RACING SPECULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 13

RACING SPECULATION.

THE PROVINCIAL RETURNS. HALF-A-MILLION DECREASE. MRGE DECLINE AT ELLERSLIE. TROTTING SHARES IN FALL. A substantial decline in the volume of totalisator speculation has characterised thii season's racing and trotting in the Auckland Province. With tho Auckland Trotting Club's Winter Meeting yet to be held, the grand total is down by £472,439 10s, compared with last season. This season's aggregate is £2,492,132 10s, compared with £2,964,572 last season, and I £2,819,047 10s in the 1924-25 season. Totalisator speculation is a better gauge of the spirit of the peoplo than of the community's financial worth. The sporting community is a fairly steady one numerically, and when times are good and optimism has free rein the average patron ef the racecourse is inclined to back his fancies freely. On tho other hand, when business is not quite so good, he still has his bets, but caution maintains a hold on his hand. The many thousands who do not follow the horses, in either good season or poor, still havo their cash which is available for other more certain enterprises. Followers of racing, as distinct from trotting, supported the horses of their choice to the extent of £1,860,487 this season, against £2,128,690 10s last season, a drop of £268,203 10s. Tho largest decline was at ELlerslie, where this season's betting was down by £101,237 10s. A total of 80 races was run at the course this season, the totalisator turnover being £848,450 10s, compared with £949,688 for 79 races last season. In 1924-25 there were 86 races, which accounted for a turnover of £992,197. Suburban and Country Races. Speculation at the Takapuna Jockey Club's two meetings amounted to £180,119 10s, against £225,616 in 192526, and £227,500 in the previous year. Of the three clubs in the metropolitan area, the Avondale Jockey Club was the only one to show an increase, this season's total being £226,158 10s, compared with £217,292 10s and £213,606 10s in the two previous years. The fact that the club held both its meetings at Ellerslie this season would account for a great deal of the increase. The grand total for the metropolitan clubs is £1,254,728 10s, or slightly more than double the aggregate, £605,758 10s, for the 18 country clubs in the province. Between them the country clubs handled £605,758 10s, a decline of £130,335 10s on last season and £67,735 on the 192425 season. Last season the Thames meeting was held on the Takapuna course, the Waipa Club raced on one day against two days in 1924-25, and the Franklin Club raced on its own course, whereas in 1924-25 its meeting was held at Avondale. Trotting Investments. A complete comparison of tho trotting speculation cannot be made until the Auckland Club's Winter Meeting is held. The Otahuhu Club has failed to sustain the increase of last season, the totalisator investments having decreased by £9531. The five country trotting clubs also show a decline in the aggregate, this season's total being £138,378, compared with £162,325 in 1925-26. The Cambridge Club's large increase last year was due to the fact that it held its meeting at Alexandra Park, Epsom. As in the case of racing, the trotting figures indicate the preponderating sjiare the city takes in the season's aggregate. To date the trotting turnover is £631,645 10s, compared with £732,834 10s to the corresponding date of last year. Last season's total was £835,881 10s. Following is a detailed statement of the totalisator receipts at 'the various meet- j mgs together with those of the two previous seasons:—

RACING. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. Summer Autumn Winter 1924-25. . 116*96 . 422.445} . 212,130} . 241.125 1925-26. £ 105,206 422,780 179,379} £42,322} 1928-27. £ 95,970} 356,425} 169,875} 226,179 992,197 919,683 848,450} TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB. Spring Summer . 98,617 . 128,883 108,926} 116,689} 82,806} 97,313 227,500 225,616 180,119} AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. Spring Autumn . 106,540 . 107,066} 100.068} 117,224 136,388} 89.770 213,606} 217,292} 226,158} Total. City Clubs £1,433,303} £1,392,596} £1,254.728} OTHER MEETINGS. 1924-25 1925-2G £ £ Wa.ilia.to . . 111,7144 122.512 P'ranga Hunt 40,050} 56,106 Whangarei . 55,064} 72,199} "Waikato Hunt 12,8GB} 46,763} Waipu, . . 37,6961 26,680 Rotorun. . . 36,373 .38,897 Dargavillc . 20.633-1 20,2831 B. of Ishrnds 9,323 10,413} Te Kuiti . . x 40,020} 36,359} T« umarunui 19,113} 11,722 Waipapakauri — 16,321 Thames . . 37,694 75,206} Te Aroha . . 71,092} 68,309} Ohincmuri . 73,387 } 72,533} B. of Plenty 11,357 13.196} Opotiki . . 4.67C 4.059 Matamata . 19,265} 20,481} Franklin . . 43,116 24,014 192C-27. £ 104,783 51,398 64,463 42,240 24,427} 36.295 18.450 8,367} 28,464} 33.498 15,337} 33.153} 51,815 49,963 10,022} 4,646 21,810 26,024} Total. Country Clubs £673,493} £736,094 £605,758} Totals for Racing £2,100,797 £2,128,690} £1,860,487 TROTTING. AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. Fleet Spring Summer Autumn Winter 1924-25. £ ' 99,911 . 210,589 . 102,251 1925-26. £ 50,377 111.846 202,111} 103,047 1926-27. £ 105,560} 191,063 'Winte 412,751 r meeting 467,381} not yet 296,623} held. OTAHUHU TROTTING CLUB. Spring Summer . 102,169} . 103,266} 105,787 100,388 100,965! 95,678} 205.436 206,175 196,644 Toial. City Clubs . £618,187 £673,556} £493,267} OTHER CLUBS. 1924-25. £ tVa,ik *;o . . 51,898 Te Aroha . . 9,049 Cambridge . 11,649 Whangarei (Northland) 9,240} Thames . . 12,227 1925-26. £ 76.291 15,444 43,749} 11,781} 15,059 1926-27. £ 78.529} 13,127 17,466} 11,310 17,945 Total, Country Clubs . . £94,063} £162,325 £138,378 Totals for Trotting . £712,250} £835.881} £631,645} Grand Totals £2,819,047} £2,964,572 £2,492,132}