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MUTUELS AND THE HALF MILE TRACKS. The mutuel betting machines are more popular, even on the half mile tracks, than the bookmakers. This was most clearly shown Saturday when the iron men were beseiged by a big crowd at King Edward Park. The three machines in operation at the down-river track, taking only straight bets, handled a total of about 20,000 while the ten books in operation handled, it is estimated, about 7,000 or 8,000. It was a striking demonstration of the comparative esteem in which the Montreal public holds the two methods. While the popularity of the machines was thus clearly shown, it does not follow that the death-knell of bookinaking was sounded, by any manner of means. A total handle by the machines of only 0,000 means that the tracks percentage would not nearly equal the running expenses of the day, even if ten per cent, of thts total was taken off, as has been suggested for half mile tracks. There is also this angle to be considered, however: If mutuels were used exclusively, the volume of the play would undoubtedly increase, giving the tracks a chance to make their expenses and earnings. The total of about 8,000 handled by, both methods during the day would mean good business for the track only with a ten per cent, take-off, which, with "the breaks" would means at least 12 per cent, each race. Unless the volume of betting increased, half mile tracks hereabouts can scarcely make money under the mutuel system with the five per cent, take-off- which is the toll extracted by the larger tracks. Therefore the books are likely to remain for some time yet. Montreal Daily Telegraph.
