AN INNOVATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18164, 31 October 1930, Page 8

AN INNOVATION.

FIVE SHILLINGS TOTALISATOR. ,TAKAPUNA f CLUB’S DECISION. (By Telegraph—Sreclal to Times. ) AUCKLAND, Friday. The Takapuna Jockey dull lias decided upon a five shillings Lotalisator for its spring meeting. This decision was reached at a meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon and there is no doubt the step decided upon will •be heartily appreciated by the racing public- ■ Some time ago a sub-committee was appointed to go into 'the matter of the installation of .a 5s machine and in the course of their report the members staled that in considering the question of accommodation they» found ■there was ample room to instal twelve or even more windows for sale of 5s tickets. The committee was firmly of opinion that if the experiment of the 5s totalisator was to be made at all, the prevailing economic conditions undoubtedly called for it.now. To suggest that such an experiment he made when the totalisator returns were high would be obviously ridiculous but it was evident that a continuing of reduction in lotalisator returns and a steady decrease in' attendance called for somfj, innovation to attract racegoers back to the course. Present Units too High. In the opinion of the sub-committee the present units of betting were now proving '( o high for the large majority of racecourse abettors. It was curious to observe that although the attendance, had seriously decreased during the last few years Hie ratio of belting per head of attendance had not decreased to any appreciable extent which seemed to prove that (hose people still attending were satislied to bet in high units b'ut the loss , (Continued in next column.)

of attendance was due to a number of previous patrons being unable to invest in present amount. More Costly to Handle. While admitting that it was more costly to handle smaller units and from the totalisator contractor’s point of view it might become somewhat more complicated and cumbersome, the sub-committee nevertheless felt that as the success of the club depended upon the patronage provided by the public that the first consideration should be to cater for the public and provide methods of betting within their means. A Previous Engagement. In view of undoubted demand for this smaller unit Hie sub-committee unanimously recommended the installation by way of an experiment, of twelve windows in the oulside totalisator for the ensuing spring meeting. This will not be the first time a 5s totalisator has been used in New Zealand for at the autumn meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club in 1904, 5s tickets could be purchased on the outside-

RACING IN ENGLAND.

JOCKEY CLUB CUP. WON BY BRUMEUX. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received October 31, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 30. The race for the jockey Club Cup took place to-day. It resulted:— BRUMEUX 1 BAYTON 2 FRIENDSHIP 3 Only three started. Won by a length with ten lengths between second and third.