THE TOTALISATOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9390, 1 April 1892, Page 3

THE TOTALISATOR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am a stranger in New Zealand, but previous to arriving here I had often heard of the totalisator, and the great boon it was to the public. Well, I attended the Anniversary meeting last week and saw the contrivance at work, and I never was so utterly disappointed -—or, I might say, disgusted—at anything connected with racing in all my experience, and I have been a participant in racing for mauy years; and before leaving here, which Idoin a few days, I would like some of its advocates to point out, through your columns, some of its virtues, for I fail to discover them for myself, and I would be sorry to take away with me a wrong impression of it, for my present impression is that it would tax the power of man to conceive a system of betting that would cause such mean, sneaking, contemptible, vicious greediness as is done by the totalisator. In all parts of the world where I have been it has always seemed a pleasure on the part of au owner or trainer (I speak of course of those with whom I have been acquainted) to say to me "Yes, I think I have got a good chance of winning, go and back my horse if you feel disposed," and you could do so as freely as you thougbt fit without being considered a scoundrel or a thief. There is nothing of this freedom under the totalisator system, but. anyone who has backed a horse, whether he be owner, trainer, or your best friend, your father, your brother, or your son, he will tax his ingenuity to its utmost— deliberate, barefaced lies are of not the slightest consequence—to keep you from backing the same horse, and this is looked upon as the quintessence of shrewdness. Clever fellow that! Now, Sir, 1 think you will agree with me, that if this new mode of supporting racing is for the improvement of our blood stock it is at a terrible cost. The cost of all sense of honour or shame, and the minds of young men attending your meetings must in a very short timo become debased by it. The only reliable rule to back a horse under the totalisator regime that I cau recommend is, if you are acquainted 'with anyone connected with the horses, to take him into the booth, treat him to a drink and a cigar, and ask him what he thinks of A's chauce. Should he say "I think he has got a good chance," don't'back him. If he says " I think he'll win," don't back him. If he says "I won't have him, he can't stay the distance," put on a pound. But if he says "He has got no earthly chance, I could kick my hat faster than he can go," put on a fiver, more if you can afford it, it is not bad goods, always provided you consider your adviser a real good judge with a knowledge of what is going on. As this letter is in much the same strain as many others that have appeared in your columns, I would sincerely like to hear some of the views of the other side. —I am, &c, Dunedin, March 26. Emperor.