THE OTHER SIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 318, 31 March 1928, Page 6

THE OTHER SIDE

BOOKMAKERS HIT FLEMINGTON EXPERIENCES From all accounts the layers in Australia have not had matters all their own way during the last six months, but that is not to say that any of them are going out of business. The bookmaker as well as any one else is entitled to give his side of the ease, so that the following statement from one of Melbourne’s biggest fielders, Mannie Lyons, is of interest: Some people have the idea that a bookmaker never loses. They imagine we just have to stand up and pour money into our bags, and pay back a small percentage when a well-backed horse wins. The average racegoer thinks that just because he has had a bad day the bookmakers have had a royal time. He seems to forget that others backed the winners he missed. Actually, the recent Flemington meeting was nearly as bad for me as the last Melbourne Cup meeting—and that -tfas awful. Mind you, lam writing of my own personal experiences, and maybe some of my fellow-fielders came out on top. At any rate, I heard three prominent Sydney bookmakers declare that they would only come to Melbourne for the Cup carnival. CUTTING IT OUT They intend to cut out the autumn meeting, as they say they do not get value for their money. Gy that they mean that the reward, if any, is not .sufficient for the risks they are compelled to take. The money is not scattered over enough horses in every race, and often they have to “rake on” one or two winners in the hope of their being beaten. That’s not bookmaking; it’s simply trying to pick winners, the same as the punter, who does rot have to pay a heavy tax for the privilege. I’ve heard a lot of people .my that double bookmakers “got the lot” over the Newmarket and Cup. Here’s my result. I lost £2,900 over Gothic straight out. and I laid £6,700 about Gothic and Sea Money in the double. In addition. I laid £ 3,400 about Sea Money straight out. I won on the Cup, but that did not nearly recoup my losses on the minor races. Then, think of the risks I undertook. I laid the following amounts in doubles with Gothic: £19,000; Valwyne. £15,000; Frilford, £12,000: and FiUiewinkie, £17,000. There did not appear to be much hope for me before the Cup started. Sea Money was .one of the best horses in the race for my book, yet I lost heavily on the meeting. REMINDERS Owners and trainers are reminded that acceptances for the autumn meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club, to be held on April 14 and IS, are due with the secretary, Mr. A. J. Farquhar, Box 590, Auckland, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11. Handicaps are not due until Tuesday, April 10. Nominations for the winter meeting of the Egmont Racing Club, to be held on May 10 and 12. will close with the secretary, Mr. E. F. Cox, P.O. Box 51, Hawera, at 5.30 p.m., on Friday. April 20. Handicaps wili be declared on Monday, April 30. RACING FIXTURES March 30. 31—Mas ter ton R.C. March 31—Whangaxei R.C. April 7. D—Folding J.C. April 7, 9— Wairarapa R.C. April 7, 9—Auckland R.C. April 7, 9. 10—Riverton R.CApril 9—Waipukurau J.C. April 9. 10— Canterbury J.C. April 12—Westland R,C. April 14—Greymouth J.C. April 14, 18— Avondale J.C. April 18, 19— Manawatu R.C. April 31. 23— Marlborough R.C April 37. 28—S. Canterbury J.C, April 28. 30— Waikato R.C. May 4, s—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 3. &—Nelson J.C. May 10, 12 —Egmont R.C. May 12—Amberley R.C. May 17. 19 — Wanganui J.C. May 26—Ashburton R.C. June 2, 4—OtakJ R.C. June 2, <, 6—Dunedin J.C June 2, 4 6—Auckland R.C. June 16—Napier Park R.C. June 20—Hawke’s Bay Hunt.