THE TO TALISATOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 10

THE TO TALISATOR

ENGLISH COMMENT ON NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM

(By Edward 'lloorhouse, in the London

"Observer;") There is some doubt as to where the pari-mutuel system of betting originated. It is said to hayo beeu invented in Franco und exploited there in p. very jiriinitivo way in tho late 'seventies. The paraphernalia comprised n blackboard, piece of chalk, and flips of paper'on which the operator recorded the bets. 1 remember seeing an outfit of this character in use on the lull at Epsom about twenty years ago. The "proprietor" deducted twopence in the chilling, and he certainly earned every penny he got, be-ca-uso ho spent half his lime and breitth explaining to the throng surrounding him how the system worked. . There is, however, fairly "strong evidence supporting the claim that tho first automatic recording machine, or totalisator, was constructed in Aw Zealand, and used at the Canterbury Meeting, in 18S0. lie that as it may," it was assuredly in New Zealand that the "tote" passed from an experimental to a practical existence, fe'omo years elapsed before its merits were generally recognised, and those whose interests it threatened took good care to fan the flame, of opposition at every opportunity, '.but' eventually the bookmaker was supplanted bo far as racecourse betting was concerned. - Confessions of a Convert. Desiring authentic informatics about the working nf the totalisator in A'cv Zealand and its influeuce on racing in that country, , ! sought out Mr. E. H. Nolan, C.8.E., who, for thirty years or more, has played a prominent part on the Ne\y Zealand turf, and assisted the Government in matters connected therewith. During the war he hag been in London attending to the social needs of New Zealand troops. I had previously had many a talk with, him about racing in the Dominion, but thought it bettor to ascertain his specific views on the totalisator question. Ho was good enough to say he had read my articles with interest and approval, and would be glad to assist me, because, knowing what the totalisutor had done for raciiig in New Zealand, he was convinced that its adoption in this country would work wonders.

Air. Nolan Jiegau by raying that when first he became acquainted with the "tote" he ranged himeelf with the opponents of. the machine. His hostility was inspired by the (ear that it would convert the majority of owners into liars. He assumed Hint a man who expected his horse to win .would do his utmost to prevent other people backing it, so as to increase,the odds returned'by the "tote." That saine fear , was expressed in New South Wales two years ago' when the totnlisntor was legalised in that State. This led a writer in a New Zealand journal (the Christ-church. "Weekly Press") to state that his experience and observation left him in no doubt that the lotaliealor had, in fact, made owners more communicative regarding the chances of their horses. "Nine owners out of ten are," he asserted, "genuinely disappointed if their friends do not participate in their good fortune." This attitude may seem curiously paradoxical, but it is accounted for by Mr. Nolan's statement that an owner no longer has to bet to make hie roping "end?" meet.- Owing to Ihe money received from the "tote, stakes have so increased in value, and entrance fees and forfeits linve been so much reduced, that an owner can now well afford to let his horse run for the stake alone. So soon as. he rHised that this must bo the effect produced by the totnlisaror Mr. Nolan became one of its enthusiastic converts, and 6ome thirty years nc;o exerted all his influence to secure (lie abolition of tho bookmaker. \

Stakes More Than Doubled. After my interview with Air. iVolan, | 1 collected some figures, which show tho influence the totalisator has had on rac- / ing stakes in New Zealand. I was able to compare stakes competed for in IS9I- - with those of 1917-IS. The contrast is shown in the following table:— 1891-2. 1917-18. Av. per Av. per Stokes, race. StoUei. race. • ■v. ' ' £ £ £ JC Auckland— Summor 3,910 162 10,873 453 Autumn .1,650 118 5,620 351 Canterbury— Spring 5.0 M 221 11,050 460 Autumn 2,430 172 5,530 415 Wellington— Sunnier, 1,640 96 5,560 347 11610 151 38,635 . 402 At Auckland in 1891-2 there were stake? of as low a value at £06; at Canterbury and Wellington there were then «£3O races. In 1917-18 there was no utake at any of (he three courses worth less than .£l4O. I stated last week that wherever the pari-mutuel or totalisntor has been introduced the value of stakes has quickly doubled. It will be seen that in New Zealand it has much more than doubled.

The totalisntor units of investment in New Zealand are ;C1 and lfls.. but all the money t«kon xom into one pool. %h& sraullur unit is deliberately fixed so high in order to discourage poor people from betting. It seems that, the majority of beta are for ,C 1; Mr. Nolan thinks they number nine-tenths of all bets. The speculation, in fact, takes the form of betting and not fiamblin?. Everybody likes to risk a small sum, just to obtain a direct interest in a contest. Ten per cent, is deducted from the pool, and this ■Iβ per cent, (less tax and working expenses) Roes back into racing. It. ia enacted that any profits derived by an executive from the totalisator in anj- one year shall the following year bo distributed in the form of stakes. The law also ordains that entrance fees and forfeits must under no circumstances exceed 5 per cpnt. of tho value of the stake. As a rule they do not amount to more than 21 per cent, and ofton to only U per cent. AH racecourses in New Zealand are non-proprietary ventures.) At no meeting is the charge for admission to the grandstand and paddock more than 10s. "As a pure matter of business," says Mr. Nolan, "tho cheaper, within reason, you make racing the more money you got from the public."

I asked Mr. Nolan how , our racecourses compared with thoHe in New Zoalnnd, and he replied: "Tho arrangements'at mnny of the courses in this country .ire for below Hie> standard wo require to be attained before wo grant a permit. But, of course, all the money we make out of racing is spent for the benefit of the sport nnd of tho public. Our race tracks are like beautiful lawns, and are tended with infinite core." Siimmimr up the position, Mr. Nolan emphatically declared that tho adoption of tho totalisator has improved raoing in New Zealand, nnd everything connected with it, out of all knowledge.

Argentina is another country where the p&ri-imitu'el holds sway. I have obtained from Sottor 11. Martinez de JToz, tho president of the Argentine Jockey Club, some information and literature relating to the results accruing from the operation of the machine, but the details in iny possession are not yet as complete as I could wieh. I have, however, made further inquiries, and hope in duo course to acquiro additional authentic ■ facts. In tho meantime, I niny as well give those that have come to bund.

How present-day racing stakes and liabilities of owners running their horses at Palermo (tho fine racecourso on the outskirts of Buenos Aires) compare with those of the pre-pari-mutuel days I cannot say, but they are framed'on so liberal a scale that the influence of the funds derived from the machino is manifest;. The entrance fee for all ordinary races is one per cent, of the valile of the prize to the winner. In the more important races it is only i of 1 per cent. A day's programmo invariably consists of eiiiht races, none of which is worth lees thnn .£265 to tho winner. On days when there is no important event the average vnluo of the races to the winners is about .£'l2o. The second horso receives a sum equal to one-tenth of the winner's share, and tho third eaves his stake. lam told by a friend who has done n lot of racing at Palermo that the charge for admission to the grandstand and paddock is 13s. All the appointments are of a most luxurious character.

Ton per cent, is deducted from Hie pari-mutuel pool. Tho Ciovornmimt receives a clear 5 per cent. The Jockey Cl«b gets what rorooins of the other 5 per cent, after expenses incurred, in working the machine have been paid. The money received by the Government

is distributed between the city of Buenos Aires, hospitals, and the lioard of Education. lam not: quite certain, but 1 believe thp II) per rent, dwluclecl in 1917 produced the sura of £525.000. I bnso (his calculation on ii statement in the report of Hip Jockey Club Hint. JJ2G2.838 find been placed in the National Bauk to the order of the Commissioners of liaceconrses. and I take that to Ire the proceeds of the Ti per rent, to which the. Government was.entitled, tf after i>aymir the expenses eutniled in working the pnri-iniituel the Jockey Club's share amounted to 3 per cent, they would get 41157.500. The revenue from the meetinns, apart from entry fees for horses, subscriptions, etc., was .5437,950, nnd thai included the pari-mutuel receipts. This total shows the gigantic scale on which the rnrinK at Palermo is planned, and enables us to "entertain conjecture" of the success which would attend a similar venture on the outskirts of London.