THE COMING CHAMPION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1322, 24 November 1864, Page 5

THE COMING CHAMPION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE liYTTELTON TIMES. Sib,—As this event is now rapidly approaching and as large sums of money will undoubtedly change hands on it, do you not think some steps should be taken with a view of securing to the public an opportunity of seeing a properly authenticated state of the odds ?

In most countries where an event of such importance as our forthcoming Champion comes off, a regular list is posted in some duly authorised room to which all persons interested can have access. In this town, Mr. Birdsey has a building courteously named the Jockey Club Booms, in which an occasional meeting of the members of that Club is held; ;ind yet we can obtain no racing information whatever there. Newspaper reports of the current state of the odds are frequently calculated to mislead betting people unless properly authenticated. Very little persuasion would, I fancy, induce the Stewards and other officials of the races to take this subject in hand. And they could easily have an authentic list arranged, say weekly, and posted by their authority in the Jockey Club rooms, by which means the public could make their bets and lay out their money in a manner that could not fail to be considered bona fide. And which would also help to put a check on those low tricks which may now and again be found to be the little game of a" few unprincipled adventurous bookmakers, occasionally to be met with, and from one of which fraternity I have lately had a narrow escape. Your's, &c., A SMALL INVESTOR.