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goM jsrrnwo rules in Australia. in Xr1tny the Amdriilliui Jftekey Club does not Hiw1UttUl on IrfttlllK dlxplllcM, bill in Melbourne thfi Victoria ttnrUw Club ha done o since It overruled tho dctWIou of the Victorian Club In the Auda-rlly ;it? a few year ago. Kecclitly It was decided by tht Vietorhm Racing Cliib committee that up-to-dati? Inciting ride wore desirable. These were draft-trl by the clubs solicitor, Mr. C. Lort Smith, mid passed by the committee. The Victoria Racins Club rules of most importance, as published in the Melbourne Age, are as follows: In all bets there must be a possibility to win when the bet is made. In other words, the bettor cannot win. if he cannot lose. Subject as by these rules provided if no objection is lodged within ten minutes after the riders of the placed horses are weighed in for the race bets go to the backers of the horses as placed by the judge. If an objection is made within the said period of ten minutes, bets affected are governed by the stewards decision on the objection, provided that if any person whose interest in tin! stakes is affected by such decision announce to the stewards within fifteen minutes of their giving their decision that he intends to appeal therefrom, then bets go with the stakes. The word "objection" includes "protest." Settling in terms of these rules shall not be disturbed, except in cases of fraud. In the event of a race being divided in terms of rule !U of the Victoria Racing Clubs rules of racing, all bets on the race made on the course on the day of the race before the announcement that the race is to be divided, are off. In the event of a horse or jockey being disqualified on the ground that the horse was pulled or fraudulently prevented fibm winning, or for any other matter occurring in the race, if there are circumstances in connection therewith which in the opinion of the committee require further investigation, they may forthwith make an order postponing the settlement of all bets on such race and report the matter to the committee of the Aictoria Racing Club. The committee of the Victoria Itaciug Club, after investigation, may make such declaration as they think fit in respect of the betting, and iu particular may declare all or any bets on such race to be off. On any allegation of fraud or corrupt practices the committee may investigate the case and declare tin; bet void. Any bookmaker betting in the principal rings within twenty miles from tin- general postoffice, Melbourne, offering odds against a horse shall be compelled to lay the same to not less than 5 .if demanded by the taker, but so that the bookmaker shall not be compellable to lose more than $."00 on any wager demanded by the taker. All place bets are 1. 2. 3, if there are eight or more starters: and 1, 2 if there are seven starters or under. The odds under a to be one-fourth, anil under b one-third of the odds for a straight-out win. Inless otherwise agreed between the parties, the following bets are not play or pay: 1, Bets made on tin; course on the day of the race. 2. Bets on matches. :. Bets made after the running numbers are officially placed on the number board about a horse that is not subsequently under the starters orders. In the event of a race being ordered to be run over again, starting price bets shall be regulated by the price current at the time the race was first run. If any person desires to back "the favorite" without specifying tin? horse, and more than one horse is quoted at the shortest odds, then, unless otherwise agreed, no bet is made. Several of the other rules included in the Aictoria Racing Club list are well known to "books" ami backers, but it may interest country investors to learn that it is provided that in the event of any person wishing to make a bet by letter or telegram, no bet is made unless a reply be posted before the day of the race or a telegram iu reply Ik. lodged at a telegraph office before the race takes place. The postal date stamp on the reply or the time of receipt recorded on the telegram" is to be regarded as conclusive evidence or such posting or lodgment. Inless otherwise stipulated. Melbourne Argus quotations are to be accepted in the case of starting-price bets; and where bets are made on a horse after the race, and before the numbers of the place horses are exhibited, such bets are void if the horse backed runs a dead heat for first place. In the case or a race being re-run, bets in favor of horses which started iu the first, but did not start on the second occasion, are lost. The bookmaker who offers long odds about a rank outsider will appreciate the fact that a wily backer cannot catch him for more than $.100, and that mav occasionally be productive of a little hard feeling between taker and layer when the former is cut ofr in an endeavor to get a "fiver" on at 10 or 50 to 1. Some system backers may not altogether appreciate the rule regarding favorites. Hitherto, when two horses have started equal favorites, most bookmakers have divided the stipulated amount between them, but in future there must be an absolute favorite for the bet to hold.-The committee, by the way, might also have dealt with the question of second and third favorites. Cnder certain circumstances, it is a point on which there is considerable difference of opinion, one section contending that when there are two horses iu greater demand at a smilar figure say, 3 to 2 each the one following them is certainly not entitled to be regarded as second favorite; while another section holds that it is the quotation that counts, and if the figures are 3s, is and Ss, the horse at Os is the second favorite, even though the Tact of two others being at the shorter price actually makes it only backers third choice. I must confess to being opposed to the quotation idea, on the ground that it is possible to accord a horse the position of, say, third favorite, even though four others might be at shorter odds. Pilot in Sidney Referee.
