COURSE BETTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 9

COURSE BETTING

RACING AND TROTTING PAST SEASONS COMPARED REMARKABLE FLUCTUATIONS For tho 1935-36 season, the totalisator aggregate for racing meetings was £3,462,336, and for trotting meetings, £1,183,631, tho increase over tho previous term for tho former section being £534,254, and for the trotting sport, £94,563. That is, tho racing investments improved by nearly 16 per cent, while those on trotting gatherings went up 8 per cent. The total investments aro the best since tho 1930-31 season, but still less than half tho sum invested in 1920-21, when tho huge sum of £10,121,212 was handled. .The nearest approach to last season's figure was in 1915-16, when £4,782,922 of betting was accounted for. With a drop only in 1917-18, when racing was restricted, the investments moro than doubled in tho nex.t five years, then, excepting for the years 1922-24, they declined steadily. Fortune lias varied with tho two sports and it is a noteworthy fact that tho proportion of investments at trotting meetings during tho slump period was higher than in very prosperous or normal times. At one period, indeed, while speculation on the galloping courses was falling, that at lightharness fixtures was mounting. In 1915-16, before the war had serioiisly affected racing, tho machine aggregate for the Dominion was £4,782,922, of which sum trotting provided only 19 per cent. In tho record 1920-21 term, trotting's contribution was 21J per cent; in 1925-26, the trots supplied nearly 27 per cent of tho £8,605,582 total; in 1931-32, when the investments dropped down to £3,680,008, nearly 30 per cent was attributable to wagering at trotting meetings, and in the season recently completed, tho proportion was 25 per cent.

Galloping patrons, thereforo, would appear to bo more sensitive to current financial conditions than trotting enthusiasts, but the support accorded the trots during the most difficult period for galloping clubs may have been the result of a wave of popularity that for various reasons has not generally been sustained. Nevertheless, tho increase of 8 per cent in trotting investments over the last 12 months must bo considered satisfactory. NEW ZEALAND-BRED HORSES GOOD FORM IN MELBOURNE New Zealand-bred horses monopolised the places in the Argyle Welter Handicap, one mile, at Moonee Valley on August 15. The winner was Gold Trail's brother Desert Chief, who finished with a brilliant run after being badly placed earlier in tho race. Desert Chief was responsible for another brilliant perfomance in winning the Epsom (Victoria) Cup on Saturday from a strong field, and is now spoken of as ono of tho likely favourites for tho Caulfield Cup, in which ho has 7.10, a handy weight for a four-year-okl. Tho second horse was Golden Promise, who had not raced previously for nearly two years. Golden Promise, who is by Limond from Lady Bentinck, has had only four races, all as a two-year-old. He ran nowhere in the Breeders' Plate, won the Canonbury Stakes, ran second to Bimilla in the Maribyrnong Plate' and second to Strathardale in tho Bryon Moore Stakes. Ho is also being talked of as a Cup proposition. He has 8.6 in the Caulfield Cup, and 8.2 in the Melbourne Cup. The third horse was Palatinate, who had a commanding lead in the straight, but was unable to withstand the brilliant finishing run of the other two. Desert Chief credited the New Zealand trainer, S. Pyper; with his first win in Victoria.

TROTTING TAXATION AUCKLAND CLUB'S RETURNS Taxation in connection with the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting at Epsom last Saturday amounted to £2,046 4s 4d, made up as follows: Totalisator duty, £1,045 19s; dividend duty, £914 18s; stakes duty, £l3 15s; and amusement tax, £7l 12s 4d. .

NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP Moonbeam, who was trained by J. C. Tomkinson for Mr. W. A. White, has been Bent to Westmere Stud to bo mated with Beau Pere.

Merry Peel, who is now owned by Mr. A. Ferguson, Dunedin, is _ being given road and beach work prior to being tried again.

B. H. Morris, who will go across to Australia to do tho riding for Mr. T. A. Duncan, will also have the mount on Black Friar in the A.J.C. Derby and other engagements.

Lasting, who was apparently lucky to beat Cerne Abbas in the Maiden Handicap at Victoria Park last week, was recently backed for the Melbourne Cup, particularly being coupled with the Caulfield Cup favourite Donaster. Ho is a three-ycar-okl colt by Dark Fox.

Entheos, -who came into prominence last, autumn when he won a double at Trentham, is booked to re-, appear at Wanganui next week. He is engaged among the hacks tho first day and is also entered for the open middle-distance race on tho second day. ,

As the result of a post-mortem examination of Diamond, tho Grand National favourite, who broko his back during the running of the raeo.Mt was disclosed that tho vertebrae in the region of the fracture—below tho loins —were badly splintered. It was not possible to tell whether the bone had been previously cracked or injurod, but the oxtont of tho fracture indicated that this possibly had been the caso.

! Although ho did not look thoroughly ready, Surolla made a good showine; when ho contested tho Sylvia' Park Handicap .at tho Pakuranga Hunt meeting and ho looks like being; a useful three-year-old. It was recently nlontioned that Surella had been added to the list since ho raced last season, but he is still entire, and for his age is one of tho most robust of Surveyor's stock.

It is remarkable that Penny Royal, who won the Clarence Stakes, of a mile and ,a-half, at Windsor in Juno, and confirmed that form by winning tho Ebor Handicap last week, was not nominated for any of tho classics this year. Ho won three minor races as a two-year-old and was placed on other occasions. .Mr. E. T. Thornton-Smith bought him for 90 guineas at tho Doncaster sales, and for another colt, Bay Laurel, who is in tho St. Leger, lie paid 550 guineas.

M ' TROTTING FIXTURES September fi—New llrighton Trotting Cltin September 12— Wellington Trotting Club. October !i—Methven Trotting Club. October to—Now Brighton Trotting Clui. October 17 —Waikato Trotting Club. October 17, 10—Westport Trotting Club. October 24, 20—Auckland Trotting Club. Octobor 24, 26 —Greymouth Trotting Club. October 20 —Manawatu Trotting Club. October 26 —Oamaru Trotting Club. October 31 —Wellington Trotting Club,