FALSE FAVORITES

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 11

FALSE FAVORITES

Sweeps On Eve of Races Influence Tote (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) In many parts of New Zealand; and m high sporting circles, too, what are known as Calcutta sweeps are m vogue. THEY are distinctly popular affairs, and attract the attention of all shades. No one . appears to know — or wants to know— definitely, how' Calcutta sweeps stand m the land, but it is certain that some really influential people can • get interested m the drawing of horses out .of the. hat. and the auctioneer's calls for the bidding. One thing these Calcutta's are responsible for is the making of favorites on the machines. It is known that over a country handicap quite recently one horse which had no just right to. the honor was Inade a firm first selection. This was stated to have all come about simply because it had been noised abroad that the horse referred to had brought particularly tall prices m two Calcutta's, and had been secured by people who were m the right position to know what the connections were likely to think of the prospects. 'This false favorite duly landed the goods, but it was by no such margin as the prices paid had indicated.