MANAWATU HUNT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 21 July 1941, Page 4

MANAWATU HUNT

RECORD RACE CROWD.

BIG TOTALISATOR FIGURES Although it was expected that there wouJd he a large attendance at the Manawatu Hunt Club's meeting on Saturday, the figures exceeded all expectations and a crowd of record proportions for the club filled the enclosures, even the grandstand in the outside enclosure being packed by the overflow from the other public stand. Although 2000 extra race books were printed, they were sold out before the first race was run.

Congestion in front of the totalisator house, where the win-and-place system of betting was in operation, was very evident, and the staff was quite unable to deal with the crowd. Race after race hundreds of pounds were shut*but. Prompt closing on the first two races led to a great number of patrons getting in early to bet on subsequent races, but matters did not improve much. The club, however, closed the machine with comrm ndable promptitude; the racing would have finished in darkness otherwise. The fotalisator turnover for the day readied no less a sum than £34 8(34 (win £l6 332 10s, place £18,511 10s) for the eight races. Last year, under the single pool system, £18,790 10s was put through for seven races, which up to that stage was a record for the club. It is interesting to note that at the M anawatu Racing Club’s recent meeting on the Saturday £24.965 10s was handled, and on the Saturday of the last Christmas Week meeting £38.380 10s was the total.

Visitors were present from as far away as Whangarei and Christchurch, there being a particularly large con tingent from Wellington, and the Wellington Racing Club’s loss through the abandonment of its meeting has been th« Manawatu Hunt Club's gain. The Minister for Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) was pre-ent, and when presenting the trophies congratulated the club on the success of its meeting. The day was a magnificent one. lie said, and the public bad witnessed some splendid raerng. The large attendance was surely an ind’eation that people appreciated an ooportunity for some relaxation during the tragic time- in which we were living, stated the Minister. •