Syndicate hides identity

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 1

Syndicate hides identity

(By

D. D. L. BORMAN)

The Christchurch holders of a ticket with the nom-de-plume, “Stamp Syndicate,” iare $200,000 richer since Saturday afternoon; but they are keeping their identity quiet, at least from broadcasting and newspapers.

Their $5 ticket, number 82207, won first prize in New Zealand’s first national sweepstake run on the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton on Saturday.

It was among 18 numbers selected by “Elsie,” the bonus bonds computer in Dunedin on Saturday morning and matched against the Hawera mare, Kartika, by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet), who was at Riccarton for the final draw after the horses had left for the two-mile start.

Only a small crowd surrounded the bandstand where Mr Highet made the draw, and only one holder of a ticket made himself known He was a member of the “Us Five Syndicate,” which held the only other Christchurch ticket represented in the field.

Their ticket was matched against the North Island light-weight, Aito. This could not have cheered them

greatly before the race because Aito was little fancied on a firm track. The horse finished fifteenth, and so the syndicate received only $l5OO —the amount given to each drawer of an unplaced horse. For the big crowd that went to Riccarton for the opening of Christchurch’s carnival week, the racing was of more interest than the sweepstake, and the prospect of making money perhaps even more so. In their quest for riches, visitors put $350,202 through the totalisator. This was an increase of $48,370 and the best day’s turnover for Cup day at Riccarton since 1951 when the Totalisator Agency Board opened. Cff the course, T.A.B. investments amounted to $576,407, a record for the Canterbury Jockey Club. All this money and the attraction of a good-sized contingent of North Island horses for the main races made a success of the day, marred only by the weather. The bitterly cold and strong easterly wind was merciless in finding every place on the course, and few

would remember a worse Cup day, or even such a day for the Grand National in August. It caused difficulties for the totalisator staff—wind blew notes and tickets about inside the building. The wind caused a number to seek the refuge of their cars, returning to the course only to place bets or collect. It caused others to go home. It is a matter for speculation how much more the club would have taken. There could be speculation also about the times for the Welcome Stakes and the New Zealand Derby Stakes if there had been a typical November day and the horses had not had to run the long straight into the wind. North Island owners made a successful southern foray, taking away the New Zealand Cup, held in the South for the last three years, and winning the Welcome Stakes — in which Trumpet Call’s official margin of 12 lengths testified to his reputation-— the 114th Derby Stakes, the Stewards’ Handicap, and the Hagley Handicap for hacks. With these wins and minor

placings, they earned $35,430 in stakes.

The weather apart, Riccarton gave a good beginning to Carnival Week, a time when Christchurch people forget a lot about the world outside and a General Election in the offing and are offered four more days of racing and trotting, including the rich New Zealand Trotting Cup, the agricultural and pastoral show and its associated attractions, and a public holiday on Friday, Show Day. At Addington on Tuesday, there' will be another big sweepstake drawn by Mr Highet. Meanwhile, three Wellington ticket-holders have good cause to remember the 1972 New Zealand Cup. A Mrs Soloman of Wellington, drew Golden Sam, which by running second earned her $50,000. Mr W. J. C. Thomas, licensee of the Carlton Hotel and his wife, who had a ticket “Dos and I,” drew Classico, the third horse, to win $20,000; and the “Not So Good” syndicate, of Upper Hutt, won $5OOO by drawing Mediate, which finished fourth.