EFFECT OF THE MUTUEL 



number of smaller owners can exist. Tlie pari- 

 mutuel in fact in some respects might be a curse in 

 England as it is in France. The public has a right 

 to know what is going on in prices, for a " market " 

 makes everything more interesting. In countries 

 where the pari-mutuel is an institution owners throw 

 in their weight at the last moment, frequently when 

 everyone is ready to look at the race. Therefore 

 previous prices can be entirely false. Of course it 

 may be said that owners have to pay their way and 

 do not run their animals for the public benefit, but 

 after all there should be a sort of bond of sympathy 

 between those who run horses and those who by paying 

 their gate money contribute to the " pool " which 

 provides the stakes. The whole topic will always 

 remain a bone of contention, but during many years 

 I have had the opportunity of listening to what others 

 have to say concerning it, and what I have said above 

 is the combination of opinion. 



Another thing : if the pari-mutuel were introduced 

 into England the starting-price bookmakers would 

 have to pay the mutuel prices and there would be the 

 chance of any amount of sharp practice in this respect. 

 A horse might be entirely neglected on the course 

 and returns could be quite false. 



It is often said that the stakes for jumping meetings 

 in England are ridiculously small compared with what 

 is given in France : which is fact. But this could be 

 made so different if bookmakers in England were 

 charged so much a day for the privilege of betting, as 

 was the case in the palmy days of racing in the United 

 States. The fee charged then was one hundred 

 dollars, or twenty pounds, a day, with a guarantee that 

 there should be at least five races on the card. Very 

 much the same thing should be done in the principal 



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