SPORTING.

Otaki Mail, 9 January 1920, Page 3

SPORTING.

a recent meeting outside the Sydney ( radius. A pony’s connections knew ■ that the event would not entioo more than three runners, and they backed ! their pony in town straight-out and at tote odds. Their pony was at 3 to 1 on in the betting, while very few members of the -public patronised the 5s tote, as they knew it would pay only one horse, and no one wanted to back the other iyp to beat the favourite. Tliod the owner of tbs pcmy backed at tote odds in town waited until the last minute j before the machine closed and put 30 1 tickets on the other two ponies. This made his own pony tho outsider of the trio, and it returned at tjie rgte of 3 to 1 against when it won. This joke wa3 successfully worked in New Zealand some years ago, but an alteration in the betting rules makes it now impossible.

A good story, said to be true, is I going the rounds. A dusky individual j from the backbloeks called on the secretary of a country racing club and expressed a desire to nominate a horse for the principal event. “Certainly.” said the secretary. “You pay the nomination fee now and the acceptance larc-jr. Now, what is the horse’s name?” The Maori promptly produced the nomination fee, and then scratched his head in perplexity. “By Korry, he go no name. Never mine—he got te preding.” “But the horse must have a name.” ’’Well, I tell yon •his rudder, his madder, but he got no name.” “Now, look here,” laughingly responded the secretary, “we’ll have to give him a name. Let me see —how would Paddy Webb jJp?” “No fear,” .replied the Maori with emphasis. “I want my horse to min; Paddy Webb—pooh! He neffer get to te front. 31