"TOTE" BREAKS DOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 13 March 1946, Page 6

"TOTE" BREAKS DOWN

investors get extk.a divibend. As the result of an accident to part of the electric totalisator apparatus during the first day .of the Taranaki Jockey •C.lub 's autumn meeting at New Flymouth on Saturday, au over-pay-ment to the public of alniost £1470 111 dividends and a reversion to the former single-pool type of investment were made. The mishap occurred during the taking of investments for the seventh race, the Okato Hack Handicap; The resultant ealculations being incorrect, an over-payment of 17s 6d on each £1 in"vested on the winnc»r of the race, Po Marama, was made when* the payout took place. The loss sustalned by the elub through this error amounted ' to £1469 39s. 6d. For the final race, the Timaru Hack 'Handicap, the single pool system of betting was used. There was an impression among baclcers that the club gained through the single pool in the last race, oue reason being the failure of backers of the second horse to get their money 'back. As was j»ointed out by a club officialf a set percentage of all investments on everj race must under law be returned to the publie as dividends, and a Govermneul oificial is stationed inside the totalisator to see that this is done. The saiue percentage was returned as dividends in the final race on Saturday as had been paid out in all previous races. Afterwards the following statement 011 the occasion was issued by the Taranaki Club; — "Through an electrieal fault which developed in the totalisator win pool rcgistrations the public was overpaid 17s 6d on each £1 ticket ou Ko. 1 in tlie seventh race, resulting in a loss to the club of £1469 19s 6d. Arising from thc fault it was not possible to operate iu the eighth race botli win and place* pools, so the stevvards decided in the interests of the people and owners to revert to the old system of dividing the pool in the proportion of 75 pei cent. to the winner and 25 per cent. to the second horse. The staff under Alr. J. M. Laird promptly detected the short circuit, which lias now bceii rectilied, and there is no likelihood of any trouble ou Monday. "

Just before closing time for the seventh race the course announcer stated that the machine had closed, but at most immcdiately he stated .tliat it would reopen as soou as a technical difiiculty had been overcome. This caused no perturbation to tlie crowd, for such difficultics had occurred before, not only in Taranaki but also with the machines in operation 011 metro politan courses. In due course the machine opened again for a short time. and the race was dispatehed not greatly behind scheduled time. Then it was found that the accident had occurred to the win ticket-sellin» apparatus and was more seroius than at first thought. The win machine could not be operated for tlie last race. Thc club officials found them selves in a dilemma, with only two courses open to them. Place tickets only could be sold, with the whole pool a place pool, or the whole pool could be treated under single pool method with a 75 per cent. pay-out on the win ner'aiid 25 per cft'nt. on the second. The club's stcwards wero called to a meet-! ing and it was announced tliat tlie total- 1 isator for the last race would operate 011 the single pool 75-25 pay-out. Experienced racegoers considerod generally that the club, had adopted the j best method of keeping faitli with all j concerned. To have used a purelv place I pool would probably have been pret'erable for a section of tlie erwod, but owners, too, had to be considered.