LOSSES OF BOOKMAKERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 8

LOSSES OF BOOKMAKERS

ATTEMPTS TO MAKE BETS SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Radio listeners throughtout Australia, who were baffled by the cutting off' of the other stations, were completely bewildered when they heard the 3XY broadcast. Bookmakers were immediately put on their guard by the suspicious circumstances. The 3DB line was cut close to the broadcasting box. The Australian Broadcasting Commission line was cut in the ladies’ lavatory at the racecourse. Inquiries in betting circles in New South Wales revealed that widespread attempts were made to effect the coup in-country towns. Although no recognised bookmaker was affected, many small operators working on a cash basis and paying bets on radio prices, lost on the race, which was won by Bouyancy. Apparently many agents were involved. At Moss Vale, two strangers at the greyhound meeting made cash bets, aggregating £157 to £24, and after .collecting hurried from the course. At Bathurst, Lithgow, and Orange, attempts were made to collect on the race. Two strangers at Bathurst inquired if a local bookmaker could accommodate them, but the bookmaker was suspicious and refused. At Orange two unknown men placed a fairly substantial sum on Bouyancy. Bet Not Made

Two other men at Orange asked a ■bookmaker if he could accommodate them for a large sum in respect of a horse racing at Ascot later in the afternoon. The bookmaker said that it could be arranged, provided he knew the name ol' the horse early, so that he could “lay off’’ part of Ills liability. The men told him that this could not be done, and the bet was not made.

One operator at Orange, it is reported, made a wager on Bouyanci involving a £2OO pay-out, but told tlie men who made the bet ihat he could not pay until Monday, as he wanted to see that everything was in order

Another operator lost £7O on the race, but paid by cheque, which will prevent the men who made the wager from collecting the money if it° is found that they were involved in the swindle.

At the Lithgow coursing meeting two men were seen acting suspiciously at the time of the last race in Melbourne. The crowd was listening to the 2UW description, which was cut off after the announcer had said that the horses had left the barrier. The two strangers were later seen trying to back Bouyancy with bookmakers, none of whom would take the bets.

The general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission said that as far as the commission was concerned, a wire had been cut and a broadcast interrupted. “Normally, we cross to the racecourse just a few seconds before the barrier is lowered,” he said. “On Saturday, the usual announcement was made, but there was m announcement from the course. A gramophone record was then played and later an announcement was made that a technical difficulty had arisen.”