THE LATE RACES. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6874, 27 February 1884, Page 4

THE LATE RACES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l, among many others, attended the D.J.C. Autumn meeting, and I feel sure that the unanimous opinion must be that the present management by the Jockey Club iB a complete failure as regards their working of the totalisators. I will give you my notes, commencing with the Champagne Stakes. No. 1 machine showed on horses registered 211, grand total showing 212. No. 3 machine on horses 171] the gtand total only showing 100. Dunedio Cup—No. 1, correct, 411 horses and total; No. 3, horses 549, total only showing 528. Selling Race—Owing to the manipulator of No. 1 machine altering his register rather quickly X failed to get the numbers ; but No. 3 machine showed 501 on horses, grand total 501. Publican's Handicap—No. 1, horses GO7, total 608; No. 3, horses GBl, while total only showed G4l, a difference of 40. Maiden Plate —No. 1, horses 364, total 365; No. 3, horses 255, total 2SI. Welter Handicap—No. 1, horses 334, total 314 ; No. 3, horses 319, total 704—a great error here.

Second Day.—Tally-ho Handicap—Correct, 318 and 3GG. City Stakes—No, 1, horses 301, total 292; No. 3, correct, 352. J. C. HandicapCorrect, 299 and 383. Novel—Correct again, 453 and 560. Suburban Welter—No.), correct; 471; No. 3, horses 590, total 588. Tramway PlateCorrect, 279 and 360. Hack Race—No. 1, correct, 325 ; No. 3, horses 332, total 430. While taking these numbers on No. 3 machine the manipulator commenced altering the registers, which ultimately showed on horses 773, instead of 332 as taken by me. I inquired of the gentleman working this machine what the grand total,. &c. really was. His answer being 430, I called his attention to the register on No. 1 horse, which now showed 279 instead of GB, and No. 5 horse 270 instead of 30. He seemed somewhat puzzled at the altered state' of things.

Third Day.—Steeplechase—Correct, 221 and 345. Hopeful Stakes—Correct, 203 and 362. Forbury—Correct, 440 and 603. Marshall Stakes—Correct, 371 and 526. Flying—No. 1, horses 339, total 329; No. 3, correct, 492. Benevolent Scurry—Correct, 306 and 451; No. 3 machine being worked on the lower range of figures on this occasion. The missing figures for races I did not take are Hurdle and Hack of first day and Consolation of the last day. Now, Sir, it is high time the Dunedin Jockey Club gave the working of the totalisators into better hands. I have witnessed many races both here and in Chrißtchurcb, but on no occasion ever saw the machines worked and managed so badly. I noticed new hands at the machines, who evidently did not thoroughly understand them. The bad working of them, however, ia not wholly attributable to them, for I have seen the totalisator even go wrong when worked by the makers. The machines are evidently out of order, and unless the D. J.C. rep)ace«,them by having new ones, they will surfer Im a considerable extent some of these days. I will instance two cases at the late meeting, in one of which, the Publicans' Handicap, the 292 lucky investors received £36 108 less than they ought to have done; the dividend, paid being £3 16a 6d, instead of £3 19s. In the second case, the Jockey Club themselves suffered in the Hack Race to the extent of £SS Bs, they paying 28 investors £24 os instead of £21 2s (I unfortunately was not one of the lucky holders); the correct total on the two machines being 657. Tho D.J.C., though gaining by tha one, lost by the other, being actually £51 18a out of pocket by tho transaction. The foregoing figures ought, I am sure, to convince tho Dunedin Jockey Club that it is time they handed over the machines to more competent workers, or let the privilege to those who have good machines and would have to be responsible to the D. J.C, they receiving their share of the commission whatever happened. I am sure those members of the Club who were in the offices looking after the employes had a very anxious time of it, and would gladly be rid of their (I presume) honorary work. I could say a deal more, but I am afraid I am too lengthy already.—l am, &c,

ToTAUSATOK.

February 25,