TOTALISATOR PUNTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 19

TOTALISATOR PUNTERS

A study of the totalieator investmente at a day's racing is always interesting. One striking feature is that the large army of tote punters always pick the hardest race of _ the afternoon to make their heaviest investments, comments "Poseidon" in the ''Sydney Sun." For instance, the Hurstville Stakes at Moorefield carried £200 more than any other race, although in the ring there were two horses at 3/1 and two more at 5/1. Perhaps it is that the vanity of punters makes them tackle what ih generally the hardest race of the afternoon. Again, they may think that the form of the best horses is more reliable than that*»of the rubbish, and is therefore worth a larger stake. The same incidence was noticeable on New Year's Day, when £15,177 10s was invested on the Cup, compared with £9773 on the next most important race. So far as Randwick is concerned, there is no doubt a large proportion of the patrons go out primarily to see the chief race of the day, and bother less about the other events. Only the hardened regulars, and not all of them, bet on every race, either at Randwick or down the line meetings. Another obvious deduction to be drawn is that the larger the field the greater the amount of money invested. The small punter does not like "good thing" races, but apparently is always on the jjui vive for a healthy dividend. Practised bettors in the ring do not risk much on 15/1 to 50/1 chances, but many a half-note or dollar is "thrown away" on the tote in case a certain horse "might come to light" and gain a place. Take one of the maiden divisions recently in which there were twelve starters. Only six horses were mentioned in the betting, and they carried £532 in the paddock tote, while £125 was divided among the "possibility" division. In this case only a very few of the speckcrs could smile because Antista, the greatest outsider of the race, finished third and returned a great price. But a dividend like this does not often occur at a suburban meeting. By the way, a general improvement in the total investments is being experienced in New Zealand, as -well is in Syduar. aad probably the club t^ret^jiea,

in attributing the winter shortage to tightness of money, were not far wide of the mark. The increased holiday figurea reflect the optimistic tone which pervades general trading :n the city of Sydney.