The Government is this week expected to put the sale of the Tote bookmaking business under starter's orders on the back of record half-year results.It is planning to table legislation permitting the sale of Britain's sole operator of horserace pool betting to a racing trust. The Tote, which has posted a 39pc rise in half-year profits to £9.2m pre-tax on turnover up 53pc to £693m, is then expected to negotiate with the Government over the price it has to pay to buy itself out of state control.