RACING TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20766, 8 January 1931, Page 7

RACING TAXATION.

EFFECT UPON RANDWICK.

BETTING AND ATTENDANCE.

POLICE OFFICER'S ACTION.

[from our own correspondent.]

SYDNEY, Jan. 2,

Ap irt from a continued drop in totalisator figures and attendances, the Randwick meeting run its course over the four days of the holidays without extraordinary incident. As the bookmakers before fielding on January 1 had to pay their annual fee of £7O to the Government for the privilege of betting in the paddock at Randwick for 1931, there were many absent stands yesterday. In numbers the absentees totalled 58, but some of them are Melbourne men,- who also hold paddock stands from the Australian Jockey Club for the two major meetings.

There is no doubt that the betting tax is having an adverse effect on racing in thia State, but whether to the degree emphasised by bookmakers' advocates is doubtful. Rather it is tho severe economic upheaval that is the main cause. A canvass among people who at ono timo were regular turf patrons, but are now numbered among tho absent, shows that shortage of ready money is the cause of their staying away. It is also just aa certain that the tax has put an effective stopper on the activities of tho big bettors, or, at least, driven their operations underground. Some clandestine betting is going on through the startingprice shops, by bookmakers on the courses who have vacated their stands, and through the telegraph office on tho course. There was a scene at the telograph office at Randwick yesterday when a plainclothes jiolico officer leaned across and enatched a telegram that was being lodged. After glancing at it ho impounded it in spite of protests from the clerk that, as tho form was on the counter, it was the property of the telegraph office. All theso factors have reduced racing to a chaotic state. Reduction of stakes is a certainty as soon as clubs have brought off meetings for which stake-money has been advertised. In addition, the tax has fallen a long way below the estimate, although it is believed that the four days at Randwick would have contributed sometiling in the region of £40,000. To be in keeping with Mr. Lang's idea, that sum should have been about £OO,OOO. The real test of the result of the tax will be seen at Warwick Farm on Saturday, when the first of the suburban fixtures is held. Racegoers in their present state cannot afford to pay tax on tram and train fares, entertainment tax on admission tickets, about 33 1-3 per cent, of the total, 10 per cent, on bets with bookmakers and 9 per cent, with the totalisator, exclusive of the club's 6 per cent. It ia obvious that it is too severe a drain.

RACING IN VICTORIA.

THE HOLIDAY MEETINGS.

W. DUNCAN'S SUCCESSFUL RUN. [from our own correspondent.] MELBOURNE. Deo. 30. There was the usual round of holiday race meetings during Christmas week and investors generally showed a profit on their transactions at Coulfield and Aspondale Park. At Epsom on Christmas Eve the attendance was small, but at Aspendale Park there wa3 a record attendance. This is one of the courses which, under the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, is to be abolished next August. The Chief Secretary has the power to extend its life for a term of 12 months, and it seems to be taken for granted that such an extension will be granted. In fact, there are mliny who incline to the belief that, as the Government requires all the revenue it can get, both Aspendale and Sundown Park may yet be allowed to remain.

The premier jockey, W. Duncan, was again in great form, riding three winners and being second twice at the Boxing Day meeting at Caulfield. Duncan's winning mounts were High Brae in thi» Juvenile Stakes, Kenncy in the Malvern Handicap and Hellenist in the Hopetoun Handicap. The New Zealand-bred Horoscope had to be hard ridden to win the Shoobra Hurdles. This made the third successive, win of the Absurd gelding in the last few weeks.

The Chief Ruler mare Polyxena was again produced in the Christmas Handicap at Caulfield on Boxing Day. She was a long way back in the early stages, but did remarkably well to finish fifth behind such good performers as Clarius, Umbertana, Girouetto and Blematic. Shortly after , the judge's box had been passed Polyxena's saddle slipped and she lost her apprentice rider, P. Reynolds. Whether she was handicapped by a looso saddle in the race is uncertain, but, if such was the case, there is no doubt that her chance wpuld havo been seriously affected. An interesting candidate in the Two-year-old Handicap at Aspendale Pork on December 27 was Vcile Or, a gelded son of X'aladin from Samares. This was his first start, and in a field of seven he beat only a couple of horses home. Veile Or is owned by Mr. W. S. McDermott, for whom he is trained by the ex-New Zenlander, S, W. Reid. Ho may improve with racing. The winner was Jacomalt (Drake—Lucy Malt), who had no difficulty in defeatiug Stardom and Amy Star. Tyrium (Paper Money—Bray ton) was well backed in the race and finished a close fourth. This filly was sold for IGO guineas on account of Mr. Lan Duncan at the Victorian yearling sales in March, 1930, to Mr. D. Stanley, by whom she is raced. RACING TAXATION. AUCKLAND CLUB'S PAYMENT. The taxation paid to the Government by the Auckland Racing Club on the' recent Summer Meeting amounted to £28,541, made up as follows:—Totalisator tux, £14,128; dividend duty, £12,361; stakes tax, £1205; amusements lax, £847. NORTHLAND TROTTING CLUB. ENTRIES CLOSE TO-MORROW. The programme for the Northland Trotting Club's meeting, which is to be held at Kensington Park, Whangarei, on January 29. Anniversary Day, should draw a good response from owners and trainers, The sum of £I2OO has been allocated for stakes in eight races, the principal 6f which is tho Northland Handicap, of £225, including h canteen of cutlery valued at £25. Nominations close with tho secretary, "SVhangarei, or with Messrs. Blomfiold and Company, Auckland, at 5 p.m. to-morrow. RACING FIXTURES. January B—Reefton Jockey Club. January 8, 10.—Thames Jockoy Club. January 10, 12.—Vincent Jockey Club. January 14, 15. —Foxton Racing Club. January if. —Bay of Islands Racing Club. January 17.—Ngaruawahia Racing Club (non-totalisator). January 20, 22.—Wairoa Racing Club. January 20. 22, 24.—Wellington Racintf Club. January 22.—Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club Annual. January 24.—Wairio Jockey Club. January 28, 29.—Pahiatua Racing Club. January 29, 31.—Takapuna Jockey Club.