How the Calcutta Sweep is Conducted, Daily Racing Form, 1915-11-05

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i f ; j I i , i i ■ j , , ■ • , ; . . HOW THE CALCUTTA SWEEP IS CONDUCTED. The general ]H.pulai il.v of the Derby ••sweep-1 is undoubtedly one of the uiost interesting features of that classical evenr of Ihe turf. in almost every factory, shop and office ••sweeps" are organized, em- ployecs placing their tureepences. sixpences and shillings in the pool in the hope of drawing a favorite and winning a pound or two, while on a much terser scale — th entrance lee ranging from S2.50 to "i •■sweeps" are carried on at the big political, sporting and social clubs and such places as the Stock Exchange and Lloyds, the prizes in many cases running into thousands of dollars. Indeed, ir is no exaggeration to sav that millions of p -op|e. the majority of whom would probably strong- v object to gambling and all its evils, take part in Derby ••sweeps" every year. The biggest Derby •.sweeps." however, are con- ducted in our colonics — at Calcutta. Johannesburg :-nd Melbourne. While, however, In the ease of the last two the tirst prizes usually reach about 00.-i.cO. that of the Calcutta "sweep" generally totals up to over 9F25O.00O. And it is possible for this sum to be won by an outlay of about $::.::,5 ten rupees. Something like half a million tickets are sold annu- ally, and the method is adopted of giving 40 per cent, of the total receipts to the drawer of "the win- tier of the race: 20 per cent, to the drawer of the second horse and 10 per cent, to the drawer of the third, the remaining 30 per cent., less 10 per cent., for expenses, being divided among those lucky enough to have drawn a starter in the race and those who have drawn a non-runner entered for the race. As a matter of fact, subscribers who even draw horses which do not start for some reason or another may profit to the extent of something like World-wide interest is aroused by this "sweep," 00. and tickets are applied for from all parts of the world. It should be pointed out. for the benefit of those who would like to participate in this gigantic "sweep." however, that tickets are only issued to members of the Calcutta Turf Club, and one can only obtain a ticket through a member of the club; but there Is no limit to the number of tickets a member may get. This gigantic "sweep" originated some years ago, when Lord William Beresford was military secretary to the Viceroy of India. He conceived the idea of organizing a Derby "sweep" at the Calcutta Turf Club, and in order to increase the value of the prizes the "sweep" was advertised among all Anglo-Indians — civilians, soldiers, merchants and planters. The result was that it quickly assumed gigantic proportions, and has grown enormously within the last decade. Ten years ago the first prize was rather over 00,000: now it is over 00,000. the winning of which, of course, makes one independent for life. It is not often, however, that one person wins the whole of the tirst prize, for the simple reason that when it is known who has drawn a horse, syndicates formed in India of officers and civilians approach the lucky drawers and offer to purchase their ticket, or part of their ticket, for a certain sum. For instance, the winner of the first prize last year. Dr. Bolten. the emigration agent for Trinidad, resident in Calcutta, who drew Sunstar. accepted an offer of 1915.sh 1,000 for a half share in his ticket. The tirst prize amounting to 00,000. he thus won altogether 10,000. while Mr. Awberry. the Work house Master of Warrington, who drew Stedfast. the horse which came in second, disposed of a half share in his ticket to a syndicate for 1915.sh,000. His prize came to 70,000. so that, after handing over the half share, less the purchase money, Mr. Aw-berry netted 1915.sh1,000 for an outlay of about 0, having purchased three tickets. nun again. 0o,ooo of the first prize in the Calcutta "sweep" was won in 1910 on an outlay of less than So by Captain H. T. Italian, of the Indian army. When the captain heard that he had drawn Letnbeig he sold half his ticket for 7,500. retaining his right to the other half of the prize, which was worth 50,000. Again, another lucky subscriber who drew jhe late King Edwards horse. Minoru. in 1909. disposed of a share in the ticket for the substantial sum of 0,000. Had he retained the whole interest he would of course have done a great deal better, but as it was he received altogether 00,000, enough to enable him to live in luxury for the remainder of his days. That these syndicates who buy up the tickets or part tickets of lucky drawers find the business a profitable one is evident from the fact that on last years Derby it is estimated that they made a profit of 70,000. for. of course, there are many subscribers who, although they draw one of the favorites, think it is belter to make sure of 3,000 or 0,000 offered tlieni by a syndicate rather than take the chance of their horse being beaten and drawing a much less sum. The manner in which the draw is conducted is quite simple and scrupulously fair. It is made on the Saturday preceding the Wednesday on which the race is run. The numbers of all the tickets sold are placed in one revelving barrel, while in anot he-are placed the names of all the horses originally nomiuatid and entered for the race. Then a blind -. folded hoy draws a number from one barrel and another blindfolded boy the name of a horse from the other. After each draw the barrels are revolved, giving all the numbers ami horses a shake-up. Those |M-ople drawing starting horses are immediately Bottled by wire, no matter to what part of the World they may have gone. — Loudon Tld Bits. j s ] s , , , , • I * j J J I , j j • J J . . ; :


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800