The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
prove
POPULAR STYLE
Public Generally IN Favor Of
Machine System Used at
Laurel Track.

Pari-mutuel betting will be the uni
versaI system Of speculation on the
American race courses and will likely
lead to a revival of the sport in those
States where racing has been discontin-
ued because of legislation against book
making The adoption OF the mutuel
system at Laurel Park in the few days
II has been in operation has demon
strated that mutuels are favored by the
general public. 1t does away with the
big player and subordinates betting to
the sport. itself, and this, II Is claimed
by those who are striving to build up
thoroughbred racing. after the severe
blow It has been dealt. will dissipate the
arguments of those who have opposed
racing and re-establish the sport on q
firm basis. The European war has
sharply drawn attention to the impor-
tance of the thoroughbred horse as .
foundation for a suitable type Of army
mount, and at the same time has directed
he attention Of government oficials and
public-spirited citIZens to the poverty Of
thoroughbred blood in this country.
The system OF calculation by the mu-
tuels is simple. In a race in which there
are twelve horses, for instances, there
may be a total OF 1858 in the straight
pool A commission Of 5 per cent or
SSS4.40 would be deducted from this
amount. and the remainder apportioned
among those who had wagered their
money on the winner. II a total Of s.. 349
had been sold on the winning horse, the
sum representing the total amount sold
on all the horses. less the per cent
commission. would be divided by the
amount sold on the wtRner, which would
leave SO No fractions Of 5 cents are
paid, and this would leave $50 for each
81 invested on the winner, or on a S2 basis
Slo.s0.
Place calculation is made in the same
manner. II in the same race E,lS2 were
| taken in on all the horses. the usual 5
per cent would be deducted, leaving
&c, SD 60 In order to determine how much
of the place" pool constitutes the win
| nings to be divided between the two
placed horses, il Is necessary to deduct
the amount wagered on both the second
horse and the winner. II there were
S.54S on the second horse for the place,
and a.259 on the first horse, the total
would be $2,717. which, deducted from the
net pool of s6,SS2 80 would leave to be di-
vided among the holders of place tickets
| on both first and second horses the sum
Of A1o5.so
This sum divided by two would be
$2$52. So for each, and this amount is next
divided by the amount invested in place
| tickets on each horse. II S1.25S had been
/ AAlNcsAcur On lne .ScCoEO nOEbo II "OAil
leave u.40 for each 81 wagered on that
horse or $50 on each 81 ticket sold. To
| this sum would be added the original in
vestment OF g, which would make each
81 ticket invested for a place worth a. 80
Likewise. II Sl,25S had been wagered on
the first horse for the place, 1t would
mean that for each 81 there would be
| coming to the holders of the winning
tickets for the place S1.s3. or $320. which
with the addition Of the original s. in
vested would give the winners on the
/ first horse who played the horse TO run
! second s. 20 for each 81 ticket
Calculation Of the third place tickets Is
imade in the same manner. the only diff
ference being that in making 1t provi-
sion must must be made for three sets
of winning tickets In, the pool instead OF
two as in the place calculation.
In the event Of dead heats, where TWO
horses are placed first the straight mu'
tuel pool Is divided In the same manner
as In the division OF the place money.
i II no tickets are sold on the winning
horse. a remote possibility, this horse Is
Eelirninated entirely from the calculations,
the straight money going to the holders
OF tickets on the horse that finished sec
ond In the event no tickets are sold on
Ia horse that finishes second, the place
pool is apportioned TO the place tickets
sold on the horse that finished first. and
similarly. II no tickets should be sold on
the third horse, the third or -show
ipooI Is apportioned among the first and
second horses.