TOTE CLOSES DOWN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 April 1928, Page 9

TOTE CLOSES DOWN.

WINNER PAYS BIG DIVIDEND. One of the most extraordinary inci-i dents in the history of New Zealand' racing occurred at. Hastings last Friday (says the “Dominion”). . Intending investors on the Poiikawn Handicap were dumfo.unded by the totalisator closing unexpectedly when betting had not been long in progress. The windows did not open again, the result of the race causing a sensation, as the winner had only one ticket on him. Certainly the machine did not close before time, but as there was only a small sum invested, and particulars as to the barrier positions had not been poster], the public had no idea that the windows would, go down. The impor-. tance of the barrier positions may be gathered from the fact that the distance of the race was six furlongs, auj there were twenty-four runners. Intending investors were dumfounded, but the windows did not open again. One result was that five runners had only £1 invested on their chance, another carried £2, two carried £3 each, and one carried £4. Another aspect is that the owners who had intended to back their horses had not a penny on them. One of these was a sportsman whose horse went within an ace of winning. The result of the race caused a sensation, the winner turning up in Keen, who was one of those carrying only £l. His dividend ran well into three figures, and his owner was not the holder of the valuable piece of .cardboard. Gallanmorc, from whom Keen just scraped home, paid a good price for second. The holders of the ticket are said to be two ladies.

It is not easy to discover how the sudden closing of the machine came about, but the secretary states that had he been consulded by the totalisator people the trouble would not have occurred.