TROTTING Doubles Betting Down At Brighton Meetings

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32031, 4 July 1969, Page 5

TROTTING Doubles Betting Down At Brighton Meetings

On-course doubles betting had dropped by nearly $12,000 on the previous season’s figure at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s four meetings during the 1968-69 season, the club’s president (Mr J. E. Prendergast) said in his report at the annual meeting yesterday.

Mr Prendergast said that during the 1967-68 season the club had earned $9lOO, at the old rate of 7} per cent, from a doubles turnover of $121,000. This season the doubles turnover had dropped to just under $109,000 and at the new rate of 10.18 per cent this had returned only Sll.OOO to the club. If the previous season’s level had been maintained the club would have received another $l3OO. Mr Prendergast said that after giving the matter full consideration the committee had decided to continue with the straight out off-course double for the first two meetings in the new season and would continue to operate oncourse doubles on a concession basis. Mr Prendergast said small attendances at day meetings had prompted the committee to change to night racing for all five meetings next season. “It was interesting to note that the best weather at our meetings this season was at our day meeting, held on September 21, when the attendance was 6000-odd. This was 2000 below the average of the three meetings held at night.” said Mr Prendergast. “We are of the opinion, that, apart from the three good days that the New Zealand Metropolitan club had,

night meetings are the answer to increased patronage.” Mr Prendergast said that the on-course turnover of just over $750,000 during the period under review showed an increase of $49,200 on the four comparative days in the previous season but off-course betting dropped by $Bl,BOO. The average on-course turnover was in excess of $187,000, as against $175,000 last season. Off-course doubles turnover dropped from $221,000 to slightly more than $201,000. Stakes Increase The club distributed

$54,800 in stakes this season. This was an average of $13,700 a day and was slightly more than the previous season. “It has already been announced that it is proposed to increase stakes next season by $8250, spread over all classes.”

Mr Prendergast said that in the coming season the club would again revert to five permits and four of these, subject to Trotting Conference approval, would be held on established dates. Although the club had applied for January 24 for the additional permit it was hoped that approval would be given to exchange that date with Canterbury Park so that the club could hold a two-day meeting in February. The committee was disappointed with the number of members who attended the club’s meetings, said Mr Prendergast. This season attendance of members had averaged about 64 per cent.

The introduction of video race patrol, with two cameras covering the races, had, he felt, improved the standard of racing. In extending thanks, on behalf of the club, Mr Prendergast made special mention that Mr A. J. Nicoll, the retiring president of the Trotting Conference, would be greatly missed as a trotting administrator and wished every success to Mr R. J. Rolfe, Mr Nicoll’s successor.