view raw text
$ j i i 1 c 11 f 1 a 1 i j 1 i l 1 J j 1 l : J j : j . tmw ii lit i a bmeb i m pmmmjiiimMt. -3 Astonishing Figures of Racing : : . 3 If we may borrow a phrase from one of the popular cartoonists of the day, the reader nmy "believe it or not," but 177,010 races were run from 1D0G to 1929, inclusive, on the North American continent, with 40 per cent of the favorites winning. And that total does not begin to enumerate all of the races decided, for the total mentioned above included only those races run at recognized race meetings and does not take into account the thousand and one fair meetings in which thoroughbred horses participated. In regard to the number of races run 192C was the best year, 12,065 races being decided, which Is the record number. In fact, since 192C there has been a slight decline in the number of races run. 1929 seeing only 11.0G7 recognized contests decided. The last year of the World War. 1918. was the poorest in the records for the horsemen, only 3,818 races being run. but since 1925 the number has been well over the 10,000 mark. The percentage of winning favorites for the entire period of years and for the 107,040 races, has been .40. a figure at once satisfying and setting to rest any doubts that public choices have been falling by the wayside. It must be admitted that 192S and 1929 were not up to standard in this respect, the percentage of winning favorites falling to .37, the lowest figure shown in the tabulation. A great year for followers of favorites was 1599, when almost 50 per cent of them won. Four thousand and ten races were run and 1,936 public choices raced as expected and won. The tabulation below is extremely interesting, especially to those with a flair for figures and for system plays. It covers a long period of years and such a multitude of races that the percentages of winning favorites, odds-on and otherwise, can be relied upon as a true index to what is likely to happen: De- r. C. Winning Winning Winning feated o Win- Year. Races 1st Unit Winning at at ning Fa- Run. Choicei. Choices. Outsiders. Odds On. Odds On. voritcs. 1900 0,840 2,752 1,537 2,439 901 C38 .41 J907 0,252 2,450 1.B7G 2.425 841 5G3 .39 1908 : .. 5.079 2,289 1.241 2,108 813 505 .40 1!09 4,510 1,930 1,038 l,53t 553 354 .47 1010 0,501 2.737 1,515 2.258 . 878 040 .42 1911 .... 5,940 2,382 1.372 2.210 808 007 .40 1012 5,107 2,071 1.197 1,840 0GO 480 .41 lOK! 0,085 2.487 1.412 2,183 800 017 .41 1014 5.745 2,205 1.328 2,154 003 510 .40 1015 5,303 2,152 1,13 2,025 502 404 .41 1010 .. C.538 2.050 1.522 2,300 801 590 .40 1017 5,734 2.319 1,270 2,287 808 404 .40 1018 3.818 1,522 803 1,405 402 290 .40 1010 4,270 1.741 1.030 1.407 578 305 .41 1020 0.803 2,808 1,499 2,508 058 052 .41 10"1 7,235 2.010 1,027 2.095 012 012 .40 102- 8,015 3,130 1,819 3,091 870 015 .39 !; 8,820 3.52G 1.899 3,397 1,005 050 .40 1024 9,982 3,875 2,19:1 3,705 1,050 737 .40 1025 ; 11.579 4.035 2.C1G 4.427 1,258 892 .40 If-.,; 12,005 4.0G2 2,583 4.820 1,145 700 .39 17 V " 11,832 4.508 2.504 4,750 1,129 738 .30 1V8 11.282 4. 163 2.415 4,700 88L 500 .37 1929 ."...."..... 11,007 4,091 2,358 4,018 8J2 572 .37 1 Totals and Gr. Percentage. . .177,010 70,127 39,389 G7.513 20,280 13,878 .40
