2o8 THE RACING WORLD 



In France a bookmaker may not shout or take 

 money prior to the event. In Belgium no one 

 who is not a Belgian may make a book, and then 

 he must live in the country. In Australia book- 

 makers are licensed and pay different charges for 

 carrying on their calling, according to the 

 prominence of the race-meeting. 



Some people have lately advocated the intro- 

 duction of the Totalisator or pari-mutuel into Eng- 

 land. 



The pari-mutuel is a machine for registering bets. 

 The backers choose their horse, and by purchasing 

 tickets at prices of from ten francs upwards stake 

 on it what they choose. From the total a per- 

 centage is deducted, and the remainder of the pool 

 divided among those who back the winner, in pro- 

 portion to their outlay. This way of bookmaking 

 was declared illegal at Wolverhampton about 

 thirty-three years ago, and after appeal five men 

 were sent to Stafford jail to do seven days' hard 

 labour. I think the confiscated machine is still on 

 view at Scotland Yard. An attempt was made to 

 work this method of bookmaking on paper, but 

 the idea came to nothing. 



A few fielders, after acquiring a little spare cash 

 and a liking for racing, buy a racehorse or two, 

 and it is creditable to see the straight way in 



