TURF NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 94, 22 April 1933, Page 7

TURF NOTES

IMPROVEMENT SHOWN

TRUF Note

TOTALISATOR TURNOVERS

ANALYSIS OF POSITION

A pleasing feature of the race and trotting meetings held over the Easter holidays has been Ahe distinct improvement shown in totalisator turnovers when' contrasted with-'the. abnormally low-returns of last year. The figures certainly do not approach those of two years ago, but it is nevertheless gratifying to no£e that the downward trend1 hat been stayed, at least temporarily. The present turn in the tide came with the change from an apparently outmoded style of dividend distribution to the win-and-place system, which was initiated at a, couple of the. Christmas-New Year meetings, and within a month afterwards had become almost universal. The new system has undoubtedly assisted very, materially towards these increased turnovers. Whether or not it will continue to do so has yet to be shown, and it may. not be till this time next year that final judgment can be pronounced on this point.With the mass of racegoers win-and-place betting made immediate appeal, and it is obvious.that it continues to do so. But anything that is novel- will do.this, and only time can prove the merit or demerit of such an innovation. It is still too early to declare its full suocess. "DEARERBETTING." Among certain owners, and trainers at least win-and-plaCe betting has not found v the reception that, was .expected, and it has actually already caused one or two of them, on their own assertion, to retire from the sport. Others who have recently disposed of their teams may also have been influenced by the "dearer style of betting." Another year may perhaps show ■whether they are the exceptional case or the rule. Win-and-place betting is "dearer" 'in the long run, and none discovers this more quickly than .the betting owner. It. is perhaps -because it is ' "dearer" that turnovers'have been'forded up so generally. An investor under the old style was able to cover "win" and "just beaten" in one bet. Now he has to back both ■ways, which means he either splits his investment or increases it. If hs increases it he has to bet "dearer." It is probable that the new system balances up the difference between the "knowing" and the "guesser" to a very measurable degree. The "guesser" is more likely not to Jose his money when he has three chances, and if he loses less theru must be less remaining' for the man "with knowledge or good information" to . collect by way of profit. Several owners or kindred investors have undoubtedly found that,. in spite of apparently good prices, they are showing smaller net profits under the new system than under the old, -and •so, of course,-, they are' declaring that the new system is'not-so satisfactory as the old. „ '' The general public, who do not follow form and track work so closely, are gaining a point or two, and so the new system remains - deservedly popular ' with them. But it is to be hoped that the'system, while acting in this way, does not bring about any serious withdrawals of the best owners from the sports, for it :s the active participation of such owners, that enables the sports to go on.' Perhaps the slightly increased stakes that- clubs should shortly be offering will compensate owners for their somewhat dearer betting, and in the very long run the new system will thus prove the boon that present / turnovers now make it appear. TURNOVERS COMPARED. Reverting to the turnovers of recent -meetings-, ritt-willf-be; notedf-fronr-the- table that follows that there has been aii'aggregate increase. this year of just over 10 per cent. (12 per. cent, racing, 9 per cent.' trotting) on.' last year's figures. Last year there was a decrease of over 27 per cent. (26. per. cent, racing, 30 per cent, trotting) on the previous year's figures, so the improvement is substantial. The table of turnovers, for all race and trotting meetings held between last Saturday and Thursday (inclusive), excluding only the Hawke's Bay and Westland Meetings, which have not always held Easter meetings, with the figures for the last two years given for purpose of comparison, is as follows:— ■ ■ . RACE MEETINGS; . ' 1031. . 1932. 1933. £ ' £ £■ ' Auckland . 102,317 64,845>4 82,678 Canterbury. 49,694 38,735 43,887% Blverton .. "40,628 37,889^ 37,782% Fetlding .. 35,864% 24,921 27,003 Wairarapa . * 27,292 18,511 19,133 Walpukurau 9,759 ' 6,300 . ' 0,295% Beaumont.. 3,548 va 8,339 8 136 Kumara« .. 3,844% -4,487% '3,704% ' Totals ..£277,947% £204,321% £228,620 •Hejd on off day two years. ago. . TROTTING MEETINGS. ' ' - ' 1931. 1932. 1933. • ' ££- ' £ ! Metropolitan 61,926% 46,730 52,018 Hawera ... ■ 21,837%^ 10,959% 10,861 ' Totals ... £83,764 £57,689% £62,879 .' Grand totals £361,711% £262,011 £291,499 For ;the< purpose of further comparison the; following corresponding totals. for" all, meetings: held "during the Christmas-New Year holiday period are .given:— CHRISTMAS-NEW YEAR. '■ . "i-y.' --■"'. 1930-31. 1931-32. 1932-33. :'■■• " .'.■■■-. £■ , .-&' b ■ BadnK- clubs (14) 658,986 463,827 419,375 Trotting, clubs (9) 263,312 190,320 173,923 ' ' TjOtals ■...■..' £922.298 £654,147 £593,278 Twelve months ago, if. will be noted, the percentage of fall over the Easter holidays was much about the as it was during the Christrrfas-New Year holidays. This year a drop of about 9 per cent, at the Christmas-New Year has .been converted into an increase of just over 10 per cent, at Easter. '■ .. '. ' . It must be observed, however, that the figures may not be quite so emphatic as they appear. A decline of 29 per cent, last year had been stemmed to one of only 9 per cent, at the Christmas-New Year, meetings, showing that, even without the changed system, the. sports had apparently :about reached the nadir of their depression. ■ The introduction of the new style undoubtedly accelerated the process of turning the tide, but even if it had not come in when it did it is possible that,, by Easter the low-water mark Would jhave been attained. ' • Another factor, finally, that needs to be taken seriously in the count when comparing this year's turriovers with those of recent years is the exceptional weather that ha's been experienced for the past three or four months. Few meetings have been held lately in anything but the most pleasant of conditions, and this has unquestionably assisted very materially towards building up turnovers. Had wet weather prevailed over the Easter, as it did two years ago, the aggregate showing of totalisators would have been nothing like what'it iff. It might'even have been doubtful then whether the downgrade trend had been checked.