The bookmakers' ring remains an intimidating place for many racegoers, who prefer to bet with the Horserace Totalisator Board - more commonly known as the Tote.

As well as feeling safer handing money over to the famous ladies in red who serve behind the counters, punters possibly also feel an element of giving back to racing by betting with the Tote.

That is because all the money bet on the Tote on a race is pooled and then shared out - less deductions taken for running costs - among those holding winning tickets.

In terms of turnover and staffing, the Cheltenham Festival is by far the biggest event of the year for the Tote.

In the 2000 meeting, the Tote turned over more than �8m on course - which is about 9% of its total on-course turnover for the year.

This year, it is aiming for �9m, which will involve taking somewhere in the region of one million bets over the three days.

The Tote also has an account arm - Tote Credit - of the 50 races in 2000 which were largest in terms of betting turnover from these customers, 12 were at the three-day Cheltenham meeting.

Tote staff have been working at the Gloucestershire course since January, laying miles of cabling, and there will be about 720 staff working on the course on each day of this year's Festival.

The Tote also supports the sport through sponsorship of races.

Since 1980, it has sponsored the blue riband event of the Festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup - this year's total prize money is worth �300,000.