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Time for racecourse bookies to become bookies again before it’s too late? https://www.starsportsbet.co.uk/simon-nott-following-the-tracker-to-extinction/
Several tines I have struck a bet with an on course bookie and the price on my ticket has been lower than the one I took, I always query this straight away and it is put right, but how many punters walk away without checking their ticket first?
Funnily enough on the very last Saturday at Newmarket this year which was the wettest and windiest ever I actually witnessed bookies deciding not to pitch and returning to base. Even though the abandoned Horris Hil 2yo Trophy was being run the turn out of bookies was the lowest I’d ever seen at a Rowley Mile weekend meeting. Do you think that could have something to do with their electronic odds machines not functioning properly in the wet and windy conditions Simon or are the new breed of bookie not as weather hardened as the old school.
Really interesting article thank you and certainly agree how much racing needs it’s characters sadly a dying breed. Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Jac,
The official figures show that only 14 bookies were operating on that Saturday, for a crowd of 4,800. The same meeting in 2017 and 2018 had around 30 bookies present. Certainly a new low, as there were 72 working on Sept 28th and 60 on Oct 12th this year.
I’d guess that they recognise the reality, which is that punters will use their phones to bet, rather than come outside in the rain.
That’s interesting AP many thanks.
It was certainly the bold and the brave that turned out that day there were 9 races and the rain stopped after the 3rd so more punters ventured out and it was worth it the fields were good and I backed the Horris Hill winner Kenzai Warrior.
That was definitely the worst weather Newmarket has had for the final meeting for many years but I can remember another disastrous meeting which was the Craven 2016 when the appropriately named Stormy Antarctic won in a thunderstorm..a lightning strike hit the main stand and the Tote went down just before the race, we lost all the tv screens and commentary so had to wait for the bedraggled horses and jockeys to come back to the winners enclosure before we knew who had won
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Slightly off kilter, but seeing as bad weather has been mentioned….Spare a thought for all those working at Exeter yesterday, particularly the jockeys and staff whom had runners in the last. First world problem no doubt, but those conditions looked foul. Wasn’t too far off darkness either.
Probably the hardest sportspeople alive, those national hunt jockeys.
Yes, I watched the replay of the last race at Exeter this morning. You could tell by the car lights just how dark it was. And remember TV cameras make it look lighter!
As for the betting ring, they are just dead nowadays and killed off by all the other options people have to bet. Sorry to say it but the bookies brought it on themselves to an extent. How many bet 1/4 odds nowadays, even on 16+ runner handicaps?
Contrast that with Ireland where the bookies generally do bet to the correct each way terms, although my maths is not good enough to comment on their over-rounds. Then again, racing in Ireland is usually a far more enjoyable experience than racing in Britain anyway.
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