RACING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1929, Page 7

RACING IN SOUTH AFRICA

RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAMDICAPPER

Among the visitors at Randwick recently was Mr. F. T. Chapman, handicapper to the Eastern District Sporting Club, Be noni, South Africa. Mr. Chapman spent his younger days in Parkes and Wyalong, and Mrs. Chapman is a native of Parkes. Mr. Chapman went to South Africa immediately after the Boer War. He is chief assayer and chemist to the Wit watersrand Mining Company, Ltd. Referring to racing, Mr. Chapman said that the Johannesburg Turf Club was the Kandwick of bouth Africa They also had the Germiston -.Sporting Club, the Eastern District Sporting Club, the Auckland Park Racing Club, and the JiJWpnesburg Pony and Galloway Club. With the exception of the Johannesburg Turf Club, the clubs over there could be likened to the suburban clubs in Sydney Each club in the Transvaal was proprietary, limited to 10 per cent, dividends, and came under the jurisdiction of the South African Jockey Club, which, unlike the Australian Jockey Club, does not hold race meetings, but is the controlling body. So far as membership of the Jockey Club of South Africa, is concerned, it is on all fours with the Jockey Club (England); the membership being restricted; and, consequently, there was the inevitable long waiting list. The racing clubs are each entitled to fifteen meetings a year; in addition, they -have the smaller clubs that race mid-week. Racing was improving in South Africa, but Mr. ChapmaD said

that the prize money could not be compared, on the whole, with Randwiek, although there are £6000 handicaps at the important meetings of the Johannesburg Turf Club. The smaller clubs have £1000 events on their programmes at intervals. The totalisator operated in competition with the bookmakers, but facilities for machine wagering are much greater than in Sydney. They have straight-out, place, and double betting on the totalisator, and a day's investments on the machine average about £30,000 at the main meetings, and up to £45,000 at the July fixture, and from £10,000 to £15,000 at the suburban clubs' fixtures. The percentage taken from investments is 12%. Fractions are given to charities. This provides a large sum each year, as the dividends declared nro to the shilling only. They do not pay sixpences or any other fractional dividends. The Government takes sof the 12% per cent., deducted from investments, and the balance goes to the clubs for the management and cost of working the totalisator. The minimum wager is 10s. Mr. Chapman added that place and double wagering on the machine is very popular, and ho had seen a double dividend of as much at £1200 for £1. In some instances where the winning double had not been supported, the dividend could be paid to first and second, and then first and third. There is also provision for the paying of second and first and third and first, and, in isolated cases where the placed horses had P ot 7! . been coupled, for the money to be included m the pool at a subsequent meeting. , .

Moßt of the courses are a mile and a quarter in circumference, and on some there are straight sis events. The programmes include division' races, and in these events the handicapper not ouly allots the imposts, but also makes the divisions._ Colts are. not permitted to compete in lower than the second division and, owing to the fact that not more than eight races are allowed on any one day the handicapper is responsible for the rejections if too many nominations are received. When such a contingency arose it is the practice to eliminate the latest entries, and if more than the required number still remained, attention is given to the owner or.trainer who makes more than one entry.