Henry Lobe Straus (March 10, 1896 – October 25, 1949) was an American electrical engineer, horse and cattle breeder, sportsman, entrepreneur and computer pioneer.
[5] A machine for calculating parimutuel odds, issuing tickets, and showing payouts on horse races was called a totalisator; George Julius had invented a mechanical version that was first used in New Zealand in 1913.
Henry Straus grew wealthy as his all electric totalisator became a near-universal fixture in racetracks in Europe and North America.
On October 25, 1949, Henry Straus was killed in a plane crash,[7] and soon after the American Totalisator's directors withdrew their support from EMCC.
With wealth from his business success, he became an owner of racehorses and would acquire the Tropical Park Race Track in Coral Gables, Florida which he owned at the time of his death.