WORKING THE TOTALISATOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 94, 18 October 1906, Page 4

WORKING THE TOTALISATOR.

SO THB EDITOB. Sir— l learn that llie Wellington Racing Club intend running their own totalisator at the coming meeting, and I trusfc they, -will do away with the practice, of ringing on the commissions after the horses have started in any race. Your sporting writer, sir, must be aware of the public dissatisfaction from the above cause that is generally expressed at meetings run by the Canterbury Jockey Club. The sporting public, as well as owners, object to silent , machines irrespective of the fact of being unable -to ascertain (at a glance), the actual odds on any horso at the time of investment. That tho main supporters of racing do not favour club-run totalisators is beyond doubt^and Parliament should make it penal to alter the totals after any raoa has started. The Canterbury Club frequently ring on after the horses have finished, and that is a club-run concern. I vras in Masterton on the first occasion when the club ran its own machine, and sixteen tickets were rang up on a particular horse after the race was decided. Now, sir, Ido not contend that numbers have been unjustly rung on in any case, but I hold that if alteration can be made rightly after starting it can also be Avrongly done, and that should' not be' possible. Horse-racing is a noble spofct, and clubs would do well in eliminating as far as possible all suspicious practices, such as the use of silent machines, ringing on after a race has started, oi preventing the public from seeing the total as well "as the amount invested on each horse. —I am., etc., HAM. 15th October. 1906.