Jetbet system ‘a disgrace’

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 8

Jetbet system ‘a disgrace’

PA Tauranga The T.A.B. has been told to “get their act together” by the Whakatane. Racing Club’s raceday secretary, Mr Don Hancock, following the club’s meeting at Tauranga on Saturday. The performance of the Jetbet system in operation on Saturday was “nothing short of a disgrace,” Mr Hancock said. He estimated that mechanical faults and breakdowns cost the club about $40,000 in lost turnover.

“Taking into account the size of the crowd I confidently predicted the turnover on course would be around $520,000 or $530,000,” Mr Hancock said.

As it was the crowd of about 6000 patrons put through a total Of $486,682. Mechanical breakdowns and machines rejecting sue-

cessful tickets and Jetbet slips plagued the system throughout the day. “The T.A.B. has encouraged us to use the Jetbet system as a promotion to attract people back to the course and I think we’ve done this more successfully than any other club,” he said.

“However, the system is simply not up to scratch and we’re saying to them now, ‘Get off your chuffs and get your act together’,” he said.

“People’s patience is running out and it’s not because of the operators any more but because of the machinery itself — it’s nothing short of a disgrace,” Mr Hancock said.

In Wellington, the T.A.B.’s on course division manager, Mr Glyn Hooper, said he had had a report of faults in the terminals at the Tau-rangA.-course.

“We did not get the terminals in until the early hours of the morning and did not have a chance to test them as thoroughly as we normally do,” he said.

The terminals had been shifted from another course, and it was “fairly clear” the problems resulted from the overnight move, Mr Hooper said.

He said he had not yet received any complaints from the Whakatane Racing Club, and he would contact the club to discuss the problems.

He said the Jetbet system was working very well. Since it had been in operation in Wellington, clubs had lifted turnover by as much as 70 per cent. “I believe the Jetbet system is capable of doing good things — provided it is used properly,’’ Mr Hooper said. £