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Thanks for the welcome, Drone!
I’m still an itinerant and won’t stay long. Not even sure what a cyberman is or does, so that’s all a bit over my head, quite frankly.
So nothing new; my punting is now in terminal decline, despite being bombarded by successful winning tipsters from all quarters. They tell me winning is really quite easy. Certainly easier on the pocket, I suppose.
Anyway, I spotted a couple of familiar names on another P&L forum this morning. It was a place I rarely visit.Time to make with the feet. Hang on in there!
I saw a post on the btfr forum and tuned in here to see what was going on.
Some other old characters seem to have gone too.I’ll have to start reading the forum regularly again so that I may decide if things seem better or worse.
I agree, Drone, though, sadly, last year, very few folk turned up at Wolverhampton, despite free admission.
On at least one occasion, after the groundstaff worked long hours trying to make Dunstall Park raceable in freezing and snowy weather, racing was called off despite their efforts.
This was because the jockeys more or less refused to continue racing, because the lumps of ice that fly up from the horses’ hooves were too dangerous. The snow balls up underfoot.Last year, when there was also free admission, hardly any punters bothered to turn up, so, I guess management decided to cut their losses, this time round.
Btw, I’m sure everybody knows that all three AW tracks ( not including Kempton and Dundalk)are under the same ownership. I’m not sure how much independence each course has, but none can control the weather.
Not sure about the point about access roads; I’d say Southwell and Lingfield have smaller lanes to negotiate.
Roll on Easter!
Not sure about this year, but, in the past,
there was a British Tote set-up – with the RP on sale quite nearby – all inside the course.Porte Maillot is the key station, btw.
Last year we were advised by the track that we could just walk up and pay at the gate – which we did with no problem.
There were plenty of touts about outside, but we didn’t use their "upgrade" services.
Inside, several guys "blagged" their way into boxes or hung around waiting for invites. It seemed pretty lax.
I was more than happy with what I got for my standard admission; a grand viewing place!This year, I heard they changed the ticket sales methods. Apparently, it’s good to book this time. Perhaps, you could e-mail the track office to check?
Two years ago, I had a fierce row there.
I had my ticket for Tatts bought on the internet ( about £60).
The guy wouldn’t let me in without a tie, and I’d forgotten to carry one in my pocket for just such an eventuality.
Anyway, I weakened, as I’d come a long way and wanted to see the top-notch racing ( which, imo, is the only good thing about the place). So I bought a tie for £10.
As soon as I got inside those glass doors, I chucked it straight in the bin, in full view of the dude at the desk.
There were no further incidents, though I always resented the fact that I was £70 down before I even started betting.
When I say there were no further incidents, I haven’t included all the officious stop-go ushering that seems a regular nuiscance at meetings in southern England.
Contrast this with the pleasure of Leopardstown, where, for 18 euro, I freely enjoyed a far better venue with top-class, easily- viewed, good racing. In fact, nobody asked to see my ticket yet!Ascot is for dummies, imo. There is no need for all that expensive nonsense.
Yes, a nice post, Alan.
I’m glad the old fella has come through safely to a decent retirement. Those "long-distance" races always make me a bit nervous.I was at Windsor that day; it’s the only time I ever enjoyed a meeting there.
Your face in the Winner’s Enclosure said it all!The fact is that Kieren WILL be coming back, whatever folk on here think, say, or do.
As a long-time supporter, I’ll be happy if he isn’t popular. The more punters who refuse to back him, the better my price will be.Kiwi seems to know the score, but, for those who haven’t copped on yet, you can take it from me that many participants in horse-related businesses are not to be trusted too far. It’s historical reality.
With this scenario, prudently taken as a given, it is my opinion that KF is not the worst out there, by a long chalk.
In fact, there are hundreds of hangers-on in the game, including several media types, who are far more dodgy , imo.
Riding winners is far harder than whingeing on fora, tv shows, or in newspaper articles. And, btw, the folk on the "shady sidelines" are not the jockeys, who are out there, doing an actual job of work.Judging by figures I’ve read, the major Exchange is already in decline. These figures relate to the levy paid to racing. This levy is based on gross profits.
The trend is down, which is not exceptional in the current economic climate." I just think they know that there is a subset of their punters who don’t have any other outlets where they can operate at the same level of profitablilty – and they are milking that fact.": TDK
I think that is probably one of the few transparent certainties about the application of this PC by betfair.
Slightly off the point, but an interesting side point from this thread: is Cav saying that he makes a higher profit percentage than P. Veitch or H. Findlay?
If so, is there any particular reason why his "Hometown" is given as Doha?An extremely interesting thread, imo!
Thanks to all concerned.My personal view is that working to SP ( betfair or otherwise) is a difficulty, but, we have to have some yardstick when testing methods and systems.
It is so easy to see that the real problem with present day racing in the UK and Ireland IS the Exchanges.
Even so, few are prepared to come out and admit it openly, while, several out-spoken types, hide behind a tirade of anti-bookmaker sentiment that serves no useful purpose but does cloud the issue.In fact,
It turns out that these anti-book spluttergutsa) need the bookmakers for their arbing trades
and
b) despise the ordinary "person to person" players, whose promotion was supposed to be the very ethos of the Exchange.
Talk about the bankers and the politicians!We have a nasty situation in racing, that plays right into the hands of the insiders laying their known non-triers.
Very few Exchange players would be willing and able to stand a full-book of lay bets in every race, imo.Meanwhile, we stand idly by, as the racing game struggles in a battle for survival, that will be likely lost..
Personally, I don’t find trotting ( harness racing) any more cruel than thoroughbred racing, though, it is every bit as corrupt.
But isn’t that all part of the pantomime of racing message-boards, Dolus?
Oh no it isn’t; oh yes it is.This sort of thread is meat and drink to the attention-seekers who populate these places.
There are three main groups whom internet punters love to hate:jockeys
bookmakers
successful punters.Let one of these write in with a viewpoint, and the forum hounds round on him, like Newmarket bov ver-boys, just queueing up to put in the boot.
The new guy has already said that he’s prepared to contribute to any thread that’s started on the subject of math, probability, and this old "true odds" nonsense, so I look forward to seeing it.
Everybody secretly enjoys a vicarious rumble, and, but for the fact that I’m such an old fogie, I’d be joining in with all the other tossers on here ( as long as me ould mammie didn’t catch me at it.
)
Certainly easier on the pocket, I suppose.
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