“TOTE” BREEDS ROGUES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5229, 20 January 1928, Page 1

“TOTE” BREEDS ROGUES

INIMICAL TO RACING. VIEWS IN ENGLAND . I cannot divest myself of the,, conviction that it will be inimical to the best interests of racing. That the machines can be made to produce money is not to be doubted, but

money is not everything. Thus observes a sporting writer in an issue of London Truth, who has something to say in reply to the A§» Khan’s recent letter to the Presfe on the totalisator. “ I believe,” he says, “ that the Aga Khan himself has nothing whatever to do with betting or wagering, -and it occurs to me that he may have overlooked the difference betweep the two. What I have in mind is that the investing of money by means, of the machines is gambling pure and simple, call it wagering if you like ; whereas betting, as carried on between a bookmaker and his client, is to a very great extent a purely business operation dependent in- many cases upon the ability of the bettor to avail himself of thei turn of the market, to say nothing of, the opportunity it affords for the hedging of a bet. “How is this operation to be car-

ried on through the machines? It appears ,too, that the Aga Kjhan is of opinion that the installation of the machines will make for the purity of the turf. He may be right, but as to that readers of these notesi may perhaps remember that some time ago I published a letter on that subject from one of the best-known owners and breeders in Australia. LIARS AND ROGUES. “In that letter my correspondent said: *The» tote breeds liars and

rogues of every description, and if an owner wants to; back liisi horse in earnest he must either abstain from going to see, him run or be prepared to lie to his best friend.’ “I might also point out that with regard to money invested in the ma® chines all trace of its origin and destination is lost, whereas, the case arising, nefarious; transactions can be traced by reference to records kept by bookmakers. “The Aga Khan further expresses the view that the application of the totalisator system of, racing is the inevitable corollary of the introduction of the bettipg tax. That new branch of public revenue will continue to be a source oft friction.and

resentment unless its application is made automatically effective by the totalisator. No ; better way of. securing this;- end -can be devised, in my judgment, than that under which all money invested, at starting price and on the racecourse will be invested in the totalisator. “It may be so, but I should like to know how this, investment is to be made —how large sums of money are to be thrdwn into the machinle ait the very last minute. Then what about

the tax to; be deducted from money passing through the machines ? INCREASED TAX. “As I understand the policy now 1 recommended by the stewards of the jockey club, the introduction of thei Pari-mutuel or totalisator machines is proposed as ‘means by which betting may best be made to contribute to the maintenance of sport.’ That, I take it, means that the jockey club will claim a certain proportion of any tax that may be levied on money passing through the machines, and it may be taken for granted that Mr Churchill, will not forego his share of the plunder. “It follows that we have to look forward to an increase in the tax on betting, and if it be true, as I think it is, that the present betting tax has been no inconsiderable factor in the falling-off of racecourse receipts, it would seem that, with increased taxation, there would be a still further falling off in the attendance at race meetings. “It is, however, oply ftair to assume that before committing themselves in favour of the ‘mechanical bookmaker,’ the Stewards of the jockey club have carefully considered both sides of the question, and if, with the information at their disposal and their intimate knowledge of turf affairs, the introduction of the machines commends itself to them, I can only bow to their better knowledge.” '