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SCMP Reporter

THE Jockey Club no longer has overseas Telebet customers because of a recent requirement of proof of residence in Hong Kong.

 Until recently, it was possible to open a Telebet account with a passport and there were a number of account-holders, primarily in Australasia and India, who used the service.

 The Jockey Club will not say how many such accounts were maintained or what percentage of the total turnover they accounted for, which is fair enough as it is very much their own business. But it is now a guessing game as to why the change came about.

 Acting on instructions from on high, or most likely the betting division, information secretary Wilson Cheng could not give an official reason for the changes which in reality mean the termination of overseas Telebet accounts.

 It remains possible to open a Telebet account with a passport.

 'But we would also require some form of proof that the holder was in Hong Kong for a period of time. And also that he had a Hong Kong bank account,' said Cheng.

 One suggestion made was that the Jockey Club, which has taken a stance against overseas interests getting any Hong Kong betting dollars, would look decidedly hypocritical by taking in overseas money themselves. However, there is more than a slight difference in the respective cases.

 The Jockey Club has never actively advertised for customers - home or abroad - while there is aggressive promotion from overseas betting concerns in relation to football and Internet betting. Fairly obviously, it must mean that the Jockey Club wants to know almost exactly with whom they are doing business.

 Big overseas punters and betting syndicates using Telebet accounts would seem to have the Jockey Club figuratively frowning and saying a firm 'no'.

 There appears to be no other logical explanation and we are not going to hear anything official from the Jockey Club.

IT hasn't been the best of weeks for the Jockey Club's Information Department, which has diligently been sending out press releases on a daily basis for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

 But news is of little use if it is over 24 hours old, as has been the case for the past week.

 Things hit rock bottom on Friday when a press release landed in mid-morning informing us that Ray Cochrane would not be riding as he had not been licensed in Australia following a two-day ban in England.

 Local Victorian rider Brett Prebble was believed to be the most likely candidate to take over on English challenger Travelmate.

 This 'news' came several hours after this newspaper had revealed David Harrison would be riding Travelmate.

 Surely it is not too presumptuous of us to believe that our racing pages are read by the Jockey Club.

 However, the Information Department was in reasonably good company.

 The day previously Racing Post in London had Darryll Holland - now based in Hong Kong, so it reported - on the horse while Reuters news agency announced that Mick Kinane would be aboard.

IT was 'Family Fun Day' at Happy Valley racecourse yesterday with the betting hall of the first floor of the public stands used as a special area for entertaining JC Pass Members, Premium Pass Members and their families.

 For the first time in its long history, Happy Valley racecourse echoed not only to the feverish cries of anxious and exuberant punters but also to children and young people enjoying 'Fun Corner'.

 No betting took place in this area and yesterday's operation was being used as a test run for the Millennium Cup meeting.

 All children and young people under 18 were accompanied by an adult and the 500 admission tickets were quickly sold out well in advance.

 Given current attendance figures and the size of Sha Tin racecourse, it would surely be possible to designate an area there solely for children.

 They could then be allowed on to the racecourse on a regular basis and looked after by mum as dad went and had a bet or two.

 It does happen everywhere else in the world of racing.

Robin Parke THE FINAL SAY THE FINAL SAY 



Jockey Club's silence speaks volumes