BETTING SLUMP

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 31 March 1932, Page 2

BETTING SLUMP

DECREASED TOTE FIGURES. DOMINION SHRINKAGE. The Easter holiday racing on Saturday and Monday recorded a solid drop in totalisator revenue compared with the returns of twelve months ago, and it is clear that the depression has hit racing and trotting hard. The position to-day is that the people have not the money to spare that they had in the past, and, as racing and trotting are expensive pastimes, the public has been forced to make considerably more than a 10 per cent. cut. During Saturday and Monday ten racing or trotting meetings were held, and, except in the case of the Kumara Club, which holds a very small meeting and which showed an increase in totalisator returns over last year of £643, all the meetings recorded substantial decreases. Proportionately, the Rawer# Trotting Club suffered most. Hie drop being nearly 50 per cent. With small clubs such a shrinkage in revenue is serious, and many will seriously consider whether it is worth while continuing unless the depression eases. The Auckland Racing Club has the largest totalisator turnover in the Dominion, and consequently shows the most substantial decreases. For the Easter meeting the returns were down by over £37,000, compared with the corresponding fixture last year. The drop for the ton meetings held in the Dominion on Saturday and Monday was £69,450. The actual figures are given below:—

RACING. 1931. 1932. Decrease. £ £ s. £ s. Auckland . 102,317 64,848 10 37,458 10 Feilding . 35,866 24,876 10,990 Riverton . 15,013 13,610 1,403 Wairarapa .... . 27,292 18.510 8,782 Waipukurau .. . 9,759 6,390 3,369 Riccarton (first day) . 31,135 24,150 6,985 Greymouth .... . 5,224 4,940 284 Beaumont . 3,533 3,364 169 £230,139 £160.688 10 £69,450 10 TROTTING. 1931. 1932. Decrease. Hawera 21,837 10,959 10,878 Christchurch (first day) 31,460 24,510 6,950 £53,297 £35,469 £17,828