HOLIDAY BETTING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 85, 4 January 1941, Page 8

HOLIDAY BETTING

Highest Returns For 12 Years AVERAGE OF £37,000 A DAY Totalizator returns lor the Christinas and New Year racing and trotting meetings throughout New Zealand are the highest, for the past 12 years, bor the 20 meetings (15 galloping and live trotting) held between December 26, 1940, and January 3, 1941, £1,259,345/10/- was invested by the public. In all there have been 34 days’ racing, public investments thus being at an average rate of approximately £37,000 a day.

At one meeting only—4hat of the Waipuktirau Jockey Club —were the totalizator returns less than for the previous year. At several meetings the increases were substantial. On a percentage basis the Ashburton Trotting Club recorded the greatest increase, the totalizator being up _ by £12,765 for the one day of the meeting, an increase of approximately 52 per cent, on the previous year. The clubs to benefit most were: Westland R.C. (one day) 41 per cent, increase; Wyndham R.C. (one day) 30 per cent.; Marton J.C. (two days) 25 per cent.; Manawatu R.C. (two days at Christmas) 20 per cent.; Auckland Trotting Club (three days), Greymouth J.C. (two days) 16 per cent.; Southland R.C. (two days) 14 per cent. Increased totalizator returns of approximately 10 per cent, on last year were recorded by the Auckland R.C. (four davs), Taranaki J.C. (two days), Winton T.C. (one day) and Oamarn J.C. (one day). The following table shows the aggregate totalizator returns for the Christmas and New Year period since 1929-30■

The peak in totalizator returns in New Zealand was reached in 1920-21. During that Christmas and New Year period meetings throughout the Dominion handled a sum approaching £2,000,000.

Gallops. £ Trots. £ Total. £ .1929-30 ... 867,360 332,580 1,199,940 1930-31. ... 652,812 263,312 916,124 1931-32 ... 457,555 189,922 1547,4 77 1932-33 ... 410,577 170,518 581,095 1933-34 ... 445,836 172.S93 618,729 1934-35 ... 429,261 165,782 595,046 1935-36 ... .-.33,958 201,823 735,781 1936-37 ... 665,404 250,OSO 916,084 1937-38 .. - 749,676 274,292 1,023,968 1938-39 ... 852,454 367,009 1,219.463 1939-40 ... 840,331 327,732 1,168,066 10-10-41 ... 901,248} 358,097 1,259,345}