Try Mutuels in England: Bookmakers Operating Away from Tracks Evolve Plan for Machine Betting, Daily Racing Form, 1921-08-13

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TRY MUTUELS IN ENGLAND Bookmakers Operating Away from Tracks Evolve Plan for Machine Betting. Four of the biggest turf agents that is to say, bookmakers operating away from the tracks in England have combined for the purpose of creating a private pari-niutuel system in connection with all of the great English race courses. They will, according to present plans, prepare the .data by wire in the same fashion as it is usually handled at the track; so far as starting prices are concerned, they will total the bets, retain the usual ten per cent as their profit, and pay off the winners as is done at the track. They hope, by meaii3 of wide publicity, to absorb a great proportion of the English betting business, and expect to be able to pay to long-shot winners, as well as to short-price bettors, far better returns than the regular bookmakers. By placing their offices in Scotland the innovators hope to escape the trials and tribulations suffered by Mr. Oiler, who, about fifty years ago, shortly after the invention of his "totalizator" machine, while walking down Higli Street at Newmarket on his waj- to set iip the machine on the Heath, was arrested on the order of Admiral Rous. The admiral had noticed him in passing and had him taken to the police station for the night with his "infernal machine." A general clamor ngaints the innovators is already arising among the "hookies." Indignant letters from these gentlemen are appearing daily in the great English sporting papers. But we shall watch with interest the outcome of the attempt. Perhaps it is a real indication of a new era in English racing. And the mutuel might well be advancing in England in an advance which will not be interrupted on High Street. Aiator, in Le Jockey.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1921081301/drf1921081301_2_5
Local Identifier: drf1921081301_2_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800