RACING WITHOUT BETTING
[To the Editor of Tan SPECTATOR.]
Siss,—While in general agreement with your article, " The Doom of the Tote," there is one aspect to which I feel you did not attach sufficient importance.
I quote from the article " But the Commission goes much further than that. The two problems, it claims, differ not only in degree but in character, in that the greyhound-racing track exists by and for betting, particularly totalizator betting, while horse-racing has its own raison d'ttre, and would continue if no money were ever laid on horses at all." But does this claim that betting is not necessary to horse- racing bear close examination
Among the patrons of horse-racing are undoubtedly many to whom betting has no incentive, but this cannot be said Of the majority, and it is this majority which is largely respon- sible for the spending of the money essential for the upkeep' of horse-racing. All the various occupations to be found'in the racing " industry "—bookmakers, tote employees, trainers; jockeys, racecourse employees—to mention the most promi- nent, all exist on the money spent and lost by racehorse owners and the racing public. There are a number of racehorse owners to whom betting has no attraction, but to most, the pride and pleasure of owning racehorses would be insufficient without the oppor- tunity of wagering when desired. What of the average racing visitor ? I suggest that a candid confession would reveal that while the sport as a spectacle was to a degree inviting, the presence of betting facilities was the real attrac- tion. That one might gain financially by the success of a certain horse is, I submit, the determinant factor in watching a horse-race.
Presuming that horse-racing without betting still retained sufficient owners of horses to justify the continuance of the sport, present racecourse companies (mostly on a profit-snaking - basis) would quickly find that without public support conse- quent upon the disappearance of betting facilities their means of profit would have gone.
That betting is an economic necessity to horse-racing was recognized when the Racecourse Betting Act was legalized. The purposes of this Act were to provide by means of the totalisator money for the improvement of horse-breeding ; in other words, financial support to horse-racing from betting. While these purposes have so far failed, it must not beover- looked that racecourse companies have derived a large extra income from the working of the Act. This is by the power they were given, of charging bookmakers extra for the privilege . of conducting their businesses. The Act did not stipulate that these extra charges should be devoted to any particular purpose, hence racecourse companies can distribute this income in whatsoever manner they may choose. While it could be used for the purpose of increasing dividends ; on the other hand, it could be utilised for increasing prize-money or decreasing entrance charges, which purposes might be inter, . pretated as indirect inducements for the breeding of better
race-horses and the improvement of racing generally. , It has already been forecast that the Commission in its
final report will recommend that all betting facilities away from horse-racing courses should be abolished. Should this prove , true, it would imply recognition by the Commission that bet- ting was essential to horse-racing. But this mere presumption does not destroy the fact that " away " betting is an essential • part of the present horse-racing structure. Many " stable " . commissions are invested with the credit bookmakers (starting . price offices), for the reason that if the whole of the com- . mission was placed with the course bookmakers, the prices obtained might be unduly cramped. Thus, the money is spread overa larger field. Again, the " away "betting facilities enable ordinary racegeers to retain their interest in horse- racing when unable to attend race-meetings. It must be remembered that many racegoera are unable to attend many meetings, and if deprived of betting facilities during the intervening periods, their whole interest in the sport might be easily destroyed. While the racecourse totes cannot be said to have enjoyed even a fair degree of success, their position would be even worse at the present time if they had not by the aid of a credit agency garnered some of the " away " betting.
Prohibition of " away " betting would necessitate omission from the Press of all mention of betting odds, but that they would not become known to horse-racing followers is not a
logical conclusion.-1 am, Sir, &c., L. C. ALPE. Avenue Chambers, Vernon Place, Southampton Ram, if .C.1.
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