IRISH SWEEPSTAKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21775, 14 October 1932, Page 9

IRISH SWEEPSTAKE

LUCKY AUCKLANDERS HOLD TICKET WORTH £IO,OOO (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, October 13. Never before was there such jubilation in a Mount Eden home as there was when at 20 minutes to 4 this morning a ring came on the telephone to the home of Mr J. W. B, Comes, of Disraeli street, to announce that he and his father had won £IO,OOO in the Irish Sweepstake. Mr J. E. Comes and his eon, Mr J. W. B. Comes, aged 30, are in partnership as grocers in Mount Eden. They have owned the business for 16 years. Three months ago they bought a ticket in 'the sweep from a traveller for, a city firm who calls on them regularly. The father and son each paid 5s 6d, but tlie ticket was forgotten until last Saturday, when to the joy and delight of Mr and Mrs Comes, senior and junior, they received a cable message from the officials of the sweepstake which read, “ Congratulations. You have drawn Sandwich. Mailing collection instructions 18th.”

When they learned of the good fortune of Master Francis Ritchie, the 15-year-old boy, who drew Bonny Brightcyes in the same sweepstake, they made arrangements to “save” with the boy. The families live only a few hundred yards apart. A legal agreement was drawn up under which it was arranged that if either Bonny Brighteyes or Sandwhich gained a place in the Cesarewitch race on which the. sweepstake was held the owners of the winning ticket would pay to the others £SOOO for first, £2500 for. second, and £ISOO for, third. So Master Ritchie, besides the £7OO odd which he. will receive for his horse Bonny Brighteyes starting, will be given £ISOO by the Cornea. Young Ritchie’s total winnings will, therefore, be over £2OOO.

With the legal agreement drawn up and two favoured horses to run for them, the three Mount Eden families waited with suppressed excitement for the day of the race. The event was run about 3 o’clock this morning, New Zealand time. Young Ritchie, a pupil of the Technical College, did his home work and went to bed. The Comes family gathered round a short-wave radio in the hope that they would be able to pick up something of the race. With great patience and unbounded excitement they tried to tune in, but when 1 o'clock this morning came and they had not heard a sound they went home to bed. Then at 20 minutes to 4 came a ring on the telephone from a friend in the Pacific Cable Board’s office. “ Sandwich got third,” said the voice, “ and you win £10,000.”

It appeared that the friend sent private cables to Montreal and to Sydney asking them to send a flash , message of* the result of the race as soon as it was kniwn. Just after 3,30 this morning an instrument in the Cable Board’s office taped out a message from 1 Montreal announcing the result. Five minutes later a similar message was flashed over the wires from Sydney.

Congratulations poured into the homes of the Cornea all this morning, and the telephone rang incessantly. There was a stream of friends and others into the grocer’s’ shop. A salesman called with a brand-new motor car. • •

.“It’s Just too wonderful,” said Mrs Comes, Jun., who was more excited than all the rest of the family put together. “ I don’t know what we will do with the money. I suppose we will invest it.”

With the exchange added, the Comes will receive oh the 18th of next month about £IO,OOO. Master Ritchie was amongst the first to congratulate the Comes. He went off to school this morning highly delighted. He still says he will probably buy a farm. Mr Ritchie, sen., refused to comment. From inquiries made this morning it was learned that the £IO,OOO which has been won by the Gomes families is not taxable.' The Income Tax Department regards money won in sweepstake's as capital and not as income. RESULT OF THE RAGE (United Press association.) ■ 1 (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 12. ■The CESAREWITCH STAKES HANDICAP, JSlOsovs, two miles and aquarter (Newmarket- course), re-, suited NITSICHEN, b g, by Achton— Latium, 4yrs .. .. ;. .. 1 CHELMARSH, hr h, by. Forerunner —Amadina, syrs .., 2 SANDWICH, b c, by Sansovino— WaffleSj 4yrs ...... .... .... 3

Won by three lengths, > two lengths between second and third. Twenty-six started. '