Tote board
Encyclopedia
A tote board is a large numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track
(to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the charitable organization sponsoring the event).
The term "tote board" comes from the colloquialism for totalizator (or totalisator), the name for the automated system which runs parimutuel betting
, calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets.
The first totalisator was invented by William Brownie Garden
.The machine was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse
in New Zealand in 1925, and the second was installed at Gloucester Park Racetrack in Western Australia
in 1930. Julius founded Automatic Totalisators Limited (ATL) in 1917, which supplied the Premier Totalisator; now including electrical components.
The first totalisators installed in the United States
were at Hialeah Park, Florida
, in 1932 (by ATL), and at Arlington Park
racecourse, Chicago
, in 1933.
The first entirely electronic totalisator was developed in 1966. Totalisators have been superseded by general purpose computer
s running specialised wagering
software such as Autotote
. In many cases beyond older systems, telethon tote boards have either been replaced by LCD displays showing totals, or scoreboard
s adapted to display dollar amounts.
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
(to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the charitable organization sponsoring the event).
The term "tote board" comes from the colloquialism for totalizator (or totalisator), the name for the automated system which runs parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
, calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets.
The first totalisator was invented by William Brownie Garden
William Brownie Garden
William Brownie Garden was a Scottish inventor, probably best known for his invention of the "revolving blackboard". Up until his death at age 90, in 1960, the ‘Inventor’ still worked at his own bench in the factory, from which came innovations like an improved saw which cut ten times quicker than...
.The machine was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
in New Zealand in 1925, and the second was installed at Gloucester Park Racetrack in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1930. Julius founded Automatic Totalisators Limited (ATL) in 1917, which supplied the Premier Totalisator; now including electrical components.
The first totalisators installed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were at Hialeah Park, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in 1932 (by ATL), and at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
racecourse, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, in 1933.
The first entirely electronic totalisator was developed in 1966. Totalisators have been superseded by general purpose computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s running specialised wagering
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
software such as Autotote
Autotote
Autotote, which has been renamed Scientific Games, is a company that supplies pari-mutuel wagering systems worldwide. These are automated, computerized off-track and on-track betting systems for betting on horse races, greyhound racing and jai-alai. It is an integrated system for off-track...
. In many cases beyond older systems, telethon tote boards have either been replaced by LCD displays showing totals, or scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
s adapted to display dollar amounts.
External links
- Totalisator History by B Conlon
- Hialeah Park, Florida installation by ATM
- George Julius and ATL
- Automatic Totalisators Ltd in Australia
- http://digital-library.canterbury.ac.nz/data/collection3/etd/adt-NZCU20080528.112110/02whole.pdfWho killed the Bookies New Zealand University of CanterburyUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
thesis by R A Graham]