DECLINE IN RACING

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 7

DECLINE IN RACING

♦ : ILLEGAL BETTING BLAMED POSITION IN NEW SOUTH WALES (From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY. 10th May. A serious decline in horse racing throughout New South "Walea, buS affecting the country clubs much more seriously than the city clubs, is causing concern to those interested in the sport. Many reasons are given for the decline, and not the least is the hold "tin hare" dog racing his secured in various parts of the State. Under the regime of the Labour Government licenses Tor greyhound racing were issued with a liberality that was surprising, seeing that the . State derived nothing from tho proprietary clubs which controlled the meetings. There are practically no restrictions on the dogs and no taxation. This gives them a big advantage over tho registered racing clubs, which are substantially taxed. Tho Government 'has promised "to put the greyhound racing clubs on the same footing as the others, but so far nothing has been done. More serious than tho greyhound racing is the effect of illegal betting. It is stated that betting shops are now more numerous in the country districts than ever they were before. One small town is credited witli having 22 starting price shops which operate quite freely, and in Newcastle the number of unregistered bookmakers is described as phenomenal. The country racing clubs object to carrying on tho sport at a loss for the benefit of men who bet in conditions which amount to an open defiance of the law." In this regard tho country towns are i:'. no more unenviable position than Sydney itself. The trouble is rampant from one end of the State to the other, and the facilities for illegal betting in the city are remarkable. The '"Sun" states that' starting price betting has been so encouraged by the inactivity of the authorities that it now represents an evil of untold magnitude. Quite apart from tho multitude of "shops" there are countless, people willing to take a bet, from the butcher's boy upwards —and downwards. Tho authori ties are being called upon to get busy on the ground that if the menace is not wiped out economic disaster will overtake the State. Quito apart from this, the Government, to conserve its finances, must take action,-for revenue is being lost in the way of admission taxes to the racecourses, and the totalisator revenue is being seriously interfered with. <' It is suggested that tho A.J.C., which is paramount in tho control of racing throughout the State, together with metropolitan racing clubs, should make an immediate appeal to tho authorities to embarrass the starting price shops. Penalties should be made more severe. "It is difficult for the authorities to deny that, prosecutions are all too infrequent," says the "Sun." "The facility with which a bet may be made is a clear indication of the mannei' in which the law is being flouted. In fact, the starting price merchants treat the situation with the utmost levity."