Pay-outs by mistake not yet returned

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 4 (Supplement)

Pay-outs by mistake not yet returned

None of the persons who had been paid dividends by mistake on Three Sevens, the disqualified winner of the Canterbury Hotel Association Handicap at Riccarton on Wednesday, had come forward to return the money, said the secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club (Mr W. R. Barberel) last evening. Mr Barberel has so far received only two requests from patrons who claim they were short-paid on place divi-

dends because the original result did not stand. By some mischance, four payout clerks in the public stand misinterpreted a message over the speaker system connected directly with the totalisator and paid out $735.25 in dividends on Three Sevens while an inquiry was still being conducted into the running of the race. In all, 29 win tickets, worth $11.75 each, 65 places tickets, worth $2.25 each, and one quinella ticket, worth $248.25, were cashed before the mistake was discovered.

SIREN NOT HEARD? Mr Barberel said last evening thgt from their position in the stand, it was likely that the four payout clerks had not heard the siren and were unaw-are that an inquiry was being held. “But whatever they heard on the speaker system—and there would have been a fair bit of noise in the stand at the time —it was definitely not the clearance to pay out,” he said. “The system is pretty foolproof normally,” said Mr Barberel. “As ' soon as the horses pass the post and before the judge announces his visual call for the benefit of course patrons, he informs the totalisator so that dividends can be calculated. The club also has a direct line im the weighing room to e totalisator; and once the clerk of the scales and the stewards are satisfied that weights are correct, this information is also passed on to the totalisator supervisor. But even then, the payout is still not authorised until the supervisor receives a document. taken by runner and signed by the clerk of the scales and the stewards, that all is clear.” Before the horses returned to the birdcage in the Canterbury Hotel Association Handicap. the siren had sounded and patrons were informed to hold all tickets. COMPLICATIONS I At the subsequent inquiry. ' Three Sevens, first past the post, was disqualified; but things became complicated as far as dividends were concerned because in the original result there had been a dead-heat for third, and four

place dividends were declared. Those who cashed their place tickets at the four windows in the public stand received less than the final dividends declared after the inquiry had been concluded and the placings amended. The eventual winner, Royal Clover, paid $8.15 for a place instead of $6.10; and the dividends for the dead-heaters, Passpatu and Lady Glamour, went up. from $1.20 and $3.45 respective! v, to $1.60 and $4.60.