Impressions Of Aust. Racing

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 6

Impressions Of Aust. Racing

General Command could be Australia’s best horse next year.

Mr H. V. Spicer, handicapper to the Canterbury Jockey Club, has returned to Christchurch with that impression after seeing the New Zea-land-bred in action at the Melbourne Cup meeting. Mr Spicer feels that Ilumquh’s half-brother had every chance in the Melbourne Cup —the winner, Red Handed, had been further back in the field at the five furlongs—but he also feels confident that the Sydney horse will get two miles as a five-year-old next year.

In five years the T.A.B. in Melbourne had (eft New Zealand “for dead,” Mr Spicer said yesterday. The T.A.B. offices in Melbourne, including computers, suites and equipment, would, he said, be the envy of any company anywhere in the world.

However, there was a feeling that while the T.A.B. and the Government were having the “first two dips” the racing clubs were, by comparison, getting only the crumbs. The T.A.B. turnover of $5,571,151 on the Melbourne Cup meeting showed an increase of $658,753 on that invested at the 1966 carnival. The over-all attendance of 189,000 was up 5500 on last year.

As usual, the biggest winners of all were the bookmakers. At a meeting where

only five outright favourites won over the four days the bookmakers won s2m including $600,000 on Melbourne Cup day. In Sydney Mr Spicer said, it was being found that the T.A.B. had a great effect on the amount of money going through the poker machines. All clubs operating the machines had reported a fall in turnover of at least 33 1-3 per cent.

Many people were realising that the T.A.B. provided the better gamble. One Sydney television station now does live telecasts on most meetings.