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It was only 10 years ago.
I cant remember what I did 10 days ago.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
I would word the question differently, I would like to know : How much racing is in racing? or How many runners compete in racing.
I think racing is either straighter now or at least more subtlety bent – some of the blatant things in the past don’t seem to happen any more.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"think racing is either straighter now or at least more subtlety bent – some of the blatant things in the past don’t seem to happen any more.
agree
If the qeustion is proportionally were there more winning favorites in times gone by than now becuase they are getting backed to lose now then the answer is no. I do not know any one in there seventies who made a fortune backing fancied horses in the fifties sixties seventies eighties and nineties.
In the book Enemy Number One by the big gambler Veitch he writes he was astounded as a schoolboy when he first went into a bookmakers most betting shop punters backed the tipped up horses pinned on the bookies wall which were invariably fancied. they lost heavily.
Crookery is better coordinated these days, they’re all in on it as opposed to 30 plus years ago when individuals plotted in secret to profit close connections. Now, information is shared, backs are scratched and favours repaid. The great unwashed are kept firmly on the outside and in the dark.
With cameras, access to jockeys’ mobile phone records and the exchanges I’d say that whilst cheating is prevalent it has moved with the times and been modified.
IMO the extent of it depends on the type of race. There are plenty of non triers in maidens and novice hurdles but a trip to the paddock and betting ring gives punters a clue.
Conversely in top grade races or the Chetenham festival most connections are trying because it is an expensive businessjust to get there.
The races I avoid are the Class 6 handicaps which comprise most of the surfeit of daily dross. Journeymen trainers and jockeys "compete" for £1900 gross to the winner before deductions. "Racing for rosettes" as Richard Hannon snr mocked them. His jockey Richard Hughes went further in calling them "cheating races where there are no rules" in print in his ghostwritten column in the RP late this summer. Needless to say Hughes wasn’t sanctioned nor even asked to explain his remarks by the authorities because everyone knew what he meant and that he was right. The prize money doesn’t far in eating into training fees so the alterative is to plot horses up and back them instead. Countless times I’ve seen gambles, some successful and some not, on horses that have shown nothing for a year or two but are heavily backed in Class 6s. Horse may have had the ability in the dim and distant past to win such a lowly event but hasn’t been allowed to show it! You’re either in on the inside info or blindly follow the £. Ordinary public and other connections are being deceived. The AW gets its justified fair share of criticism over these cheating races, but in reality there are similar contests on turf.
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