Submitted by admin on April 23, 2009 - 01:21
Growth of the Sport
The sport has grown steadily. During the season ended 31 July 1899 the totalisator investments were £122,869 and the stakes £15,665. For the season ended 31 July 1965 the totalisator figures were: on course, £7,833,723; off course, £9,657,860; a total of £17,491,583. The stakes were £556,647. During the same season 1,626 horses started in races and there were 1,021 licensed trainers and drivers. There were 121 race days, compared with 45 in 1899. The number of totalisator permits issued over the years has varied. At one time there did not appear to be any limit. In 1890–91 it is possible to trace 21 permits, while in the next season there were 44. Up to the present the total is more than 120. The number of clubs has also greatly increased – from 18 in 1899 to more than 40 totalisator clubs and a number of non-totalisator clubs at the present time.