BETTING SYSTEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 6

BETTING SYSTEM

CHANGE AT ELLERSLIE RETURN TO WIN AND PLACE. The decision of the committee of the Auckland Racing Club to revert to the win and place system of betting when the necessary alterations have been made to the totalisator has been well received, writes “Archer” in the New Zealand Herald. The success of racing depends upon the patronage of horse owners and the public and it is my impression that the win and place system best serves the interests of both. The system provides the owner with means of backing his horse for an outright win, a privilege which they enjoy on most of the important courses in the world, and it seems scarcely fair that they should be deprived of it at Ellerslie because a section of racegoers prefer the one-two betting. In addition the place machine gives the owner an opportunity, if he so desires, of covering his win investment with a wager for a place. Moreover, the system gives the public the chance of having a wager for a win, with the possibility of much better dividends than under the onetwo method, as well as three chances for a place in fields of over eight. It is my impression that there has been a definite swing in favour of the win and place now that the public has become more educated to the system. The idea is strengthened by the substantial turnovers of the clubs which have been using win and place and the great success it has been at courses like Trentham, Te R.apa, Riccarton and Te Aroha, and the same should be the case at Ellerslie.

The affairs of the Auckland Racing Club are being very capably managed by the committee, which is to be congratulated on the success it has achieved in the past, and the decision to make the change would certainly not have been made unless the matter had been given mature consideration. It is my belief that the committee has made a wise decision and the system is one which should prove popular with the majority of the regular patrons of Ellerslie.