TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 58

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bi Sentinel.

A WEAK RULE. Immensity broke a blood vessel hen doing her preliminary tor the Campbell Hurdles on the last day ot tho recent Auckland meeting, and those who had supported her to the exent ot about £4OO on the totalisator did not get a run lor their money. Under the Rules of’Racing money invested on a horse cannot be returned n tho horse has been weighed-out, but cannot tako any part in the actual race. Other cases besides that ot Immensity can no quoted where some mishap or other has prevented horses from running in a race after they have weighed-out tor it. touch a state of affairs under our system ot betting is unnecessarily severe on backers, and tne existmg rule is open to improvcment. Under English racing law there must be a possibility to win when a bet is made, and in Australia a horse is not deemed a starter until it is ordered to line up to the barrier. Tho system of betting at Home and in Australia is totally dilterenfc from tho totalisator. In straight-out betting it is distinctly unjust that a holder should have 'to refund money in a set book when a horse is not deemed a starter, although it may go to the post. For instance, suppose in a field of two tho odds were 6 to 4 on one horse aiM ovens against sho other. Under Australian rules the fielders would have to pay out on tho even money chance, although circumstances may arise by which they would have to refund bets on the favourite. They would then be practically in the position _of laying evens against a honso winning in a walkover. In ic.,rge fields tho fact money may have to bo refunded in a straight-out book because a horse which has weighed-out does not participate in the race attracts very little notice; but when brought down to bedrock it can bo seen that the principle is unfair. Straight-out betting, however, does not concern us a great deal in this country, and it is only alluded to hoio to lay stress on the rule which exists on the same point under the New Zealand Rules of Racing. If it is deemed a fair rule in Australia that a horse should not bo deemed a starter until it is ordered to lino nil to the barrier, there is much greater reason why a similar rule should bo adopted in this country. Under totalisator betting an investor docs not know what odds or dividend he is to receive until the race is over.' Only an approximate idea can bo gathered as to the extent of the pool on the odds against an individual horse, and under euoh circumstances the return of investments on a non-starter seems to be only fair to the sporting public. The rule in Australia is unfair to the fielder, and tho rule in New Zealand is unfair to the backer, because it departs from what should be a cardinal law of totalisator betting that a backer should get a run for his money. The odds under totalisator betting should be determined by tho money invested on the actual runners in the field, and not by accident, which may bring a certain amount of dead money in to swell tho pool. Further than this, it seems an opportune moment to say that the New Zealand rule opens the door to possible fraud; and, indeed, a case occurred some years ago in which there was reason to believe a great B.P. coup was worked and in which tho basis of a successful operation depended on the fact that money invested on a red hot favourite could not be returned. If a red hot favourite bolts and is allowed to be withdrawn, or a rider shams a sudden illness when at the post, the race may be given a totally different complexion, and long odds —that is to say, fraudulently long odds—may be obtained about something else without much danger of them being upset.

A CHANGE OF SCENE. This week will mark a rccl-Ictte/ period in English sporting history. For the first time since 1780 the historic English Derby, the “blue ribbon of the turf,” will be run elsewhere than on the famous Epsom Downs, whore the Derby course, with its grades and turns, represents the greatest test of stamina that can be applied to the British thoroughbred. The Derby course generally demands that _ a winner of the world-famous equine classic should be almost (perfect in its conformation. This is a matter frequently lost sight of; but it is very seldom indeed that a bad shouldered, pegdegged horse can race down hill and then hold a winning chance In the run to the posts. Stilty-legged horses can travel on rising ground or along a level run, but when down grades, dips, and sharp turns have to bo negotiated they are apt to change their stride and go all to pieces. In this country and Australia most of the tracks are level runs; and hence are not such a test of conformation as some of the English courses. The down hill run over the first quarter of a 10-furlong race at Oamaru frequently finds out unsound horses, whose proppy action in front cannot carry them down an incline. It is for this reason, or at least one of the principal reasons, why such glamour is cast over an English Derby winner, and makes them carry a value not held by many others, who have really proved themselves superior to classic form. It is indeed a matter of much regret that circumstances have arisen which made it, advisable to change the Derby venue from Epsom to Newmarket. The most reliable opinions voiced in England on the point go to show that hostility to racing was not so much due to the war as to the fact that it furnished an opportunity for those hostile to the sport and those engaged in it. The charge that the Derhv forms occasion for an annual, “beanfeast” on the Epsom Downs, and which would ho most undesirable under existing circumstances, may have caused the racing authorities to make the change. The possibility of the annual “bean-feast” taking place during the war was one of the arguments used by those hostile to tho oon.tinuation of racing in England. Some of

the latest sporting papers to hand from England find another reason for the outcry against racing. They make very broad hints, or, in cases, bald statements, that the attack on racing was really an indirect attack on Royalty. because iMiig Ueoige was in favour of a continuation of racing, and owns Friar Marcus, who holds an unbeaten record as a two-year-old, and was winter favourite for the Derby. It has been assorted that anything calculated to foment strife and trouble in England, whether it is in connection with labour, drinking, or racing, is engineered and helped along to tile greatest possible extent by German money. Tho agitation against the contimition of racing in England had ‘‘class” as its war cry. tVhy should tho rich enjoy racing whilst the poor had to fight and work 7 Racing, stopped recruiting, it was said; but tho fact remains that England was recruiting far quicker than she could equip her men. Those hostile to racing could not, or would not, sec that if racing was in ordinary times a great national sport, it was also a groat national industry carrying millions of capital, giving work to thousands of people, and supplying the whole world with thoroughbreds. THE PASSING SEASON. The New Zealand racing season of 1914-15, which is rapidly drawing to a conclusion supplies much food lor thought. It was ushered in with tho declaration of war, and has been continued under circumstances which in all probability tho world will never sec again. During tho whole course of the racing year money has been very plentiful, and whilst in the majority of cases totalisator investments have mounted higher than in previous seasons, there has also been a very liberal response towards the various funds which it became necessary to create as a result of the war. Attendances at the various meetings have shown a tendency to rise rather than diminish, and over all there seems to be a general desire that “business, as usual” is the prevailing idea. The spirit which enables a nation to play whilst it is at the same time at death-grips with another is one that many people do not seem to understand. It is, however, undoubtedly the spirit which makes, and has made, the British nation so prominent in the affairs of tho world. “ Tommy Atkins ” sits in a trench and plays some popular musichall melody on a mouth organ, whilst at the same time either he or a comrade in arms keeps an eye on an enemy only a few yards distant, and eager to put another notch on his rifle-butt. Released from the trench, he gets rid of exuberant spirits by a game of football played on tho fringe of the firing line; a few hours of welldeserverl leave is spent in a “trip to Eng land” for a day’s racing or a night in London. In some cases officers have ridden a winner or two in England during their few hours’ leave from the firing line, and then back again to duty. It is this spirit that is no doubt responsible for the large attendances at our own race meetings at a time when others believe that those of the nation not in arms should wear sackcloth and ashes. It is a queer world, but no Archimedes seems to bo in sight that will shift its course. It must be said, how ever, that one cannot help mildly regretting the very keen desire wlv'ch some folk are exhibiting to make use of tho new permits. So it is that we have our most prosperous racing season carried out despite the existence of a stupendous war, dwarfing- all others in the world’s history. Still, the continuation of anything seems quite justi liable if it will prevent one from dwelling morbidly on the horrors of war, and if the worst comes to the worst, places ■where racing or sports meetings are held should make excellent recruiting grounds, or somewhere supplying a good spot for a pressgang to visit.