Stakes raised at nightfall

(First Edition)

EVENING opening of betting shops has produced a windfall for racing. The annual report of the Betting Levy Board attributes an increase of seven per cent in turnover to the late opening of shops, introduced last year.

A yield to the levy of pounds 51.6m is expected for 1993/94 - a 10 per cent increase on 1992/93. The yield has more than doubled in eight years.

But the Board's chairman, Sir John Sparrow, sounded a note of caution: 'The underlying trend continues to cause concern, with afternoon turnover remaining static despite an upturn in the economy.'