Ti Great Thought, Lavanter, Dusky, Lotnar, Nelson Guy, Reylet, Molly i Desborough, Bankhead. Zane, Derby Thorpe, Ayr Lass, Har/est Earl, Harold Denver, Compromise, Torchlight, Claranda, Tannhauser.