PORTABLE TOTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 12

PORTABLE TOTE

NEW ELECTRIC MACHINE A SUCCESS A BRITISH TRIUMPH A fully-mechanised portable totalisator was on trial at Folkestone Racecourse last month records London sporting: Life.” and after a thorough test the unanimous verdict was that it had proved a complete success. The machine was made by the British Automatic Totalisator Company, Limited, of Ealing, and was the first type to be tested. From the very first the B.A.T. has concentrated on three essentials—reliability, visibility, and portability. Therefore, in setting out to produce a reliable and portable fullymechanised totalisator. the B.A.T. called in some of the leading expert brains in the electrician world, and eventually, with their sub-contractors, evolved the machine as demonstrated at Folkestone. Answers Every Criticism This machine answers every criticism that has been levelled at times against the hand-controlled machines in use last season, but it must not be overlooked that the hand-controlled machine will still supply the requirements of certain smaller courses where the expense of a fully-mechanised totalisator would neither be justified nor indeed required. The wants of the more important race meetings will, however, now be met with the fully-mechanised totalisator. This machine is so designed that no matter how many selling booths are in use, whether concentrated in one spot or widely separated in different enclosures*, every unit is instantaneously recorded on the indicators, whatever denomination of bet is made. The tickets can be issued at a rate of over 50 a minute, and the electrical circuit will convey the proper number of units to the indicator, irrespective of the value of' the bet, whether 2 s., indicated as 1 unit. 10s, 5 units, £l. 10 units. £.lO, 100 units, or £IOO, 1,000 units. The number of units are collected, added, and shown on the electrical indicator against each horse, and the total of the pool, whether win or place, instantaneously and accurately increased to the proper total. Triumph of British Ingenuity The method by which the tickets are printed with various items of inform-

ation, such as the value, date, number of race and horse, whether for win or place, code numbers, etc., how the number of units are sorted out and collected for each horse and automatically counted by the electric adding machines, and how in turn the resulting figures are carried to the indicator board is a triumph of British ingenuity.

The question of portability has been so fully solved that every part of the machine, other than the permanent cables and the racks on which the various boxes are fixed, is capable of detachment in a few minutes. This point allows not only for transport without fear of breakage or displacement of internal wiring, but also for instant replacement should it be necessary during the course of actual working. This portability solves the question of expense, inasmuch as it permits the whole of the necessary installation for a fully mechanised totalisator to be taken down, transported and installed on another racecourse within the time covered only by distance of transport following the end of the first meeting, so that the capital outlay at any racecourse lying idle while racing is not in progress is represented only by the building, ground wiring, and permanent rack fittings. The demonstration was witnessed by representatives of Turf organisations and the Press, and it passed off without a hitch.

Two imaginaity races—each with six runners—were staged, members of .he party being supplied with cash vouchers of denominations ranging from To shillings to one hundred pounds. As each bet was placed the digits on the indicator flashed up. The figures on the indicator were of a bright yellow and could be seen plainly. In fact, they were more easily distinguishable from a distance. Gauze in front of the digits will prevent the sun from having any effect on the visibility. The main building of the -totalisator, with its large indicator, is opposite to the grand stand, but the public will not need to cross the track to make a bet, as there are selling booths on both sides of the course. After luncheon Sir Harry S. Foster, J.P. (chairman of the 8.A.T.) who presided, said it had been a great pleasure to his company to be able to demonstrate to such an expert group the new fully mechanised totalisator which they, in collaboration with other firms, had been able to supply to the Racecourse Betting Control Board. The Totalisator had been demonstrated under conditions as nearly approximating racing conditions as could be arranged, and he hoped they were satisfied that it secured the objectives which the chairman of the Racecourse Betting Control Board, Sir Clement Hindley, laid down in the speech he made at Leeds last February. “An Engineering Problem.” Sir Clement then said:—“Very early in my connection with this work I stated that the mechanism to be used must be that which will best suit qur purposes, and in particular be adapted to the conditions of English racing and English betting. The more I have studied the problem the more I am convinced that application of the most suitable forms of mechanism to totali-sator or pool betting is an engineering problem.”

The specification which the Board’s engineers supplied followed in detail the broad outlines of the chairman’s speech, and it had been their task to evolve in practical, workmanlike form an apparatus which made a considerable step toward the perfect totalisator. He could say with .justice that that, fully mechanised totalisator represented a triumph for British skill.

“It is gratifying,” concluded Sir Harry, “to find in these days, when I British brains and British craftsmanship come in for a large volume of ! diversified criticism, that both ;an ! compete with the world in producing i a series of mechanises which function j effectively in carrying out a really complicated task.” RACING REMINDERS Nominations for all events in connection with the Waikato Racing Club’s autumn meeting, to be held on April 12 and 14. close on Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. E. H O’Meara, Hamilton, or with Messrs. Blomfield and Company, High Street, j Auckland Friday, March 23, is general entry I day for the autumn meeting (Easter i Saturday and Monday) of the Auckland ! Racing Club, and also for first forfeits j for the G.N. Oaks, G.N. Champagne j Stakes and G.N. St. Leger. Nomina- 1 tions and forfeits close at 5 p.m. For the autumn meeting of the Avondale J.C. (to be held on April 2f. and 30), nominations, and also final payment for the All Aged Stakes, close at 5 p.m. on March 28. Entries for the Feilding J.C. meeting on Easter Saturday and Mondav close with the secretary at Feilding on’March 31, at 5.30 p.m.