THE TOTALISATOR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 935, 4 December 1933, Page 12

THE TOTALISATOR.

Great Success Achieved in Melbourne. RACING BOOMING AGAIN. Opinion is sharply divided in New Zealand as to the value of the “ win and place" system of betting, but there is no question as to its success where it has been tried in Australia. Western Australia pioneered the dual system in the Commonwealth. New South Wales started out with a threedividend svstem similar to that which will be used at New Brighton next Sati urdav. It has to be remembered ed that in these States the machine is competing with legalised bookmakers. With the three-divi-dend system, the totalisator could not make the desired headway in Sydney, though several changes were made in the proportions of the dividends. Then, in 1931, the totalisator was legalised in Victoria. For years there, a combination of the churches and the Labour Party’ had successfully opposed the introduction of machine betting. The depression came along, and a Labour Government, at its wits’ end to provide money’ for the hospitals, brought down the Bill which ordered the legalisation of machine betting. It was an open secret at the time that the executives of the principal Melbourne clubs accepted the totalisator only’ because they’ could not help themselves. However, as they had to have the machine, the clubs did things properly. They’ installed the verylatest totalisator machines, elaborately housed. Under the Act, a proportion of the moneys deducted from the investments goes to pay for the cost of the installation of the machine. The system chosen in Melbourne was the win and place, with a five shillings minimum. The success of the machine in the Victorian capital exceeded all anticipations. So much was this so, that although Sydney is never keen on following Melbourne ideas, the Australian Jockey Club went to considerable expense to change its machines for win-and-place wagering. Writing to “ Vigilant ” on November 22, one of the best informed racing men in Melbourne says: Racing here is very much on the upward trend. Indeed, the clubs have been enjoying a wonderful time. Goodness knows how much money’ they have pulled away. The tote has been a remarkably’ successful innovation, and even its most strenuous opponents of a y-ear or two ago, including Mr A. V. ITiskens, secretary’ of the V.A.T.C. and Moonee Valley Clubs, have changed their minds completely in regard to its bearing on racing. “It has not been published, but I understand—it was told to me semi-of-ficial ly—that already- the Victoria Amateur Turf Club is in such a good position that it has wiped off the capital cost of the tote buildings (about £60.000).” As has been previously pointed out, the presence of the bookmaker on Australian courses makes the situation not parallel with New Zealand. Moreover, the Australian totalisator taxation is lighter than that in the Dominion.

MYSTERY HORSE.

Country Winner and Owner Missing. United Press Assn.— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY. December 3. Chrybean. who won a race at Kilmore, SO miles from Melbourne, on Tuesday, has disappeared. Search and inquiries •like were not fruitful. Nothing is known of the person who was described as the owner, and the prize money has not yet been claimed. A Sydney sportsman who had seen a picture of the finish of Clirybean’s race noted an unusual similarity in the markings to those of the well-known Sydney performer, Erbie, who was stated to have been spelling at Forbes for some weeks, after a hard season's racng. A newspaper man yesterday was shown a horse in a paddock near Forbes, resembling Erbie in all respects. It was explained that it had not been out of the paddock for the past ten weeks.

AUSTRALIAN RACING.

Success of Ruling Light at Moonee Valley. United Press Assn.— By Electric Telegrar h—Copyright. MELBOURNE. December 3. At the V.R.C. Benevolent Fund meeting at Moonee Valley, the following was the result of the FUND HANDICAP, of 300 sovs. One mile and a quarter RULING LIGHT. Mr \V. T. Hnrffett’s b m, by Chief Ruler —Simper, syrs, 7.7 (Preston) 1 REX A U REN TIC, Mr 13. W. Seymour’s b g by Gold Brew—Lady Ormge, aged. 7.12 (A. Reed) .. 3 YAROPIAN, Mr R. Brown's ch S by Ethiopian—Yarook, 6yrs, S.l (Raker) 3 Eleven horses started. Won by half a length, with a head between second and third. Time—2min 6 3 sec. Staghorn was unplaced in the Two-Year-Old Handicap and Rulanut in the High-weight Handicap Win for J- T. Jamieson. SYDNEY. December 2. At the Moorefield meeting, the following was the result of the JUVENILE HANDICAP, of 150 sovs. For two-year-olds. Five furlongs. NIPPER. Mr -T. T. Jamieson’s b c by Tippler—Nelrene, 9.0 (E. Bartle) 1 Spanish Play. 5.5 (M. M’Carten) .... 2 Tredonner, 5.5 (S. Davidson) 3 Nine horses started. Won by a neck, with the third horse three lengths away. Time—lmin ssec. Counterplay was unplaced in the Three and Four-Year-Old Handicap. Manchu was given a run in the second division of the Three and Four-Year-Old Handicap but was unplaced. Among the horses running in the weJl grassed paddocks at Stonyhurst are two Dav Comet two-year-old fillies who are due to arrive at Riccarton early next month, in order to commence training. Owlsgleam, a chestnut from Owlscombe, is well grown, though not so big as Hard Luck, a bay from Rash Act. Having had plenty of time to mature, they look a likely pair to develop into useful performers, though it will be late in the season before they will be ready to race.