AN ATTACK ON THE TOTE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1122, 12 October 1911, Page 6

AN ATTACK ON THE TOTE.

R. J. Mason, one of our best-known sportsmen and trainer for G. D- Gre wood, has “opened-out” on the tbtalisator to a Sydney interviewer, in a manner that seems hardly fair cor. sidering that the presence of the machine in New Zealand has been the chief factor that has enabled him to carry on his calling with such success for the last couple of decades. Without the totalisator it is certain metropolitan racing clubs in this country could never have offered the generous encouragement they have done in promoting classical races. And when it is considered that Dick Mason made his name on the New Zealand Turf as the trainer of classic winners for the late G.G. Stead, his remarks in condemnation of the totalisator that provided the stakes for these events, come with ill-taste from him. Mason is reported to have said that “racing in the Dominion is now cheap and nasty, and most of the stud masters had been forced to sell out, and those remaining sent most of P—yearlings to Sydney, where better prices were obtainable, because was no totalisator in existence” How in the name of commonsense can he make such a wild statement in the face of the great strides the metropolitan clubs, which contribute most of the plums Dick Mason gathers, have made of. recent years, especially in the way thej r have raised the prize money for weight-for-age races. Also we would be glad to learn from Mason in what way he considers the sport has become “cheap and nasty;” and still further how he can substantiate his contention that the totalisator' is responsible. Mason again shows lamentable indiscretion by throwing out a bait to “wowsers” when he declared: “Butchers and bakers had to go without money, while many of their debtors splashed it on the totalisator. He had seen women tear their clothes in the mad rush to get tickets.”

If there is any influence that has done harm to the King of Sports it is the unwarrantable interference of the “wowser.” Such loose, unguarded and wholly erroneous statements as Dick Mason has given expression to will be eagerly taken up by the spoil-sports to work on the unthinking and gullible public to the detriment of sport.