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TOTALIZATOR FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS. Pari-Mutuel Machines of Most Modern Pattern Ordered for Next Seasons Use at Louisville Track. Louisville. Ky.. July 27. — It has lieon settled that the proposed 5,000 improvements in the betting ring at Churchill Downs will not be commenced until after the coming fall meeting at that track. The present accommodations, it is said, are regarded by the Jockev Club as sufficient to handle all the money-likely to be wagered in the pari-niutuol pools at a fall meeting, and then again the time is too short to complete the contemplated improvements by opening day. Manager Winn and his associates have studied the proposed improvements from every angle. It is the purpose to make the contemplated new betting ring and paddock at Churchill Downs .1 model that will be superior in convenience to the arrangement on any race course in America where the pari-inutitel system of betting is in force, and unsurpassed by tiie great race courses in France and other foreign countries. The aim will be to have the improvements complete by the opening of the spring meeting of 1911. Contract lias been awarded to the Grainger Company to build a new set of pari-mutuel machines, unlike any ever used on a race track in Ibis country, and embracing in their make-up all known improvements. These iron boxes will lie so constructed as to make it |Missible to buy a ticket on any horse in a race, even if they should be as many as twenty starleis. asd will do away with biuiciiiirg in the field all in excess of nine starters, made necessary by the limited number of spaces on the old boxes. Another device will be a totalizator working automatically with all the boxes from which the tickets are sold. The instant a ticket is rung Bp in one of the lioxes if shows at that moment in its proper place on the totalizing machine, and players will lie able to figure at a glance and almost to a minute fraction of a point the adda any horse will pay in case he wins, not only to finish first, but also to run place or show. It is understood that during the coming Winter Manager Winn will go before the Kentucky State Racing Commission and make the proposition that if instead of 5 per cent, the New Louisville Jockey Club be allowed to take 7 per cent, commission from the pari-mutuol machines, lie track will agree to hang up no purses of less value than .1100. save in sidling races, and flic latter to lie of the value of 00 or more, bringing back to the western turf the scale of values that existed in the nourishing days of racing at Washington Park and drawing to Louisville many of the great racing strings of the eastern millionaire horsemen. The improvement in the machines, especially that permitting the elimination of the grouping of horses in the field, will surely make a hit with Churchill Downs patrons. The decision to permit no other form of bettlafC on horses on Kentucky tracks brought the devices tliat have been thus far used out of places where Ihey had long been stored away. Many were aatioaated in make-up and construction, but when the order went out a few years ago to do away with the bookmakers. Manager Winn had to gather the lioxes from a dozen different places. The only wonder is that •aaac of them long before bad not beea disposed of as old iron and sold to Jaak dealers. Intil restored to working order by the New Louisville Jockey Club they were In many cases lit for nothing else. Now they will bring in a little 11 vi line to pay for their successors, as n number of the fair associations throughout Ihe state, that have a few running and trotting races, would like to se cure a machine or two during their meetings. The lair aaaeejatlnea are not looking for anything big :.s revenue In putting 011 the pari-mutuel machines, but look upon the device as all attraction, and 1911 is almost certain lo see one or more of the devices operated on a dozen or more fair grounds throughout the stale where purses are hung up for speed contests between horses. Throughout the entire country there is a growing interest in the parl-niutuel system of betting on horse races. During the past ten days W. E. Bidweii. secretary of the Ken tacky State Racing OoBMnlaakm. has beea busy answering letters and mailing literature liearing ill tin operation of these devices, and In every instance the request for such information COBIIH from parties of high standing in the communities in which they reside. He has answered on this subject communications from the slates of Arkansas. Illinois. Missouri. Louisiana. Texas. California. Tennessee. Nevada. Utah and South Carolina, and incidentally has thus become informed of an effort to maintain running races in all these states by the part-mBtael system of betiing. and the establishing through legislation of racing commissions similar to Kentuckys. From the tone of the letters he has received Secretary Bidweii thinks that iu the near future il will re-IJUlre little effort o revive the sixirt in Arkansas, Illinois. .Missouri. Tennessee and Louisiana under the conditions that rule in Kentucky today.
