LATE SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19237, 26 November 1930, Page 9

LATE SPORTING.

WHY NOT DISPLAY PRICES ON TOTE> (Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY, November 19. At a time when ever}' added attraction is needed to maintain investments, totalisator officials are doing nothing to counteract the rapidly decreasing amount passing through the machines on city courses (says a writer in the “Daily Guardian”). Why has there been no advancement in the move to display approximate prices during the working of the tote? In April, 1929, Automatic Totalisators demonstrated an invention by Sir George Julius, whereby prices against each runner would be shown on a disc on the face of the totalisator, and would vary according to investments. Actually, the invention was intended for England, where the company was negotiating for totalisator rights, but it attracted great attention in Sydney among those who saw its working, and the prediction -was make that it would be installed on Sydney tracks within a year. It is known that the Australian Jockey Club, without coining to any definite terms, was greatly in favour of its installation, but evidently that wa* as far as the matter went, for there has since been heard no word of further negotiations. If, at one glance, a prospective tote investor could see hi* approximate dividend, one of the main objections to the totalisator would be eliminated, and investments would rise accordingly. Of course, tote bettors would suffer heartburning if, owing to a last minute rush for a particular horse, the dividend fell below expectations. NEW ZEALAND JOCKEY NOW OUT OF LUCK. .(Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY, November 20. Thrae or four of the leading Sydney jockeys are at the moment not riding with the judgment and dash that characterised their efforts of a few months ago. This fact, when taken in conjunction with the more or lees poor form shown by several jockeys who, while not prominent as riders of winners, get numerous mounts, does not tend to good horsemanship on Sydney courses. At the A.J.C. spring meeting several races were thrown away by bad riding, and at Moorefield on Saturday week, and at Randwick last Saturday, there were several poor efforts byjockeys who are obviously out of form. There comes a time in the life of every jockey when he cannot do smithing right, and if the rider who has a long run of non-success is temperamental, he gets worried, and the more worried he is, the worse he rides. It is extraordinary, too, the small things can happen in a race to a rider out of form. In ordinary case*, they would probably not be noticed, or if noticed not commented on, but when a rider is having his bad time, the small things are magnified, and held up against him. At the moment in Sydne3% W. Cook is on the crest of the wave of success, and is riding really well. Cook not only has a nice seat and hands, but know* where the winning post is, and ride* quietly but efficiently. With ordinary luck. Cook looks like wearing the mantle of Pike when that jockey lays it down. Cook resemble* Pike in style, and he certainly could not mould his style on a better pattern. M’Carten has for the last month on so not ridden with the same judgment that he displayed a year or two ago. This time last year M’Carten was practically invincible, and it is to be hoped that he returns to that form quicklv. M’Carten did not ride well at the A.J.C. spring meeting, nor did he do well at Flemington. For a good rider—and there is no doubt, in form, M’Carten is a good rider—the ex-New Zealander appears to get into more trouble in races than any other prominent jockey. Whether it is that M’Carten is unfortunate in the fact that his mounts are hard to handle, or that he is_ too fair, and that less scrupulous riders take advantage of his good nature, is hard to say, but, nevertheless, if there is a scrimmage, M’Carten appears to be unfortunate enough to be in t** centre of it. takapuna jockey club ALTERS ORDER OF RACES Per Pres* Association. AUCKLAND, November 26. The Takapuna Jockey Club has de, cided upon an alteration in the order of Saturday’s programme, -which will now be: Maiden, Highweight, Borough, Plate, Cup, Cambria, Fonui, Cheltenham . The charges for admission have been reduced. The outside enclosure is now Is 6d, instead of 2s. The inside charges are now: Men 7s 6d. instead of 8s; ladies 4s 6d, instead of ss.