THE TOTALISATOR IN FRANCE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3144, 19 July 1901, Page 3

THE TOTALISATOR IN FRANCE.

The Paris correspondent of a London paper writes: —June is the month consecrated to the principal racing events in France. The Trench Derby, run at Chantilly, the Grand Steeplechase and .Grand Hurdle Race at Auteuil, and the Grand Prix de Paris at Long-ihamps, follow in quick succession, without, however, interfering with the daily fixtures, which is an important consideration. Indeed, few outside France realise to what an extent racing goes on here. It has become a passion, a babit, a daily necessity, with thousands of Parisians. The whole year through, with the exception of six weeks in winter, the afternoon diversion, or rather business is, immediately after dejeuner, ru rush off to Auteuil, or Saint Ouerr, or Mai-soC'S-Laiiltte, or Colornbes, or Fnghein, •or Vincennes, or Longchamps. These places are just outside the walls of Paris. Fortunes are made, and more often unmade, in the fashionable paddock, with 20f. admittance. Its frequenters, however, are the wealthy, the idle, and the dissipated. But it is in the field, where all may enter at the modest outlay of 3f. or If., that the real mischief is done. Here, every day, are thousands of the humbler sort—the cori•cierge, the butcher boy, the garcon, the employee, old women, young upves—drawn irresistibly to that vortex, the pari-muteal. The thing is made so easy for them; there is no dealing with doubtful bookmakers; all is plain sailing, and the system, 'horrible as it may seem, is under the protection of the public authority. . Just a simple sf. is sufficient to begin with, presented at the little counter, with a ticket in exchange bearing the number of the horse. The result, giving the sum won, is posted up in a prominent place immediately alter the race. The lucky individual draws his money at once, at the rear of the said counter. The fever takes possession, Hie savings of years are swallowed up, work is neglected, and finally the poor wretch becomes a beggar, a thief, or a suicide. The State allows this to go on, on the principle that it brings money to the Assistance Publique, and thus substantially relieves distress. The Assistance Publique receives! 7 per cent, of the takings of the pari-mutuel. A blind policy, for the racing about Paris creates more poverty and misery than the funds thus acquired can ever' hope to assauge.