Biggest Derby Sweep in the World.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 4, 22 January 1913, Page 13

Biggest Derby Sweep in the World.

FACIW ABOUT CALCUTTA PRIZES. The general popularity of the Derby “sweep” is undoubtedly one of the most interesting features of that classical event of the Turf. In almost every British factory, shop, and office “sweeps are organised, employees placing their threepences, sixpences, and shillings in the pool in the hope of drawing a favourite and wnming -a pound or two, while on a much larger scale —the entrance fees ranging from 10/ to £5 —“sweeps are carried on at the big political, sporting and social clubs, and such places as the Stock Exchange and Lloyd's, the prizes in many cases running into hundreds of pounds. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that millions of people, the majority of whom would probably strongly object to gambling and aH its evils, take part hi Derby “sweeps” every year. The biggest Derby “sweeps,” however, are conducted at Calcutta, Johannesburg, and Melbourne. While, however, in the case df the last two the first prizes usually reach about £20,000, that of the Calcutta “sweep” generally totals up to over £50,000. And it is possible for this sum to be won by an outlay of about 13/6 (ten rupees). Something like half a million tickets are sold annually, and the method is adopted of giving 40 per cent of the total receipts to the drawer of the winner of the race; 20 per cent to the drawer of the second horse; and 10 per cent to the drawer of the third; the remaining 30 per cent, less 10 per cent for expellees, being divided among those lucky enough to have drawn a starter in the race, and those who have drawn a non-runner entered for the race. As a matter of fact, subscribers who even draw horses which do not start for.some reason or another may profit to the extent of something like £6O. World-wide interest is aroused by this “sweep,'’ and tickets are applied for from all parts of the world. It should be pointed out, for the benefit of those who would like to participate in this gigantic “sweep,” however, that tickets are only issued to members of tire Calcutta Turf Club, and one can only obtain a ticket through a member of the club; but there is no limit to the number of tickets a member may get. "This gigantic “sweep” originated some years ago, when Lord William Beresford was military secretary to the Viceroy of India. He conceived the idea of organising a Derby “sweep” at the Calcutta Turf Club, and in order to increase the value of the prizes, the “sweep” was advertised among all Anglo-Indians—-civilians, soldiers, merchants, and planters. The result was that it quickly assumed gigantic proportions, and has grown enormously within the last decade. Ten years ago the first prize was rather over £20,000; this year it is estimated that, like last year, it wiH be over £60,000, the winning of which, of course,, makes one practically independent for life; for even at 24 pier oent such a sum wpuld yield an annual income of £1,500.

It is not often, however, that -one person wins the whole of the first prize, for the simple reason that when it is known who lias drawn a horse, syndicates formed in India of officers and civilians approach the lucky drawers and offer to purchase their ticket, or a part Of their ticket, for a certain sum. For instance, the winner of the first prize in 1010, Dr. Bolton, the emigration agent for Trinidad, resident in Calcutta, who drew Sunstar, accepted an offer of £12,600 for a half-share in his ticket. The prize prize amounting to £60,000, he thus won altogether '£42,000; while Mr. Awbery, the workhouse master of Warrington, who drew Stedfast, the horse which came in second, disposed of a half-ehare in hie ticket to a eyndicate for £1,200. Hie prize came to £34,000, so that, after handing over the half-ehare, less the purchase monev, Mr. Awbery netted £18,200 for an outlay of a few pence over £2, having purcliased three tickets.

Then, again, £32,000 of the first prize in the Calcutta “sweep” was won in 1010 on an outlay of leas than £1 by Captain 11. T. Raban, of the Indian Army. When the captain heard that he had drawn Lemberg he sold half hie ticket for £7,500, retaining his right to the other half of the prize, which was worth £50,000. .Again, another lucky subscriber who drew the late King Edward’s horse, Minoru, in 1900, disposed of a sharq in hia ticket for the

substantial sum of £6,000. Had he retained the whole interest, he would, of coupe, have done a great deal better, but Jas it was he received altogether £20,000, enough to enable him to live in luxury fox Ute remainder of his days. That these syndicates who buy up the tickets, or part tickets, of lucky drawers find the business a very profitable one is evident from the fart that on the 1910 Derby it is estimated that they made a profit of £34,000; for, of course, there are many subscribers who, although they draw one of the favourites, think it is better to make sure of £5,000 or £6,000 offered to them by a syndicate, rather than take their chance of their horse being beaten and drawing a much less sum. The manner in which the draw is conducted is quite simple and scrupulously fair. It is made on the Saturday preceding the Wednesday on which the race is run. The numbers of all the tickets sold are placed in one revolving barrel, while in another are placed the names of all the horses originally nominated and entered for the race. Then a blindfolded boy draws a number from one barrel, and another blindfolded boy the name of a horse from the other. After each draw the barrels are revolved, giving all the numbers and horses a shake up. Those people drawing starting horses are immediately notified by wire, no matter to what part of the world they may have gone. Incidentally, it might be mentioned that there are unscrupulous persons who send out tickets very much like those of the Calcutta “sweep” in order to defraud, so that great caution should be exercised by people who desire to enter for the great sweepstake, the official title of which is the “Calcutta Turf Club Derby Sweep.”

It is scarcely necessary to mention, perhaps, that there are some curious and romantic stories connected with the winning of the world's greatest “sweep.” One year a prize of £30,000 was won by the six-year-old daughter of a native signalman on an Indian railway, and the family was instantly lifted into prosperity.

Another year a valet at a West-End club drew a winner. He sold half his ticket for £6,000, and retired on the proceeds. On another occasion a young clerk in -Calcutta, with a modest salary, was working overtime to make a home for his sweetheart. -She was a dressmaker, and the elerk gave her as a present a ticket in the “sweep.” It won the first prize, but, alas and alack! the fickle maiden, now an heiress, threw over the elerk, and sailed for England, where she married another man.

Perhaps one of the most amusing stories connected with these Derby sweeps,” however, is that of a buxom Australian widow, who speculated in a ticket in the Melbourne “sweep” with money saved from her work as washerwoman. She was reported to have won the first prize, and had a dozen proposals in almost as many minutes. Finally she was dragged off to a parson and made a bride by a storekeeper within an hour. But, to the great chagrin of the enterprising bridegroom, it appeared next day that it was another woman of the same name who held the winning house, and not his wife. The stationmaster had received a message and had quickly circulated the news, but mixed up the two women.