Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-20
BENEFITS OF PARl.MuTuELs.
Frank j. Gould Shows How the French
System Would Aid the American
Turf

Mr. Gould gave a comparison be-
tween The French and American sys-
TENS of racing. He has been to infinite
pains to collect information concern
ing horse racing in France and the
pari-mutuel, the official betting sys-
TEN.
Mr.. Gould said:
| THE Government of France has had
the good sense to regulate by law the
amount Of interest allowed to ne paid
to stockholders Of the different racing
societies, which, think, is per cent.
This at once eliminates the question OF
speculation, as far as the racing soci-
! cites are concerned, and brings. togeth-
er a body of men whose interest is TO
+, protect the breeding of horses, and to
| make It possible to enjoy racing under
the most favorable conditions. All the
| money over per cent goes INTO lhe
| lpkecp and beautifying of the hippo
! dromes and for premiums to breeders
! in the colonies and into prizes winch
: are Increased in amount each year, ac-
| cording to the revenues of the socle-
| ties.
! In America the Government is un-
willing to face the situation and UNI
| derstand that the breeding OF pure
| bIooded horses is a matter of national
! Importance. The consequence is that
racing societies there look upon their
affairs as speculation and i'll the
course of a year, if 80, 60, 20 or even loo
per cent profit is made, it is distributed
among he stockholders, and the pub
lie. which supported racing, gets no
direct or lasting benefit, and the race
prizes are often too small and made
quate.
IN France all the forfeits in given
race 90 to increase the purse. whereas
| in America they go into the pockets of
| the stockholders. Often in France Il
| race where the prize is 5.OO0f tS1,ooo}
turns out 10 be worth 1,0o0f tS1 ,400) to
the winner ON account of the money
forfeits.
| ..1'he benefits which result to France
frcm the operations of the parl- mutu-
/ ell are incontestably many. Nearly all
] the great charities in the country are
! regularly supported by the percentage
of profits which the Government re-
tains for the purpose out of the gross
transactions of the pari-mutuel. Ihe
poor and suffering gain by the pleas
, ures of the rich.
| .The practical working of the pari-
mutuel is extremely simple. All the
bets made upon the different horses IN
n aiven race are centralized-massed
together--and the proceeds DIVIDED pre-
rata. after the deduction has been
made Of the percentage reserved LOT
nuhlic charities. etc. The system is sc
simple that any one interested could
make a calculation as the betting goes
on. that is, Il he was sufficiently expert
at figures. AS 1t is, there are now t"o
ar three agencies allowed at race
courses in France who supply custom
ers with . slip of paper upon WHICH
the priees of all the horses in race
iare quoted as the betting goes on.
Upon the program offered by the
racing societies every horse IN Il race
lis numbered. The agents who supply
1.-The quotations use these numbers u
distinguish the different horses, ant
1.-The public is quickly put in possessi"i
of the latest odds upon each. FOR eA'
Iampln. there are. let us suppose, hNt
horses in a race and the official pro
gram reads as follows:
mo. 1-Oyersight, owned by Mr. VIZ
liam X Vanderbilt
mo. 2-Dagor owned by Mr. I'd
mona Blanc Ar
NO. S-Bavard ILL.,, owned py "f
august Belmont.
no. LA Ribaude, owned ny MI
H. B. Duryea.
mo. h-Reine- Anne, owned by Cehi''
Fl. de Pourta!es
.-rrbe agencies then prepare slips, hVs
l Il
ting period before the race aiie Wy
the moment the horses are
eeu1 off by the starter, Wheh no nv.
Tickets are sold and wire screen -
RIM up to cover and protect the 'iehc''
Ieft nnsold in the booths Inc sup
hear. say, somewhat the loiioWihs as
meet changing of course as inc 'u''
change. !
mo 4 i, to 1: No ?, to 2; No . 1
to /. No. 4. 3to ., No 5, 80 to l.
.Tbe pari-mutuel bets. in the pesa
rn,.iohinp enclosure) are ealcuiatea u
INF fs21 units The above auo'a'io'
cir being based upon 1of sz) UNI
,arsa No Il. quoted at 80 to /, Woni'
nov If a wianer, SOOf $500 for each ~
(S2) ticket bought. ,,,ht
"Tickets in the pesaEe may pe p," 80
| for from I0f to 500f, the maj caieu'
t,ope being always made upon pas''
If ,of units. There are booths paee'
conveniently for the betting pupiie' ans
at each booth there is sign stains
tho value Of the ticket when may ~
bought there. .a,d i, 8
| say there are "a horses entered III
roce and the bets are in units of ioi
the table will present the toiio@iis a.
meet at the moment the horses are sen
away and the bell rings:
Horse No. /, 81 tickets sold at a.
|, the booths: Horse No. 2, Is uche.'
sold: Horse No. B. IA tickets soiu
Horse No. 4, tickets sold, Horse 4>o
+. 80 tickets sold: Horse NO. o.
tickets sold: Horse No. Z, IL ticNe,,
sold; Horse No. s, 16 tickets soiu
Horse No. ., 10 tickets sold; Horse nv
t10. "a tickets sold; Horse NO. H.
Tickets sold: Horse No. II, uche.'
, sold; Horse No. 10, II tickets sou
, Horse No. IA, 9 tickets sold; Horse NO
, liz tickets sold: Horse No. 10,
, tickets sold; Horse No. II, tlcke.
, sold, Horse No. Is, 0 tickets SOU
i