Betting Shop Despatches II

[bettingboy]

I was in my local Coral, feeling quite dandy having had a punt on Green Manalishi at 50/1 and copped the place money, and writing out a betting slip for Father Time in the the St Leger when the commentator announced that Jamie Spencer didn’t rate his chances. I back Cecil’s horses at Doncaster for obvious reasons, but this information stayed my hand above the slip. I demurred: what if, in that world of baroque sod’s law that is J Spencer’s riding career, the beast won? But no, be sensible, I said to myself. My next thought was to back Mastery each-way but decided to sit it out, having punted each-way on Clowance in the Irish Leger.
A semi-crazy punter sat down next to me. He’s one of those high street bookies habitues long ago driven to the ante-room of insanity by punting on horses and who now offer their own unofficial off-course commentary, not just about horses but also dogs, FOBS, the coffee machine and the Chinese illegal immigrants who sell DVDs. Like most betting shop nutcases his system is to back favourites and when Kite Wood got beat he went berserk. "You dirty little sh*t, Frankie, you ******* little ****!"
To him, the whole thing was a conspiracy. I normally sympathize with outraged betting shop punters: as a racing journalist said as long ago as the 1890s, betting is the manure from which the racing industry is grown. However, it was an enjoyable race to watch and turning over favourites is the main weapon in the bookie’s arsenal; how can a man in late middle age not know this? Favourite-backing is the mug’s game that causes racing to be known as a mug’s game.

[bettingboy]

Thanks!
Re: fave backing: Without a doubt. Look at Nevison, for example.

[Author]

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