BLOW TO BOOKMAKERS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1935, Page 12

BLOW TO BOOKMAKERS

ARACHNE’S CAULFIELD AVIN.

SOME SPIRITED WAGERING.

The betting on the Oakleigh Plate at Melbourne on February 16 was very spirited, but was confined to the three placed horses (Arachne, Winooka and Heros), with, a few stray big wagers for Sir John, Sun Clad and The Marne. Finally, when the Winooka commission was finished, Arachne firmed to absolute favouritism again. As soon as the betting settled down a wager for £l4OO to £2OO about Winooka led to a rush for the top-weight, and with commissioners operating in various positions other Winooka wagers nbted were: £l2OO to £2OO, £7OO to £lOO, £6OO td £lOO, two of £5OO to £lOO and two of £4OO to £lOO.

Later some of the bookmakers were backing Winodka themselves to reduce liabilities.

Wagers dn Arachne included ohe of £lBOO to £4OO and two of £BOO to £2OO. There were also tw6 of £6OO to £2OO, and several of £450 to £lOO and several of £4OO to £lOO.

It is estimated that the best part of £lO,OOO was taken out of the ring as a result of the success of the Cdrban filly. It was one of the most successful tiltfe at the betting ring for a long time. Winooka would have taken nearly as much money from the bookmakers, and Heros would have been a bad horse also, so the backers were right on top in this event.

The bookmakers were not- long in getting some of this money back. Arachne was heavily backed to win the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last Saturday but failed to fill a place.