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I’ve always been a racing enthusiast, and had an embarrasment of courses within reasonable driving distance when I lived in Oxfordshire, but I really enjoy the Scottish circuit. Each course is different with their own atmosphere, and each enjoyable in
their own way…., even Ayr which has too big opinion of itself! THe key point is that I can go racing and enjoy it every time, something I’m not sure I would do if racing and betting day after day.I haven’t been racing much in recent years but still enjoy the experience as much as I ever did; an enjoyment surpassed by little else then, now and hopefully forever
On a whim a few years ago I decided to try and go racing and not have a bet: at the lovely Spring-fresh ‘n’ virgin-green Musidora day at York. Felt a bit strange at first going wholly unprepared and untutored on the runners but guess what, by the third race or so I was enjoying the peace of mind and freedom enabled by a brain unclouded by betting concerns: the sights, sounds and smells of the racecourse were more than sufficient to make for another memorable day on-course. And that’s the way it’s remained
A day at the races one thing; betting quite another
Well said
Ginger, as I said, fair play to you and to anyone who’s making a living at it and long may you continue doing so.
Just to clear up a small point from my post (though I suspect your response was tongue in cheek) – it was the colts getting upset surrounded by fillies, not the other way round. I suspect the fillies were just gabbing about it and laughing at weak-willed males
You must be a millionaire Ginge
Sadly not.
Did it read as though I was saying it is easy Andrew?Certainly not that. There are lots of "imponderables" in racing. Just think some thought of as imponderables are not imponderables at all and can be allowed for in a horse’s character/assessing a race.
Value Is EverythingJust to clear up a small point from my post (though I suspect your response was tongue in cheek) – it was the colts getting upset surrounded by fillies, not the other way round. I suspect the fillies were just gabbing about it and laughing at weak-willed males
Isn’t it always thus Joe?
Colts getting coltish makes more sense now.Value Is EverythingYou must be a millionaire Ginge
Sadly not.
Did it read as though I was saying it is easy Andrew?Its been an eyeopener this thread,several of us have tried and failed to make a living at the Sport of Kings and interestingly we’ve all done it ‘Our Way’,trouble is whatever way we’ve done it all of us have
struggled
to make a living,all of us except the Ginger one.Now there’s 2 ways of looking at Gingers philosophy/system/figures,we either take every word as Gospel or he’s a lying,Cheating Charlatan! I have suggested to dear Ginge that there are inconsistencies in his betting patterns many times but at the end of the day his DLAPS thread is Fact,there’s no juggling of the figures whether they are true or not,they are all written in time and show a healthy profit.Of course the ‘traditionalist’ Gambler of old picks a horse and backs it with the old enemy known as the Bookmaker.Ginge has a unique approach,certainly not to everyones taste but at the end of the day its consistently profitable.Perhaps Gingers way is the right way after all!For me to change my tact would be like making me support Chelsea instead of Arsenal,I like to battle the bookmaker with just the weapons I was born with,Ginge on the other hand goes in with an Armada of Battleships,a Battalion of tanks and enough troops to fill a Grandstand but he’s not only winning the battle he’s winning the war……….TAPK ponders for a moment!!
Are they birds?
No.Are they planes?
No.Are they UFOs?
No.Are they Supermen.
No.It’s …. They’re … No! …. I don’t believe it!! …..
Good grief !! …. I never thought I’d see the day ….
They’re PIGS !!
Sorry. Just could not resist it.
For me to change my tact would be like making me support Chelsea instead of Arsenal,I like to battle the bookmaker with just the weapons I was born with,Ginge on the other hand goes in with an Armada of Battleships,a Battalion of tanks and enough troops to fill a Grandstand but he’s not only winning the battle he’s winning the war……….TAPK ponders for a moment!!
Thanks, I think.
Strange, I was a Chelsea fan as a kid, and my brother Arsenal.
I’ve only won the first battle so far Gord, many more to come and it could go horribly wrong yet. It is possible to do it with a single tank mate, the Armada and Battalion just keep the confidence up.
Value Is EverythingFor me to change my tact would be like making me support Chelsea instead of Arsenal,I like to battle the bookmaker with just the weapons I was born with,Ginge on the other hand goes in with an Armada of Battleships,a Battalion of tanks and enough troops to fill a Grandstand but he’s not only winning the battle he’s winning the war……….TAPK ponders for a moment!!
Thanks, I think.
Strange, I was a Chelsea fan as a kid, and my brother Arsenal.
I’ve only won the first battle so far Gord, many more to come and it could go horribly wrong yet. It is possible to do it with a single tank mate, the Armada and Battalion just keep the confidence up.
Enough of this consensus!!! THis is an internet forum, if theres not bullying and spite, its just not right.
SHL
I was advised that my name had cropped up a few times on this thread and having had a look, felt I should offer some input.
Firstly regarding the talking and writing as an additional source of income. It’s always amused me that there are people who seem to believe that full time punting should be a pure occupation, unsullied by any commercial considerations and that to qualify for the job title, it’s essential to turn down offers of income from anything other than betting.
I took what was offered to provide money to offset the expenses incurred in going racing – so far as I could see, none of the offers would have been made if I hadn’t been a relatively successful punter in the first place. Using the info from my tax returns, my total income from talking (TV, corporate, seminars) and writing (books, articles, internet) totalled less than £200k before tax in a 15 year period from 1995 to 2010. My betting income in the same period was a great deal higher.
GT mentioned my giving up TV work because it was costing me money. That actually relates to a single experience that persuaded me the job wasn’t worth doing long term – I appeared irregularly between Sept 2002 and April 2003 and the daily rate was £150, out of which I had to pay my own travel expenses and tax. I was scheduled to be in the studio on Grand National day 2003 and as per usual, was asked to provide a nap bet, which was Highland Shot, a filly running in a 1M handicap at Lingfield.
Once in the studio, there was no means of placing a bet, so with no early prices on offer in those days for an AW race, I had to bet at SP. I then had to sit and watch as Highland Shot was cut from an opening show of 2/1 down to 5/4 at the off before winning by three lengths. Appearing on TV that afternoon had cost me £900 in order to earn a taxable £150. I told producer Jim Ramsey that I wouldn’t accept any more work!
Finally Ricky talked about the time constraints and costs of being a regular on course and how difficult that made it to turn a profit. He used the word’ genius’, which makes me distinctly uncomfortable. I’m fairly well aware of my strengths and weaknesses as a punter, but no way do I consider myself out of the ordinary. I reckon I am a good judge of form and I’m able to spot horses that will prove profitable to follow, but there are plenty as good or better on here. Where I believe I have an edge is that I’m probably a better gambler than most good judges, by which I mean I seem to have an instinct for when to pile in, when to step back and the ability to deal with all the negative thoughts that affect every punter.
So I believe it’s the match of good judge and good gambler that has seen me through, whereas most punters are strong at one aspect, but perhaps not both. Equally of course, it was a major advantage that I had no family to support, no mortgage to pay after 1993 and a lump sum (redundancy payment and savings) to get me started.
I will attempt to answer any questions arising from this post before returning to anonymity.
Ap nice to see you post again , sorry about the genius tag …I knew you were better than most at the game , I was just dismal …giving up saved me lots
The thing that got me most was not having the patience to wait and trying to force results ….nope no good
How did you manage to stay so patient ??
Ricky
Hi Ricky,
I was forever chasing the big win with doubles, trebles and the like in the 60’s and 70’s, but I broke that habit when I spent two years working in Kuwait 1978 – 1980.
Within a year or two of returning to the UK, I had a plan to go full time punting once I paid off my mortgage and built up enough savings – so I started keeping proper records and trying to improve my betting while I still had a good income from my day job.
I expected to be ready for the big time by 2000, when I would be 53, but redundancy in November 1991 altered the timetable. But by then, I’d schooled myself to limit my bets, as I had the records that showed it was the best approach.
Perhaps it also comes from the gambling instincts, that I’d always rather wait and have a grand on a horse I strongly fancied, rather than five bets of two hundred when my confidence in the horses wasn’t so high.
I haven’t changed in that respect. I’ve just closed off my account for the 2013 flat season, betting from Chester May to the Leger meeting. In that time I’ve had a total of 75 bets, almost all at the big festivals or on Saturdays.
AP
Blimey, now
AP
. We are truly spoiled
Sadly Mr Pilsen, I don’t think it is by choice.
Nice to see you at the races more often this season Alan. You’re always talking to someone and don’t like to but in.
Value Is EverythingOf course it was by choice, Mark, he wasn’t forced. Maybe he’s just been waiting for a chance to get his foot back in the door now a lot of the loonies have cleared off. Got to be better him posting on here rather than the betfair forum?
You should stay, AP
AP – that was an interesting post to say you’ve closed down your flat account for the season.
Why so early? As long as the ground doesn’t deteriorate (sounds like weather is picking up) we’ve so much to look forward to –
Cambridgeshire meeting
Arc meeting
Future Champions Day
British Champions Day
Racing Post TrophyYou like to bet on feature races/racedays so why would you stop when the good 2yos are coming out and so many good races with strong betting markets?
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