BangorBet – Questions to answer for punters and owners

[Black Sam Bellamy]

Prize money levels at yesterdays meeting at Bangor makes for some interesting reading, and must make owners and customers query who is benefiting from bangorBet.

2013 – Winning Prize Money
Class 4 Beginners Chase – £3,671.40
Class 4 Mares Only Novice Hurdle – £3,119.04
Class 3 Handicap Hurdle – £5,393.34
Class 4 Handicap Chase – £3,768.84
Class 4 Handicap Hurdle – £3,119.04
Class 4 Handicap Chase – £3,768.84
Class 6 Bumper – £1,642.56
Total: £24483.06

Corresponding 2012 Fixture Winning Prize Money
Class 4 Beginners Chase – £3,054.06
Class 4 Mares Only Novice Hurdle – £2,534.22
Class 2 Handicap Hurdle – £8,862.00
Class 3 Handicap Chase – £5,653.26
Class 3 Handicap Hurdle – £4,548.60
Class 4 Novices’ Handicap Chase – £3,054.06
Class 6 Bumper – £1,437.24
Total: £29143.44

So despite a prize money uplift to some of this years races against last year’s corresponding prize money, the course has disappointing dropped the Class 2 handicap hurdle to Class 4, despite the 2011 renewal attracting 14 runners. They’ve also downgraded the Class 3 handicap chase to ensure a £5k reduction in overall prize money.

Bangor’s Average Prizemoney Spend per Fixture for 2012: £13,021
Bangor’s Average Prizemoney Spend per Fixture for 2011: £15,568

Although more meetings need to be analysed to get a full picture, the reality seems to suggest that jettisoning the Tote has allowed the course to increase takeout on pool betting by a reported 10%. But they’re also diluting the quality of the race program to reduce prize money levels; and they’re also contributing less per fixture to prize money as well.

There are questions to answer here as this doesn’t seem to be benefiting racing in any way at all and it is setting dangerous precedents as other courses are seemingly intent on following this model.

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