NEW SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1931, Page 8

NEW SYSTEM

TOT A LIvSATOR BETS. SYDNEY INNOVATION. SYDNEY, April 16. Any doubts about the success of the new totalisator system at. the Randwick racecourse, by which it is possible to back a horse tor a straightout win as well as for a place, have been dispelled during the Autumn meeting now in progress. For years New Zealand showed the way to Australia in the matter of the totalisator, the racing public being very shy of the machine because ol the comparatively small dividends paid. The small dividends were due to the lad. that they were, paid out on the first, second and third horses, and it was not surprising that the money put through the machine should show a serious falling off. It is clear now that iii deciding to meet the demand for a. straight-out. or one dividend machine, the authorities have acted wisely. The lota lisa tor sociirs to have come hack into its own. and its increased popularity is one of the surprising features of the big meeting now drawing to a close. Naturally there was a good deal of confusion at first, beca>us(< a bettor could not make up bis mind whether he would risk his modest investment with only one chance of a return instead of three. The reasonable dividends returned for a straightont win seemed to advertise the totalisa tor, with the result that the place betting also increased. The result was that- the amount of investments last Saturday was only £4478 below the figures last year, and a big improvement over the figures of recent meetings. The figures tor Easter Monday were even more encouraging to the club and to the State Treasurer.

The average amount invested on the tot-alisa-tor at Raiidwhk in these days of slender purses is about £->0.00(1. and it is noteworthy that more than half this amount during the current meeting has been put on in place bets. It is Mieved that the .balance represents the amount invested by the racegoer who in ordinary circumstances would not he bothered by place betting, hut would patronise the bookmaker. The bookmakers say that they have nothing to fear from the total'.sat.or innovation, hut that remains to be proved.