Punters Win Tab Bonus On Race Dead-heat

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday June 20, 2005

Craig Young

Some lucky punters betting on the second race at Ipswich on Saturday received a windfall from the NSW TAB, while others had better check their First Four betting tickets.

Punters betting on the Ipswich Dash, over 1100metres, collected $10,223.20 for the First Four on the numbers 4 (Gloucester Road), 3 (Countess Bathory), 8 (Crystal Lane) and 10 (Court Adjourned) - but the correct dividend should have been $5111.60 due to a dead-heat for fourth place.

There was no First Four dividend for the numbers 4, 3, 8 and 12 (Chalkboard), with the latter dead-heating for fourth with Court Adjourned.

Following an internal investigation at the TAB's Ultimo bunker yesterday, the betting giant declared the 4, 3, 8, 12 First Four would pay $2625.10 and punters making a claim would be paid.

"There appears to have been a communication problem," NSW TAB media man Peter Fletcher told the Herald.

"The confusion was based on the result we got from 2KY [radio] and the Sky Channel race caller which was the straight result 4, 3, 8 and 10.

"We checked that against the bookmakers' price service and they had the same result after the race. Based on those two sources we declared the one dividend."

Fletcher said the matter came to the attention of the TAB on Saturday evening when The Sun Herald made inquiries which resulted in the internal investigation.

"Given the circumstances, in good faith to the customers, we have decided to make good the payment on the other combinations of 4, 3, 8 and 12," Fletcher said.

"We have recalculated the dividends by halving the First Four pool and declared the new dividend.

"We will not be taking any of the money back on the other First Four payment, which has been basically halved."

Queensland Racing chief steward John Hackett said yesterday that the Ipswich judge, Paul Chilton, "may have semaphored one number for fourth but no correct weight had been given".

"He checked the photo finish on the race and there was definitely a dead-heat," Hackett said. "We declared correct weight on the dead-heat."

There was no First Four on the second race at Ipswich with the Queensland-based UniTAB or the Victorian-based SuperTAB pool.

"In light of the error, we will again be reviewing our communication process, particularly on interstate meetings," Fletcher said.

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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