TOD SLOAN 



enclosure in England. Put it at four pounds a race 

 and reckon out what would be collected, and how 

 much better the prizes would be, and how the entrance 

 money to the big enclosure could be reduced. In the 

 smaller rings this could be perhaps divided by half — 

 I mean the licensing fee for the day, and in the silver 

 " tanks " merely a nominal charge should be made, 

 and, as at one time in America, the minimum sum to 

 be invested could be one shilling and the maximum 

 five shillings. This worked very well when in vogue 

 " over home." In that case it was a dollar as the 

 topmost bet, but that was swept away when eventually 

 any amount could be put on. This spoilt racing and 

 the charge came up of the turf being commercialised. 

 There could not be a five-hundred-dollar bet made 

 without it being tick-tacked across, and they were as 

 " wise " outside as were the big men inside. That 

 kind of thing should be immediately suppressed. 

 The tick-tackers are an infernal nuisance and it would 

 be only fair to sweep them off if, as has been sug- 

 gested, the big men contributed towards the day's 

 fund. It would only be just for the big fellows to 

 have as much of the business as could come their way, 

 and smaller ones paying a much less fee to be restricted 

 to lesser clients and rather petty business. 



I do not wish to be too dogmatic about all this, but 

 my views as a spectator for the last fifteen years might 

 suggest some new legislation, especially as the whole 

 topic is approached from the view-point of experiences 

 in four countries. 



Mr Bottomley gives his strong views on many 

 matters, and it is a pity that a man like he should not 

 have some voice in race-course management. It 

 would be interesting if he would give his ideas as to 

 how bookmakers should be controlled. I know he 



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