BOOKMAKERS FINED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20511, 30 May 1938, Page 6

BOOKMAKERS FINED

TRESPASSING AT RACEB AT THE TE RAPA BARRIERS Illegal attendance at the Te Rapa racecourse while the Waikato Racing club’s meeting was in progress on Monday last led to convictions In the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day against Steve Dominikovich and Charles Williams, both described as bookmakers, of Hamilton. Dotninikovich was fined £2 and costs and Williams £1 and costs by Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M. Both defendants pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson, In prosecuting, said DomlnikovicJi had been convicted of bookmaking in Hamilton on three occasions In 1934. Williams had one bookmaking conviction against him. As a result they were excluded from Waikato Racing Club’s meetings by the club's regulations of August 25, 1935. The detective-sergeant added that for some time the racing club officials had been concerned about bookmakers being at the starting posts at the six and seven furlongs pegs and at the one mile barrier while meetings were In progress. Several attempts to catch bookmakers at the barriers had failed. Previously, when a detective was seen approaching, the men would move away quickly. Not Speaking to Jockeys The racing club officials were under the impression that the bookmakers spoke to Jockeys prior to the start of each race. Mr Thompson said he caught Dominikovich and Williams at one of the barriers about 3 o'clock last Monday afternoon but he did not see either speaking to any jockeys. He did not think they had been speaking to jockos earlier. When the detectivesergeant approached the barrier Dominikovich hurried into the trees and disappeared. Williams did not move away so quickly. Dominikovich had been warned by the detectives not to attend a meeting on the course. He told the magistrate that he was there only to see the racing. , . * ■ ■ * -—^