Punter’s protest

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 48

Punter’s protest

PA Auckland An Auckland racegoer, Mr Peter Mackie, is so incensed by a Government move to reduce some dividends that he intends to protest at the next meeting at Ellerslie on Thursday. Mr Mackie hopes the highlight of the protest will be the holding up of one of the races. The Government is to allow 2c in every dollar invested on doubles, trebles, quinellas, and trifectas to be taken out of the money available for dividends. The extra income — about $8 million a year — will go to the Racing Authority for distribution to clubs. Some of that income will boost stake money, but Mr Mackie said: “Why should the average guy subsidise the fat cats - the breeders, trainers and owners?”

|ie said most punters would not react because they did not like the limelight: “Some don’t want their bank manager to know about their punting, some don’t want the wife to know.” Mr Mackie said he had several friends who were prepared to help him on Thursday, He hopes to encourage punters at the course to boycott the trifectas on the first four races. "If we stop money going through the tote it may stir the clubs up. They really treat the punter like a second-class citizen. "We have had enough,” he said.