MONEY ON HORSES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 10

MONEY ON HORSES

Totalisator Investments Analysed 10/- BETS PREDOMINATE Carnival Week at Christchurch Ten-shilling investments on the totalisator appear to predominate at metropolitan racing and trotting meetings. An official analysis of the totalisator figures at Ricearton and Addington during the recent carnival week in Christchurch shows that at the gallops the proportion of 10/- bets over the whole meeting worked out at approximately 55 per cent., while at the trots the proportion was 68 per cent. This outstanding feature led the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hou. W. E. Parry, to cite the details to a racing club deputation which waited upon him privately yesterday. The figures showed, the Minister said, how popular were the Canterbury carnival meetings, and also that the rank and file of the general public were much more than in past.years having a mild speculation on the totalisator. AU Classes of People. ■ “I was in Christchurch at carnival time,” said Mr. Parry, “and I was present on one or two of the days of the meetings of the Canterbury Jockey Club and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. It was the first time I had been present at these national Cup meetings. I was surprised at the crowds on the course. They were huge, and as far as I could determine the concourse was made up of people in all walks of life. There are many of our people who, in their sentiments, are genuinely opposed to racing of all kinds and of speculation on the legalised totalisator, but there are many who are not, and these carnival meetings gave the testimony. All are entitled to their own opinions, and, viewing the subject in that way, nobody can complain. There—at these meet-ings—-were the biggest holiday-making crowds I have ever seen, and the people forming the crowds seemed to be enjoying themselves.” Interested in an attendance so large at the meetings, Mr. Parry said that he was keen to see what proportion of the amount of money that went through the totalisator was in small investments. He had requested the chief inspector of totalisators, Mr. J. Bennett, of the Department of Internal Affairs, to give returns. The returns supplied were as follows: — CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. First Day. £ , In commissions and £1 tickets 18,882 In 10/- tickets 30,755 Total £49,637 Second Day. In commissions and £1 tickets . 15,767 In 10/- tickets 14,781} Total '£30,548} Third Day. In commissions and £1 tickets . 19,438 In 10/- tickets 18,818 Total £38,256 Fourth Day. In commissions and £} tickets . 27,276 In 10/- tickets 38,025 Total £65,301 From the figures, the Minister said, it would be seen that the proportion of 10/- money over the whole meeting worked out at approximately 55 per cent.; lower than that at the trotting meeting. It was very significant, however. that on the first and last days (Saturdays) the proportion was higher. The total totalisator turnover for the four days was £183,742/10/-, as compared with £109,886/10/- in November, 1931—an increase of £73,856. The totalisator retur— at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting were as follows ;— TROTTING CLUB. First Day. £ In commissions, £5 & £1 tickets 15,149 In 10/- tickets 35,905 Total £51,054 Second Day. In commissions, £5 &£1 tickets 14,032 In 10/- tickets 26,365 Total £40,397 Third Day. In commissions, £5 &£1 tickets 18,349 In 10/- tickets 40,917} Total £59,266} The totalisator turnover at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting (three days) was £150,717 10/-. as compared with £110,717 in November. 1931 —-an increase of £40,000 10/-. During the seven days of racing the total of £334,460 therefore showed an increase of £113,856/10/- on the 1931 figures. “Of l he £150,717/10/- passed through the totalisator during the three days." said Mr. Parry, “commission. £5 and £l. investors accounted for £47,530, as compared with £103,187 10/- from 10/- investors —approximately 32 per cent, and 68 per cent, respectively. This seems to be no exception to other holiday meetings, and when it is realised that at this one 206.357 10/tickets were issued, it is not difficult to visualise the magnitude of the work of issuing tickets and paying out dividends to the successful investors." The Minister said that at Christchurch in November, 1930, the totalisator turnover at the galloping meeting was £161.852, and nt the trotting meeting £159.791, an aggregate of £321,643, Over the two meetings the aggregate was. therefore, £12,817 more than in 1930. The gallops showed an increase but the trots n decrease.