GB2367674A - Odds display board. - Google Patents

Abstract

An odds display board for displaying betting odds, runner names and numbers comprises a number of modular display elements (25, Fig. 2). Each modular display element has preprinted ribbons (11, Fig. 2) for displaying the odds, the printing being done in such a manner that the odds can be displayed through windows 12 on both front and rear faces of the board simultaneously. The ribbon can be wound by means of gears to display the desired odds, the controls 3 for doing so being situated along only one side of the board. Spaces 8, 16 are provided for displaying the runner names and numbers.

Description

BOOKMAKER'S ODDS DISPLAY BOARD This invention relates to improvements in traditional roller-type odds display boards as used by bookmakers.

Existing boards display odds by passing a printed ribbon through a display window from one rotating reel to another, backwards and forwards.

They suffer major disadvantages, however, in that: . Where 2 columns of odds are displayed, the controls for the reels are on separate sides of the board, thus making it inconvenient for the operator to change the display on the far side.

Where odds are to be displayed on both front and behind faces of the board, the ribbons themselves are printed on both faces, with the ribbons having to be wound through a figure 8 path. This increases the effort for the operator to turn the reels, and also greatly increases the cost of printing the ribbons.

. Where there are many odds to display, there is a problem in that odds at the bottom of the list can be obscured from view by the surrounding observers. Moreover, very large field sizes of 30 to 40 runners as found in the UK are difficult to display adequately with current types of roller boards.

They can be fatiguing for the operator when winding a large amount t : l of ribbon quickly.

They cannot display the odds for more than one column of runners without making the total display, including the runner numbers and runner names, excessively wide.

This invention solves all these problems, as well as introducing several unique refinements which increase the functionality of this type of display system.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION The objects of this invention are to allow a bookmaker to display multiple separate columns of odds, both at the front and rear face of the display board, using a system of control winding knobs such that all such knobs are positioned at the one side of the board, such side being selectable by the user, and furthermore using a ribbon with which it is possible to display the odds on both front and rear faces of the board by printing the odds on only one face of the ribbon.

Further objects of this invention are to allow runners with higher priority numbers to be given display priority in a multiple column display configuration, to enable the ribbons to be turned without fatigue in cases where they have to be turned a large amount, to display the odds in a large font size, and to present all display information with clarity and consistency while displaying multiple sets of runner numbers, runner names and runner odds within moderately small horizontal and vertical confines.

Yet further objects of this invention are to allow the user a choice between different orders in which the odds, runner numbers and names can be displayed, and to allow the display of extra odds, numbers and names on a detachable, clip-on whiteboard or similar device which can be recessed out of sight when not in use.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Note on Terminology : Throughout this specification, the following terms have these uses: side : relative to a front-on view, either left-hand side or right-hand side face: either the front face, ie front plane which is in view, or the rear face, ie rear plane which is obscured module : all the components which together make up the display of odds, runner number and runner name of a single runner Notes on Drawings : Figure 1 shows the basic construction of a two module cassette, minus the internal componentry.

Figure 2 shows how the ribbon (11) is guided around the rotatable guide spindles (9), and how the betting odds (42) are printed on the ribbons.

Figure 3 shows the outward appearance of a complete display board containing six 2-module cassettes. The reversibility of the runner number strips (8) is shown at the bottom of this figure.

Figure 4 shows the top half of a display board containing ten 3-module cassettes (ie 5 cassettes shown in figure). Figures 3 and 4 together demonstrate the flexibility of the invention with respect to its display characteristics.

Figure 5 shows a simplified front face view of part of a 2-column display board, indicating how the cassettes are meant to slide out from the chassis along the guide rails (28), and also shows the dual spacings of the channels for the fitting of these rails.

Figure 6 shows an overhead cross section of a 2-module cassette within the chassis. The various components of the cassette are shown, together with the retaining plug (29) which connects the chassis to the cassette brace plate (27).

Figure 7 shows the operation of the gear assembly which drives the rotatable ribbon bobbins (30).

Figure 8 shows the interface between the fast winding attachment (23) and the winding knob (3).

Figure 9 shows the two methods of moving the ribbons (11) around the guide spindles (9), depending on whether 4 or 6 spindles are used.

Figure 10 shows the use of the remote shafts (14) (44) in a two or three module cassette.

Figure 11 shows the gear swing-arm (21) in detail.

Figure 12 shows how the whiteboard attachment (18) interfaces to the main rollerboard.

Figure 13 shows the three main ways of ordering the runner numbers.

Figure 14 shows a practical example of these three orderings.

This invention is of a device which displays printed betting odds on ribbons or other flexible material in such a way that any ribbon, by being moved, may exhibit changing odds by allowing only a part of such ribbon to be viewable in a window, with the remainder of the ribbon being masked from view. The device is meant to be suitable for the display of odds by bookmakers at racecourses or in betting shops.

In the following description, numbers in parenthesis refer to parts in the Drawings Parts List.

The invention consists of a chassis (15) which can be hung from a supporting pole or post. The chassis contains one or more removable cassettes (25).

Each cassette is composed of up to three compartments set side-by-side, each compartment capable of displaying one display by means of exhibiting a small section of ribbon (11) through a display window (12). Each compartment contains all the componentry of a complete module, so that any individual cassette contains up to three complete modules set in the same horizontal plane.

There are two main embodiments of this invention: one in which the odds are displayed in two columns, thus necessitating cassettes containing two compartments, and one in which the odds are displayed in three columns, thus necessitating cassettes containing three compartments. However, the same principle can be applied to systems with two side-by-side cassettes each containing two compartments, or to systems with two side-by-side cassettes containing two compartments and one compartment respectively.

The basic construction of a 2 module cassette is shown infime 1. Two brace plates (27) hold the four side walls (26) of the cassette in a fixed position. These side walls, preferably of moulded plastic, have pre drilled holes into which will fit all the internal mechanisms necessary to control the movement of the printed ribbons. These components include a gear system and two rotatable reels (30) per module. The ribbon is guided around one or both faces of the cassette by either four or six guide spindles (9) (figure 2). The gear system and reels are not shown infime 1, but are shown inflgures 6,7, 9 and 10.

The entire system for each individual module is controlled by a winding knob (3).

The winding knob is connected to a remote module by a remote shaft (14) or (44) as shown inMes 6, 7, 9 and 10.

External face views of the complete assembly, in 2 column and 3 column configurations, are shown infgures 3 and 4.

The cassettes are self contained, and may be removed easily from the chassis.

In one embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by means of cassette guide rails or channels (28), and retaining screws or plugs (29). A cassette may be removed from the chassis by unscrewing or otherwise removing these retaining screws or plugs and sliding the cassette out from the chassis along the guide rails. These guide rails can be attached in two positions, enabling the cassettes to be also mounted in two positions. The rails or channels are positioned in the side walls of the chassis at intervals which will accomodate the different vertical spacings of the modules. For example, if the modules are to be spaced with centres either 60mm or 80mm apart, the channels would be set at multiples of these values, that is, at 60,80, 120, 160, 180, 240... mm intervals. This would result in intervals of 60, 120, 180, 240... mm for cassettes which are to be set at 60 mm intervals, and in 80, 160, 240... mm intervals for cassettes which are to be centered at 80 mm intervals. Note that it is not the removability or modularity of the modules per se that is the crux, but the fact that they can be configured vertically in the chassis with more than one spacing between them.

The positioning of the guide rails and the retaining plug is shown inflgures 5, 6 and 10.

Although the ability to remove individual runner units or modules from the overall assembly is not novel, what is novel and therefore the basis of Claim 5 is the design of the chassis being such that the vertical spacings between the cassettes may be varied according to the configuration of the display of runner numbers, runner names and odds, as described in later sections of this specification.

Specifically, it is only the positioning of the cassettes in the wider of the two spacings which allows the disposition of the displays in the manner referred to in Claim 8.

In an example of a cassette containing up to three compartments, the main body consists of up to six side walls (26) which contain holes to bear the reels (30), guide spindles (9), swing arms (21), up to two remote shafts (14), (44), and two brace plates (27).

Figure 6 shows an overhead cross-section view. Figure 7 shows the disposition of the various components from a viewpoint facing the cassette side wall.

With respect to any individual compartment in any cassette, a ribbon is moved by using two reels, with the ribbon being wound from one reel to the other. The effect of this is that the printed odds (42) on any part of the ribbon may be moved into view by being passed through the viewing window (12).

Two identical reels are used in each compartment, a reel being composed of a reel shaft (30), a press fitted spur gear (7), and a containing flange (10). The reels are driven independently of each other by means of a gear assembly comprising an offset gear (4), a control gear (5), a selector gear (6) and a reel gear (7). The selector gear (6), control gear (5) and offset gear (4) together make up an assembly which also contains a swing arm (21) and a swing arm spring (22).

Figure 11 shows the gear swing-arm assembly in detail.

A ribbon is guided through one or both of two viewing windows (12) by means of two, four or all six rotatable guide spindles (9), these numbers depending on whether the ribbon is being displayed in only a single (front) window or two (front and rear) windows, and on whether the ribbon is printed on one or both faces.

If printed on only one face, the ribbon need only be guided around four spindles; if printed on both faces, the ribbon is guided around 6 spindles. The two variations are shown infgure 9.

While some other odds-display boards also can display identical odds on front and rear faces of the board using a pre-printed ribbon, in those cases the ribbon has to be printed on both faces, and the ribbon must pass over six guide spindles so as to reverse itself after executing a figure-8 path. This involves greatly increased cost in printing the ribbon, and greater effort in turning the reels. An inventive solution is to print the identical odds side-by-side on the same face of the ribbon, with the duplicate odd printed upside down and offset from the first by the necessary distance so that, at the rear face of the board, it appears right-side-up in its window (see figure 2). In this method, the ribbon only has to pass around four guide spindles, resulting in less effort to turn the reels, as well as being cheaper to print.

This is the basis for Claim 4.

The following five paragraphs form the basis for Claim 2.

As described above, in the preferred embodiments, each cassette contains up to three compartments, set side-by-side. If more than one compartment, the near-side compartment (31) displays the betting odds in the display window (12) on the left hand side (facing) of the chassis. The middle and/or far-side compartment (32) does the same for the middle and/or right hand side (facing) of the chassis (seefMres 1, 2, 3 and 4).

All compartments are operated from the same (ie near) side, relative to where the operator is positioned. This means that the controls can be positioned on either the left side or the right side (facing), by simply turning the entire chassis around (180 degrees). Note that both faces of the chassis have display windows which are perfectly aligned with the positions of the printed odds on the ribbons in the cassettes. If only one face of the chassis is meant to display odds, the other face is fully masked off. The full effect of this is that the board may be operated with equal facility from either side. This is of great value depending on where the bookmaker's stand is positioned. No other roller-type odds-display boards offer this facility.

The ribbon in the near-side compartment is turned in either direction by rotating a single knob (3), which connects to the gear system in the near-side compartment.

As described above, this gear system comprises an offset gear (4), control gear (5) selector gear (6), reel gear (7), swing arm (21) and spring (22). The ribbons in the middle and/or far-side compartments are turned in a similar manner, using their own gear assemblies, with the addition of a remote shaft (14), (44), which connects the knob (3) to the gear assembly in the middle or far-side compartment.

This is achieved by having all the cassette side walls (26) of identical construction, whether moulded or otherwise fabricated, each wall containing precise holes for bearing up to two remote shafts (14), (44). In fact, as can be seen fromfgure 10, in a system using cassettes with three compartments, the remote shaft (44) for the third compartment passes beneath the edge of the cassette side wall, to connect with the remote offset gear (43) which is placed in a different position to the remote offset gear in a two compartment cassette.

Although some other roller-type boards use only a single knob to turn two reels in either direction, the current design introduces two improvements. Firstly, the offset gear (4) is used to position the knob (3) slightly away from the control gear (5) which controls the near-side display, and as a result of this the knob which operates the far-side display is placed far enough from the knob which controls the near-side display that the two knobs will not create interference for the operator. This is also the case with three compartment cassettes. The purpose of the offset gears is to create a comfortable separation of the control knobs. Figure 10 best illustrates this, where it can be seen that the use of the offset gears leads to the knobs attached to (2), (14) and (44) being equally spaced apart. Secondly, the remote shaft itself is the primary ingredient for controlling the far side display (s), as it connects between the knob at the near side of the chassis and the gear system in that display.

Each ribbon may be printed with up to two sets of identical odds. In one embodiment of the invention, each odd ("odd"refers to odds of runners in sporting events: eg"7-2") is printed twice, side by side on the same face of the ribbon, with the duplicate odd being printed upside down, and offset from the first odd by a distance so that, when the ribbon is passed through the display window at the rear face of the cassette, the two identical odds both appear in their correct right-side-up position (figure 2). The particular section of a ribbon which would display the upside-down version of the odd is masked from view by a display window mask (13) (figure 3). This method of printing allows each odd to be displayed at both faces of the display board chassis simultaneously, without printing on both faces of the ribbon. As mentioned above, this forms the basis for Claim 4.

However, the design of the cassettes allows, by using the optional 5th and 6th spindles, to also display each odd using ribbons which are reverse printed on both front and rear faces, and passing the ribbon through the cassette in a figure-eight fashion, as do some previous models of roller odds-display boards.

We now discuss the various ways in which the displays may be configured.

The odds on the ribbons as shown through the display windows must be referenced to the numbers and names of the runners in the particular race or sporting event. The numbers are pre-printed on a runner-number template (8) which attaches to one or both faces of the chassis (15). These templates are printed with runner numbers on both their faces, so that they can be attached in two ways (figure 3). Furthermore, by using further templates, the various ways in which the runner numbers can be displayed are greatly increased.

In one way, the numbers can follow a sequence, vertically, of 1, 2, 3,... 16 for the messages displayed in the left-hand (facing) compartments of the cassettes. The numbers in the next (facing) compartments then show as: 17,18, 19,... 32. (In this example, the total display comprises 32 runners in two columns of 16 runners per column). This is the method currently

used by bookmakers in the UK who display odds on whiteboards or similar devices. (fig 13 item 37) However, if the number templates are reversed, the numbers can be displayed in a zig-zag fashion (38), with the left-hand side displaying 1,3, 5,7 etc, and the right-hand side displaying 2,4, 6,8 etc. This example also assumes a display of two columns of odds. This allows greater priority towards the top of the total display board to be given to those runners with higher priority (ie lower in the sequence) numbers. For example, using a zig-zag system, runner number 14 will display on the 7th row, while in the non zig-zag system, it would display on the 14th row.

Figure 13 shows a comparison between the two methods.

Figure 3 also shows the runner numbers displayed in this fashion.

This advantage is significant when the display board is populated with a large number of runners. For example, in a field size of 22 runners, using the first method (37), the example 32 runner board will display the runners 1-16 and their odds on the left hand side of the board, and runners 17-22 will be displayed at the top of the second column, whereas a zig-zag configuration (38) places all the runners and their odds on the first 11 lines, maximising their viewability to onlookers. (Refer figure 14).

It should be noted that it is not possible to both optimise the positioning of the runner numbers and maintain their fixed positions using a purely sequential ordering. If, for example, the total number of runners is divided into two equal columns, a runner number 11, for instance, would appear in two different positions in instances of field sizes of, say, 18 and 22 runners. In one case, it would appear on the 11th row of the first column, and in the other case it would appear on the 2nd row of the 2nd column. However, using the odd-even display system, runner 11 would always appear in the 6th position of the first column. A similar effect is to be found with all runner numbers. Since in the UK field sizes can be as large as 40 runners, necessitating at least two columns of displays, it is a significant advantage to display the runners in standard and fixed positions on the display board.

Optimising alone, that is keeping the runner numbers in as elevated a position on the board as possible, is in any case impractical using a purely sequential ordering. Since, as can be seen, the positions can not be fixed with position optimising, there would be the problem of having to continually vary the runner number templates or strips to cater for the many possible positionings due to the various field sizes.

This is possibly the overriding reason why a purely sequential ordering of the runner numbers, as found in traditional roller odds display boards, can only in practicality lead to a display of the runner data in the order as illustrated by item (37) infime 14.

Only an odd-even ordering gives both position optimising and fixed positioning of the runner numbers in a two column configuration.

This is the nub of claim 13.

In another configuration of numbers of compartments and runner number templates, the odds can be displayed in three columns of ten odds per column (39). In this example, the runner number templates will show: 1,2, 3,4... 10 in the first column, 11, 12,13, 14... 20 in the second column, and 21,22, 23,24... 30 in the third column. In this embodiment of the invention, the cassettes are inserted into the chassis with a greater spacing between them, in the vertical dimension. The number templates can display the runner numbers next to the displayed odds, each runner number directly adjacent to its corresponding odd. This particular template will also contain a recessed slot or similar, the purpose of which is to hold a printed sign such as a printed slip of paper, which will show the name of the runner. The name is inserted directly below the odds displayed.

Figure 4 shows this method of configuring the runner displays.

As is the case with the method described above of displaying the runner data in two columns of odd and even numbered runners, this arrangement of data in groups of 10 runners is no mere arbitrary scheme for presenting information. As the above mentioned two column method has the purely functional purpose of placing every runner in as high a position on the display board as is possible according to its numerical position, as well as maintaining a fixed position for all numbers, so too the arrangement of the data in columns often runners serves a functional purpose and is strongly linked to that purpose.

This displaying of the data in groups of 10 maximises the available display space as no other scheme can. Rules governing racing in the UK limit the size of display boards. By displaying the runner names between the betting odds in the same column, it is possible to display the betting odds in a much larger font size than it would be if the odds were displayed horizontally next to their corresponding runner names.

This is because of a much more efficient use of the space available.

Furthermore, it is extremely clear and logical to display the runners in such groupings. This method also maintains a fixed position on the board for every runner. It makes it extremely easy for viewers to isolate any particular runner for inspection, particularly as it is very suitable for color coding of the columns.

This three (or four) column method, whereby a field size of up to 40 runners is divided into equal columns of 10 runners, is the absolutely optimum solution in terms of position optimisation, fixed positioning, and maximum display size. This is the nub of claim 12.

Figure 14 show an example of a field size of 22 runners displayed in all the manners so far discussed.

In the main form of the invention, there is also a facility for a subsidiary display (18) to be attached to the far side of the chassis, in the form of a sheet of white board (or similar), on which the bookmaker may write the odds of some runners, in cases where the number of runners exceeds those which are catered for by the number of cassettes which might exist in the currently configured unit. Since the design allows for a user selectable number of modules (cassettes) to populate the chassis, it may happen that the overall board, as configured on the day, may not have enough displays installed to show the odds for all the runners in a particular race. In the UK field sizes can be up to 40 runners. It is rare, however, that the number of runners in a particular race reaches this proportion. But since the overall dimensions of the display board is restricted somewhat by the rules governing such matters, a problem arises in that it is difficult to optimise the size of the actual betting-odds display (ie the actual font size of the digits constituting the odds) while still allowing for the display of a possible 40 such displays. This unobtrusive attachment, described below, solves this problem very neatly.

This attachment has pins (or similar) (33) which allow the whiteboard to be recessed into the far side of the chassis (15) by means of retaining holes (20) built into the side of the chassis. The width of the whiteboard is the same as the depth of the chassis (ie the distance between the front and rear faces of the chassis), so that when not in use, it takes up no appreciable space. When in use, however, the whiteboard attaches to retaining holes (19) at the front of the chassis, the effect being that the front face of the display board is widened by an amount a little less than the width of this attached whiteboard.

The whiteboard has cut-out slots in it, and is set forward from a backing panel so that there is a space behind the whiteboard cut-out

slots for inserting the runner names, which are printed on sheets. The runner numbers are pre-printed on the actual whiteboard itself. The design is such that the bookmaker only has to slide a printed sheet containing the runner names into the recess behind the whiteboard.

The runner names align themselves with the pre-printed runner numbers, and the spaces on the whiteboard directly adjacent to each runner number can be used by the bookmaker to write the odds with a marker pen.

Figure 12 shows how the whiteboard interfaces with the far side of the main chassis.

A final feature of this invention is a device which enables the operator to rotate the reels pertaining to any display with greater speed and less effort. Although the knobs and gear systems have been designed to make turning of the reels an easy task, it sometimes happens that the reels have to be turned a great deal quickly, to change the odds of a runner from one value to another value which is greatly different to the first value.

Each knob has a hexagonal key (40), either male or female, in its end for the attachment of a winding handle (23). This handle can be inserted into or fitted around, and removed from, a knob very quickly, and the winding handle, which is composed of a handle with a rotating knob at its edge, allows for very easy and quick rotation of the main knob.

The details of this are shown infigure 8.

Alternatively, if required, these winding handles can be permanently attached to each individual knob by inserting a pin into the locating holes (41) provided.

However, it is the property of being detachable that is the basis of Claim 6. The cost of giving all knobs a winding handle would be high, but the current invention overcomes this cost disadvantage by enabling a single winding handle to be used, while still allowing users to attach multiple handles if so desired.

DRAWINGS PARTS LIST 1 2 Near shaft 3 Knob 4 Offset gear 5 Control gear 6 Selector gear 7 Reel gear 8 Runner Number Template 9 Guide spindle 10 Reel containing flange 11 Ribbon 12 Display window 13 Display window mask 14 Remote shaft 15 Chassis

16 Printed runner name sheet 17 18 White board 19 White board retention holes (front) 20 White board retention holes (side) 21 Gear swing arm 22 Swing arm spring

23 Fast winding attachment 24 25 Cassette 26 Cassette side wall 27 Cassette brace plate 28 Cassette guide rail 29 Cassette retaining screw or plug 30 Reel shaft 31 Near Compartment 32 Far Compartment 33 White Board Pin 34 White Board Template

35 Retaining circlips 36 37 Pure sequential ordering of runner numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 38 Odd-even alternate ordering of runner numbers (1, 3, 5 and 2, 4, 6 39 Ordering of runner numbers in groups of 10 per display column (1-10,11-20, 21-30,31-40) 40 Hexagonal insert 41 Locating hole 42 Printed odd 43 0 ffset gear for furthest module in 3 column configuration 44 Remote shaft for offset gear of furthest module in 3 column configuration 45 Slot for guide rail first position 46 Slot for guide rail second position

Claims (13)

CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A bookmaker's odds-display board, comprising: a) a chassis which contains multiple modules, such modules being arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows, the design of the chassis being such that the vertical spacing between any module and the module immediately beneath may be varied so as to allow the modules to be vertically orientated to one another in more than one position, and the design of the whole being such that optionally the betting odds and runner names may be set horizontally next to each other, or optionally interleaved vertically, one above the other, each module consisting of :

1) a betting-odds display,

2) a runner-number display,

3) a runner-name display, and

4) all the components necessary to contain these displays within the chassis and to control the changing of the displays, the said components including: * a ribbon which has a series of betting-odds pre-printed in duplicate on only one face of the ribbon, being the means to enable each odd to be displayed simultaneously at both front and rear faces of the chassis, * an offset gear, being the means to reduce interference between adjacent knobs which control modules in the same horizontal plane of the chassis, * a device, being a shaft or similar, being the means to aid in remotely controlling the changing of an odds-display in a module, where such a module is located at a position in the chassis which is removed from the near or controlling side, and * a detachable winding handle, being the means for increasing the ease and efficiency of the winding of the ribbons; b) a system of detachable runner-number templates, each pre-printed with a different series of numbers, being the means to allow the displaying of the runner numbers in various sequences or configurations ; and c) a clip-on, recessable whiteboard or similar, being the means of displaying extra betting odds, runner numbers and runner names.

2. A device, as claimed in Claim 1, being a shaft or similar, for controlling a rotatable, changeable display, being printed betting odds on a ribbon, the said device connecting between a controlling knob or dial at the near or controlling side of the chassis and a gear system in a remote module, where such a module is one of a multiple of such modules which might exist substantially side by side, but where the module in question is situated in a position in the chassis which is removed from the near or controlling side, and where it is meant that all the controls for all the displays should be set at the same side of the chassis which encloses the displays.

3. A device, as claimed in Claim 1, being an offset gear, that part of a gear assembly as described in the specification, whose purpose is to create a sufficient space between adjacent knobs which control modules in the same horizontal plane of the chassis, so as to minimise the interference to the operator between the knobs.

4. A method, as claimed in Claim 1, for simultaneously displaying two identical betting odds, printed on a ribbon, in two display windows on opposite faces of an odds-display board, by means of printing the two odds on the same face of the ribbon.

5. A method, as claimed in Claim 1, for varying the vertical orientation of all displayed items in an odds-display board, by enabling the chassis, through the use of guide rails or channels or otherwise, to support the modules in positions which allow variable spacings between them.

6. A method, as claimed in Claim 1, for increasing the speed of, and decreasing the effort of, the winding of tapes or ribbons in a roller-type odds display board by means of a detachable winding handle.

7. A method, as claimed in Claim 1, of attaching, and recessing when not in use, a clip-on whiteboard (or similar) device which allows a roller-type display board to display extra betting odds, runner numbers and runner names as required.

8. A method, as referred to in Claim 1, of arranging contiguous modules, and the elements of same, so that the betting odds and runner names of all runners in any column are interleaved vertically, one betting odd directly above or below its corresponding runner name.

9. A system of runner number templates, as claimed in Claim 1, which allows the betting odds, runner numbers and runner names in an odds-display board to be displayed in a variety of different physical configurations.

10. Specifically, a system, as referred to in claim 9, which allows runner numbers and runner names to be displayed in two columns, with odd numbered runners in the first column, and even numbered runners in the second column.

11. Specifically, a system, as referred to in claim 9, which allows runner numbers and runner names to be displayed in two or more columns,

with the first column displaying runners 1-10, the second column displaying runners 11-20, the third column, if used, displaying runners 21-30 and the fourth column, if used, displaying runners 31-40.

12. A method of constructing an odds display board so that the runner numbers, runner names and betting odds are displayed in two or more columns of ten runners per column, with all data for the first 10 runners being displayed in the first column, all data for the second 10 runners in the second column, for the third 10 runners in the third column, and so on.

13. A method of constructing an odds display board so that the runner numbers, runner names and betting odds are displayed in two columns, with all data for odd numbered runners being displayed in the first column, and all data for the even numbered runners being displayed in the second column.

14 A bookmaker's odds-display board substantially as described hereunder and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.