THE ADVICE WAS GOOD

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1934, Page 6

THE ADVICE WAS GOOD

INSTRUCTION ON WAGERING TARANAKI CLUB’S RACE BOOK. NUMBER FOUR THE LUCKY ONE. The Taranaki Jockey Club in its race book for yesterday’s meeting published a page giving advice to investors. It read thus: “You can invest on any horse to win or for a place at any 10s, £1 or £5 window. Please ask for tickets as follows: Horse number 4 win, horse number 4 place, horse number 4 each way, or if more than one ticket is required, horse number 4 win—three tickets or whatever number is required. When horses are bracketed together, ask for the totalisator number shown in the race book.” Why number 4 was selected is best known to those who compiled the book, but this proved to be the lucky number of the day. Take the first statement, “Horse number 4 win.” A bettor following this “advice” with a pound each time would have invested £5 for a return of £5 16s as a result of the wins of Rollovant and Star Artist. It does not represent a big gain but sixteen shillings more than pays for a day’s expenses. Supposing the second line of advice, “Horse number 4 place,” were followed. This time a bettor would have four wagers, on Rollovant, Taitoru, Invictus and Illuminate, with the result that his four pounds would have returned him £5 9s, a gain of £1 9s. With regard to' the third instruction, “Horse number 4 win and place,” had a person invested £1 each way and £2 in the Flying Handicap, where there was only one dividend, he would have laid out the sum of £lO, on Invictus, Rollovant, Star Artist, Taitoru and Illuminate. His returns would have amounted to £l5 7s, and a profit of £5 7s. The Taranaki Jockey Club certainly provided its patrons with sage advice.