BETTING SYSTEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 11

BETTING SYSTEMS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —Being a strong supporter of the win and place system of betting, I must reply to the letter in this morning’s Daily Times signed “Small Punter.” Thanks, probably, to a printer’s error, his Hawke’s Bay increase of £40,621 10s should have been £4062 10s. Why compare three small South Island clubs with the big North Island clubs? We all know that the population of the North Island is double that of the South and that the racing clubs in the North have always been putting through much larger sums than the southern clubs mentioned by “ Small Punter.” If he wants to be fair, why not quote the North Island clubs using the win and place system against what he terms the win system (75 per cent.25 per cent.) only? For instance, the Wellington Racing Club, which is progressive, wide awake, and strongly in favour of the win and place system, at its last meeting on October 26 put through £44,859, which was an increase of £23,114 for one day on last year’s figures. Taking these figures on a percentage basis, they show a much bigger increase than the figures quoted by “ Small Punter ” under his 75-25 system. What about the Metropolitan Trotting Club, Christchurch, which has recently adopted the win and place system instead of the 75-25 system? The results of the November meeting were as follows: —

The Ashburton Club, which recently came over to the win and place system, put through at its last meeting £31,682, against £21,755 last year—an increase of £9927. These South Island figures speak for themselves. Let us now consider our own district. At the recent D.J.C. meeting on December 26 the investments on the totalisator were £19,439, of which sum £8069 10s was on the win machine and £11,369 10s on the place machine. Surely this proves which machine the small punters prefer. This in itself is a public vote with a 3300 majority in favour of place betting. The Westport Club put through under the win and place system £7736 10s, against £5324 last year—an increase of £2412 10s, and yet the sister club, Hokitika, under the 75-25 system, put through for seven races £5698, against £5986 10s for eight races on the first day and £4929 against £5840 on the second day, showing a decrease of £1199 10s. These two clubs are in the same circuit on the West Coast, and the same people support both meetings. Some big betting owners and trainers are in favour of the 75-25 system to suit their own ends, but totalisator investments show that those investing £5 and over constitute only 4 per cent, of the investors, while the remaining 96 per cent, is contributed by the general public. I challenge “ Small Punter although I think his name should be “ Big Punter ”—to come out in the open and give his name and address, when I shall be pleased to give him further figures and facts which, I am sure, will convince him that the win and place system is the best.—l am, etc., J. M. Samson. Dowling street, Jamlary 5.

1935. 1936. Increase. 1st Day £36,786 £51,054 £14,268 2nd Day 25,619 40,397 14,778 3rd Day 40,984 59,266 10s 18,282 10s