THREE DIVIDEND SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1931, Page 3

THREE DIVIDEND SYSTEM

SUCCESS AT OAMARU.

INVESTORS APPROVE OF INNOVATION. OAMARU, October 26. The innoiation of the three-dividend system at to-day’s meeting of the Oamaru Trotting Club proved to oe popular with the public This is the first occasion on which three dividends have been paid out at such a meeting in the Dominion. Recently the-Oamaru Club decided that in races where nine or more horses started, exclusive of brackets, th e system should apply. In six events to-day three dividends were paid out two dividends, being obtainable on the other, two events on the card, in which six and eight horses respectively faced theoarrier.

There was a murmur--' of surprise when the first race revealed that Earl Bingen, the third horse, was paving a better price than’ Honora Bingen, which filled second berth. In the trial Handicap Manoeuvre was third and returned the best dividend of the placed horses. In Oamaru, Pukeuri and Weston Handicaps the third dividends were also superior to those paid out on the second horses. The order of favouritism, of course, was favourable to tlie horses finishing in third place. In only one instance* to-day did the dividend for any of the placed horses return less than the original investment. This resulted in the investors of small sums voicing hearty approval of the system. « The totalisator showed a deficit of £6209 as compared with last year, a'hl

of this amount £3774 IDs was dropped on the Waitaki and Redcastle Handicaps, iu which only t" r o dividends were payable. Generally .speaking, officials of tlip club are pleased with the success of the three-dividend system. The fact that the public wery reluctant to speculate in events in which two dividends were available after . witnessing the success of three-dividend pay-outs in earlier races, was stated to he the cause of the shrinkage in the tf talisator turnover for the day, and this contention is supported by the figures. In comparison, with the five-shilling totalisator. tlie three-dividend system is stated to lie. superior, provided that good acceptances for all events arc- received. The attendance to-day was oug elm largest for some rears.