AMERICAN JOCKEY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29716, 9 January 1962, Page 4

AMERICAN JOCKEY

Preference For Totalisator (N ZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRISBANE, Jan. 8. The American jockey, E. Arcaro, prefers the totalisator to bookmakers. Bookmakers took the cream of punters’ money but did not redistribute it, he said in a television interview. American experience had demonstrated what could be done without them. Arcaro said that since bookmakers were banned in the United States, racing had advanced from a minor sport to ninth or 10th place on the nation's business list. Racing was one of the cleanest sports in the United States.

He said racketeers had tried to "muscle in” as they had done in other sports, but racing interests were smart enough to sense trouble and had formed an effective protection organisation. Jockeys Praised

Arcaro, who has been beaten by local riders during his visit to Australia for the Internationa] Stakes in various States, praised Australian jockeys. "Many are very good horsemen by world standards,” he said. “American riders are no better, but their style is different" He criticised Melbourne Cup fields as being too large Smaller fields for Australia’s major races would give better opportunities for wellbacked starters. He said that in a Melbourne Cup field of. say. 28, half of the horses had no hope of winning. They only cluttered up the race. A limit of 15 or 16 would give »very runner a fair chance. * Arcaro said that in an ordinary year he rode six days a week and warned £125,500 gross. •