THE MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8278, 20 October 1905, Page 5

THE MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

Considerable improvements have been effected on ths Masterton racecourse grounds during the past five weeks. The totalisator house has been completely re-modelled and enlarged, in order to allow the new totalisator to be set up. Six windows for ticketseeing, clerks and six for pay-out clerks have been provided. The working of the totalisator was shown to a representative of the Wairarapa Daily Times, who paid a visit to the course, in company with the Club's secretary (Mr Thos. Duncan). The whole process is a simplicity itself, and makes it practically impossible for any questionable tactics to be resorted to. Each ticket-seller is provided with a stamp, bearing a certain inscription—no two being alike. The tickets are placed before him iv a rack, in packets of one hundred; As investments arc asked for, he tears the required number of tickets from the respective packets, puts his stamp on, and issues them. The ticket-seller is responsible for all tickets sold bearing the imprint of his particular stamp. Until the race starts, the tickets aro rung on to the totalisator by the machinist in tens ; but, immediately the starting bell announces that the race has started, the ticket-selling windows are closed down, and the whole of the clerks' stamps collected by the man in charge of the totalisator. The remaining tickets sold are then rung on to the respective horses in singles. The calculator then makes up a statement of tickets sold at each window, and, of course, the cash in each selling clerk's box must tally exactly with the number of tickets sold, otherwise he is responsible for the deficit. The payout clerks work under similar conditions.

Other improvements are the enlargement of the tea kiosk, additional entrances to the saddling paddock, and fire escapes at the loose-boxes. The whole of the building work has been done by Messrs Coradine and Whiltake':.

Mr M. Kevins, who'has the contract for the formation of the inside training track, is making good progress with the work.