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ADOPTION OF TOTALIZATOR » Col. M. J. Winn Investigating English Invention for Use in America. « Details as to How Machines Are Operated-Similar in Working to New Telephone Automatic System. « The adoption of the totalizator, an English invention, designed to perfect parl-mutuel wagering in Illinois and Kentucky, appears to be almost assured. Col. M. J. Winn, president of the American Turf Association, conceiving the probable practicability of the device for Churchill Downs, Louisville; Latonia, Covington, Ky., Washington Park and Lincoln Fields, Chicago, assigned E. A. Weidekamp, manager of mutuel betting on these courses, to personally confer with those in control of the British Automatic Totalizator, Limited, 56 Kingsway, London. The result of this investigation, made in a transatlantic telephone conversation between Mr. Weidekamp and Colonel Winn, has verified in a large measure the claims made in behalf of the totalizator. Air. Weidekamps approval of service, its accuracy, speed and saving of cost in operation, provided by the totalizator, did not surprise Colonel Winn. It is a check up he requires in making the proposed change in the wagering system, the most radical, in fact, in the history of the American turf. Colonel Winn is pleased over Mr. Weidekamps confidence in the totalizator. He endorsed it as being "quite practical, although some changes will be necessary." Definite action will follow Colonel Winns visit in July to various places in England and France where the totalizator is in use. This will include an observation of various race courses in both countries and the tennis clubs in England, notably Wimbledon, where the worlds championship games are played. He will also journey to the track of the Brookdale Automobile Racing Club. Colonel Winn having assurance that the totalizator is practical, which he himself will verify at Longchamps, in Paris; at Ascot, Ayr, Newmarket, Hamilton Park and Hurst Park, in England, he will seek to overcome a feature missing in the machines provision in foreign betting. This relates 10 show tickets. It is represented that three-fourths of the totalizator is portable. As the Colonel is one of the pioneers in the American development of pari-mutuel wagering, it is not difficult to forecast that he will overcome difficulties in the new system as required in betting on his tracks. Details sent to Colonel Winn since the arrival of Mr. Weidekamp in England relate to the following: "The Ericsson all-electric totalizator, equipped with a standardized layout, reduces labor costs, has rapidity of action to avoid last-minute congestion. It is fraud and fool proof in calculation and the self-printing of tickets on forgery proof paper, the color of the tickets being different in each race, It being possible to change the code word ax will. "Each machine can issue fifty tickets a minute. A battery of fifty automatic ticket machines can issue 80.000 tickets in one-half hour. Notwithstanding this almost breathless speed, every bet may be registered on an electric indicator. The total inventory on each horse is simultaneously displayed in the calculating room along with the gross pool. Colonel Winn has been informed that the totalizator is akin to the new telephone automatic system. It dispenses with "approximate odds" by giving the exact odds. So swift is the calculation that the change in prices caused by any bet is shown on the public board before the individual making the bet has received the ticket. The printing of mutuel tickets under the present method involves an outlay of about 00,000 annually. Obviously this saving is colossal. When a player steps up to a totalizator window the operator strikes a key in compliance with the players order. Out comes a forgery-proof ticket just as it is printed and comes out of a cash register when a purchase is rung up. Meanwhile the totalizator has recorded this transaction, the automatic calculation has ensued and is displayed on the board in view of the public. From a central desk there is complete control of the machines. They cease operation when a button is pressed. The whole eliminates part of the calculating crew and many others necessary in the operation of the iron men as manipulated at this time. In the use of the totalizator agitation and criticism, proper or not, is eliminated. There can be no tampering with figures in the totalizator, the makers declare. Because Mr. Weidekamp is a finished electrician and because his experience in mutuel operation has equipped him to render practical judgment in connection with the totalizator, it is safe to assume th-*t its use under Colonel Winns direction will be seen within a year. . *
