HOLIDAY BETTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 4

HOLIDAY BETTING

DOMINION DECREASE A DECLINE. OF £30,000 OVER £1,193,000 INVESTED For the first time since 1935 a decrease was recorded in the aggregate of totalisator investments at race meetings held throughout the Dominion over the holiday period. Twenty-two racing and trotting fixtures havj been held since December 23, and m 18 cases there was less betting than at the same meetings a year ago. However, for 'lie third successive year since 1929-30, total investments exceeded the million mark. This year racegoers backed their fancies to the extent of £1,193,295, in comparison with £1,224,062 10s last season, a decrease of £30.767 10s. Few Increases Shown The only clubs to enjoy an increased totalisator turnover were the Auckland Racing Club, the Waipukuraj Racing Club and the Winton Trotting Club. Investments at the Dunedin Jockey Cub’s meeting were a'so substantially higher, but this was due largely to the fact that this year there were three days of racing, whereas only a two day .programme was provided last season. Unfavourable weather, particularly in the South Island is regarded as cne cause contributing to the decline in investments, although rain was net sufficiently widespread to be considered as a general factor. Had it not been for the fact that the totalisator at Ellerslie handled an extra £59301 during the summer carnival the drop throughout the Dominion would have assumed larger proportions. Two Periods Compared The following comparative table sets out the totalisator returns at the Dominion racing and trotting meetings during the holiday period:—

861,068 852,499 "Three days’ racing this year, as against two days last year. TROTTING

Auckland racegoers, through their investments at Ellerslie and Alexandra Park, contributed nearly half of the holiday betting throughout the Dominion. The Auckland racing and trotting totalisators handled £539,357, approximately 45 per cent of the New Zealand total of £1,193,295.

RACING This year £ Last year £ Auckland 369,848 319,547 Manawatu 108.712 122,0544 *Dunedin 65.111 44,603 Stratford 49,681 56,730 Taranaki 45,932 A 50,764 Wairarapa 41,722* 49,988 Marton 38,3944 45,663 Southland 38,3784 40,8914 Hawke’s Bay 23,8644 28,891 Waikouaiti .. 21,375 23,7664 Wyndham 15,999 22,2004 Oamaru 13,1414 14,011 Greymouth .. 12,8764 17,453 Waipukurau 11,780 8,551 Westland 4,2514 7,385

This year Last year <£ £ Auckland ■ . .. 169,5114 189,845 Canterbury Park 86,098 89,3424 Ashburton . .. 23,5284 36,302 Gore .. . .. 18,218 19,793 Westport . . .. 17,0794 18,838 Winton . .. 13,297 12,8884 Reefton . .. 4,495 4,5544 332,227 371,5634