Bookmaker’s Cup Plan

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 4

Bookmaker’s Cup Plan

(N.Z. Press Assp. —Copyright) SYDNEY, June 18. A. betting scheme, which, it is hoped, will encourage more NewZealand racing owners to bring their, horses to. Australia has been announced by a Sydney bookmaker, according to Keith Robbins writing in the Sydney “Daily ' Telegraph.” The bookmaker, W. S. Waterhouse, has sent details of the scheme to the owners of Melbourne Cup entries. Under it, .Waterhouse has offered to allow them to back the horses to win £25,000. He has offered' prices ranging from 14/1 to 5000/1. For

this year’s 435 Melbourne Cup entries there are 956 concerned in ownership and only these people will be able to participate. The odds last only until June 30, when the cash must be lodged for all bets. After June 30 the bookmaker will frame a straight-out tnarket on the Melbourne Cup for the general public. Weights for the Melbourne Cup will be issued in a month. The race will be run at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.

Waterhouse said a. similar scheme operated at the turn of the century. In those days bookmakers offered owners first chance of backing their entries in the Melbourne Cup. They allowed them to back the horses.to win as much as £50,000 ■ Waterhouse said the scheme would encourage New

Zealand owners to bring their horses to Australia. “In the past many New Zealand owners have tried to back their horses here but the price has not been available." he said. , “So these New Zealanders leave their horses home. Un-