THE TOTE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 66, 15 September 1906, Page 9

THE TOTE.

j. ♦ to the editob 1 Sir, — Kindly allow me space to offer a few remarks on the above. Can tre abolish the totalisator? I think not. While wo havo horse racing we will havo betting. To stop belting or gambling ire will have to bpgin oarly, and stop the boys playing -marbles and tops for keeps. The gamble "seems built into üb, 'and so is tho lbve for the' horse. The Great Architect has built that love into man's cross section — the heart. I don'b envy the man or woman who doesn't lovo the horse — tho beautiful thoroughbred. Mr. Aitkon says any brainless mudsnook can make a book now, but it took a swift brainy bookie before. Would Mr. Aitken bairk back and have ths swift brainy fat bookie, living in Oriental splendour at the first hotel and perhaps driving in his motoi', taking bets> in our streets. In my .humble opinion we can't end tho totalisator, but let us try and mend it, say, like 1 this : First, limit amount going through to a percentage on stakes offered by any club, when that amount has been reached close the machine. Second, No numbeis to be exposed to view; this would stop owners running to suit machine. Third. Stop papeis publishing sporting news (if you can). And last, but not least, weigh all riders in a mc© on coming lrf. I could tell a startling tale re carrying overweight. — I am, etci, J. M'ANENY. Wellington, Bth September, 1900.