LUCKY INVESTORS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 6

LUCKY INVESTORS

SIBELLA’S LARGE DIVIDEND SENTIMENT REGARDING NAME' Of the two win tickets taken on Sibella, who paid a dividend of over £3OO at Banks Peninsula races recently, one was held by Mr T. Harkess, of Lyttelton. He could not by any means be classed as among those who pick horses blindly, for he lias been a moderate follower of races for years. In his case the name liad much to do with his venture, for it was the name of his mother. In addition to that, he stated that he liked the horse, in spite, of the fact that, until the day of the races, it was without form. It is probable that his fancy for it originated in the sentimental association of the name. It attracted him sufficiently to induce him to' back it for IQ shillings on the win machine and for a like sum on the place machine. It was for him a timely win. A waterside worker by occupation, he suffered an injury to a hand a little while ago and as a result has been unable to work. A really .substantial win, therefore, could not have come at a more opportune time. It was again the association of the name that led another .supporter of Sibella to a lucky investment, although this, on the place machine, did not return the sensational reward that Mr Harkess received. When Mrs Boulton, hostess of the United Service Hotel, was “looking them over” at Motukarara, the name Sibella recalled an association of girlhood days, for it bad been the name her father liad called her by.

“I felt it was worth something,” said Mrs Boulton. But she did not let sentiment sway heir too strongly, her concession to the associritioh df the ririhie goirig no further than a contribution of five sfiilHnigs to make up a ticket oil the place machine. It was purely a concession to sentiment —she did not expect the 'horse to win. “I wish,” she said, “that I had had a ton shilling ticket on the win machine.” For Sibella, on the place machine, was very much a horse of another colour from Sibella on the win machine. .

Thus, of the small hand of people who backed Sibella at least two were moved by motives of sentiment, which always plays its part on all racecourses as one among the multitude of reasons that induce people to risk money on the hazard of the raoe.