TIPS
none.
MICRO SYSTEMS/ANGLES
Jumps Angles
Harry Fry Mares (10/1< guide)
3.30 Ling – Queens Odessa
Handicap Chase/Hurdle Portfolio – Live Test
4.00 Ling – Rock On Rocky UP
Trainer/Jockey Combo – Live Test
2.25 Ling – Annie Alainn (12/1<) (#3) WON 6/1>5/1
4.00 Ling – Mr Muddle (14/1<) (#6) UP
Other
Jan Trainer Pointers
4.50 Wolv – Gleaming Girl
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Horse of Interest…
4.10 Southwell- Red Admirable– 8/1… (PU, looked good for most of the way around,challenged turning in and then either something went wrong or the petrol tank emptied very quickly,which would be a surprise)
This one entered my tracker a couple of runs back simply as he had been woefully out of form but had suddenly showed more, and was a ‘pace angle’ front runner that despite his age, I wanted to keep an eye on.
A few of you have mentioned him across the blog and it is not hard to see why, as he is doing so many things differently. The main one being the step up in trip, and this is much more his distance. He can slog. 2m4f around Huntingdon on good to soft looks far from ideal, esp when looking at his chase form, and unsurprisingly he has been out-paced the last twice, while still running well. He is 13lb below his last win and he has never raced over this distance in a handicap hurdle. He races prominently, usually. He also drops into C5 for the first time in an age, and the first time ever in a handicap. Of some interest is also the fact that the headgear is removed. He has been wearing it for his last 16 runs. You have do try different things with these old boys and that may well be what he needs to freshen him up. Or he races lazily, but I suspect the former. He may feel free. Finally, McPherson is 5/13,8p in handicap hurdles at the track over the last 5 years. Oh, and he is 3/13,3p going LH in handicaps, 0/12,1p going RH.
So, at 8/1 generally, I think there is plenty there to recommend him in what is a poor enough race. He could win this very well. And I have had a stab. He isn’t getting any younger but 8s allows a play for me.
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Let’s Reminisce…
I thoroughly enjoyed reading some of your memories from years gone by, posted on Monday. I think the readership covers many decades and i personally wouldn’t mind reading some more!
So, if you can remember your first ever bet and also wish to reminisce, post a comment. And/or if there is one horse from the past you could see live just one more time, in their prime, who would that be?
It’s only a bit of fun but suspect it won’t just be me who will enjoy the read…
I should add my own memories… I was late enough to the racing game and had no real interest before going to University in Liverpool, back in 2007, aged 18. The family home isn’t too far from Newmarket but I don’t remember any engagement in the sport before that, bar the odd mild interest in C4 racing every now and then. None of my family are into racing. So, it was left to a first visit to Aintree in 2007, Old Roan Chase Day. (a free student ticket with a complimentary pint!)
I dare say I had a bet before the Old Roan itself, but without doubt the most memorable first proper betting adventure was on Monet’s Garden, who that year beat a 7 year old Kauto Star into 2nd place. He was 9/4, but I only cared for winners back then. The return for my £5 bet paid for a few more pints. It was a great race. I think there is something about a flashy grey and that horse sticks in the mind. As does Nacarat, who would be a regular enough visitor, with his front running style, winning a race in 2011 at the track, making all.
My best punting memory would be tipping/backing/mentioning Very Wood to win the Albert Bartlett at the 2014 Festival. 50/1. I think that is my biggest priced winner to date. It was rather good fun cheering him home. But, those types of winners are rare, so you have to enjoy them.
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67 Responses
West tip in ’86 national if my memory serves me right ?? My first ever winner on the horses what a buzz that day !!
Well that is some punting Dee! Always nice when the first winner is on the big one. I suspect that is the first bet for many a subsequent racing fan. Hopefully you have found the odd winner since!
one bet i will always remember was in the time Spartan Missile was in it’s prime but we had a word from a friend who worked in a stable that Queen Bee was the best of the rest and was expected to come second so we all lumped on the SFC and the place, remembering this was a long time ago and i was earning £68 a week, between 3 of us we made just over £1,000 we spent it on beer women and gambling and just wasted the rest. 🙂
skipping school to go to james lane at the bottom of the road and getting the old boys in there to put 25p on grundy at 5/1 in the 1975 derby standing outside and listening to the race and getting our winnings going back down on oaks day and putting it on Juliet marny Jeremy tree was the trainer if I rember right listening to it win at 100/8 we were the richest kids on the eastate for the day
God I feel like the baby here. I am trying to remember my first wining bet but it would have been at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. I was playing poker on Neil Channing’s site Blackbelt Poker and he was putting up his festival tips on the forums. I cant remember on the exact bet but I think it was either First Lieutenant or Sizing Europe. As the the first bet I recall that I picked out myself which stands out would have been Certerach in the 2014 Dubai World Cup who just about held off big favourite Cavalryman and Stanjames were kind enough to offer 50/1 earlier in the day. Was only £2.5 e/w but was absolutely chuffed.
Moving on to the present day and I have to give Dormouse one last chance in the 14:25 at Lingfield tomorrow. I think he will struggle to have more ideal conditions than tomorrow. He loves it at the track and is 1112 in 4 visits. He loves heavy ground and is 5/11, 8p on it including winning his last three on heavy at the track. 4 of his last 5 wins have been between coming back from a break of 8 to 11 days (hasnt raced over shorter) so considering its been 7 days since his last run he should be in top shape. His trainer finally had her first winner on friday since July. Noel Fehily is 12 on board so thats another plus. Money seems be coming in already for the horse. Obviously he ran very badly LTO and he is now 12 but to me the stars are aligning here.
In the following race I want to have another bet on Cheat the Cheater. Back to his last winning mark and drops down to class 5 level for the first time since his win almost a year ago. Dickie back on board is a plus given he is 13 from two rides on the horse. He has won here before and wont have any issues with the heavy ground. The weight is a minor concern but he has won with the same amount on during his last win. Only thing is the trainer could be in slightly better form almoth she hasnt had many runs in the past month. Another which has been nibbled at in the market.
You speak my thoughts Nick Cheat the Cheater.my bet aso
3:40 SOUTHWELL Amantius 8/1 J Farrelly/Nick Scholfield
travelled 193 miles going for third win my ew
1:30 SOUTHWELL Texas Forever7/2 or Trapper Peak 10/1
TP my e for sure CD winner on wining mark
30 LINGFIELD Tearsofclewbay 2/1 Hobbs/Johnston travelled 178 miles
Red Alligator to win the grand national 67 or 68 whilst I was at junior school. I went through the runners and based upon form and weight I told my dad to get on which he did.
I don’t remember much about early bets – especially winners – as I was generously useless then but I loved the horses who showed that they could get up that Cheltenham hill. There’s just nothing better than seeing your horse stay on up to the winning line cheered on by thousands. So those that stick out as regular winners at Cheltenham…Pegwell Bay, Dublin Flyer, Lady Rebecca, and also those flying finishes (never had a penny on) of Ansum and What’s Up Boys. More recently the horse I had a very soft spot was Battle Group. I first saw him come 4th at Cheltenham in 2010, backed him to win later that year then backed him EW at 50s at the Festival. He was placed but ran as if he was crying to step up to 3M and so I backed him at Aintree at 16s and also had the tricast to small stakes in the same race which paid really well. After that I only ever backed him at Cheltenham & Aintree festivals as invariably he was a plot job laid out for those, and loved it when he won over both Hurdles & Fences at the Aintree festival in 3 days in 2013 when he won by a combined 26 lengths. He then became a right monkey refusing to race more frequently than not. I do like those characters…when my money’s not down…like him and Tidal Bay who were absolutely brilliant on their day but boy did they take some effort!!
Tomorrow I have a few quid on Red Admirable for Mcpherson in the 4.10 Southwell. Good mark and distance/ground will suit, stepping him back up in trip after a few goes at an insufficient test, albeit 2 OK performances.
My first bet as a kid was Nicholas Silver put on with the bookies runner at the corner of the road. 2/6 e/way at 33’s I think.
My best bet was Shamayoun at Cheltenham at 66’s with £10 on betfair a few days before the race and being at Chelt on the day
watching it lead almost all the way
Early in 2003 I thought I would look for a share in a horse and saw Sholto advertised in the RP looked at its form and saw it was now on a low rating. Enquired about it, to learn it was soon to run in April. So I went to see it and the trainer, Jimmy O’Reilly, had two races in mind.
To cut a long story short he won the first of those easily at 16/1 and I had my biggest bet ever.
He didn’t win the second two days later beaten a length (no bet) but he did win again at 6/1 when I had a century on. I had said to other owners that Lady Pekan was the danger and she finished second.
I was so caught up in Sholto’s chance that it never occurred to me to do the the forecast.
It paid 200/1.
My early racing memories.
1. Backing Cut Above @ 33’s to win the 1981 St Leger for the brilliant Dick Hern, with Shergar back in 4th.
2. Johnny Francome getting Donegal Prince up right on the line in the 1982 Schweppes Hurdle at Newbury, to pip my fancy Ekbalco. I had to go and look at the print to believe it.
3. Standing in the now Best Mate enclosure at Cheltenham in 1983 watching Michael Dickinsons first five home in the Gold Cup. Bregawn, Captain John, Wayward Lad, Silver Buck and Ashley House.
Those were the days.
Chris R.
My first ever National Winner was Red Alligator, well exciting shouting and screaming at the tele.
My first ever big winning bet was back in the 70’s £100 and odd back, it was a 10p round robin Shirlath 11/1, Traite De Paix 6/1 (anybody ever remember this one, he always went off in front leading by miles, and always managed to get caught?) and the other I cannot remember the name of at 10/1, happy days.
My favourite Cheltenham memory was the 1983 Gold Cup and Michael Dickinson getting the first five home with Bregawn being the winner, Dickinson was a local trainer to me in Gisburn, Lancashire.
My all time favourite live racing moment was the 2011 Betfair at Haydock, Kauto Star was fabulous that day, he looked stunning in the Paddock, put in an absolutely sublime round of jumping, won by 8 lengths beating Long Run, lots had written old Kauto off, I actually shed tears whilst shouting him home.
These horses don’t half bring great pleasure but can also bring extreme sadness. God love em.
I see K Reveley is running Redkalani tomorrow. Is’nt it his last day in racing……before he retires. 11/2 at the moment.
Great memories…keep en coming. we had fun reminiscing today Josh. lol.
oh I am enjoying reading all of these. It’s great. And a worthwhile exercise. Great memories.
Who remembers the bets that drove bookies up the wall…usually done by women….and fibbers.
My suggestion the 1/6d scraper followed by all the ‘any to come’ scenarios, that made the bookie swear.
We had a local street bookie named Mr Lear….you could do a single win or double and cross it with the Finishing Touch. The girls in the finishing dept at the local printers would unstitch the finishing touch to find out the winner and pass it on to their dads and uncles….lol. then stich them up again…ha ha ha.
Hey Tony, can you explain the scraper and the finishing touch story a bit more? Can’t quite get it.
Thanks
Hi Alpha2….Hugh….
A scraper was a combination of 3 singles, 3 doubles and a treble, but you could stipulate any to come off any of the singles that won carrying forward to a separate double or treble…a nightmare bet as there would be bits and pieces of money left over…..and woe and betide a bookie who forgot that, The women knew to a half penny how much was due. I think it was scrapped by the big boys.
The finishing touch was two letters [the 1st and last in the Liverpool echo]
So say A & P for which you win a set amount or a pool of money. Some clever bookie added that as an exotic bet so any winnings went on the official winning letters……hence the girls undoing the stitching to find out the winning letters. lol. It lasted a while, but when they started selling them in the pubs etc. It collapsed, although I’m sure somewhere the Finishing Touch is still going,
Hope you understand this Hugh lol.
Tony Mc,
Hi Josh / All
Well my first memory was back in 1977 or 78, Dad asked me to pick a horse for the national I went for Luscius which won at 16/1 not sure if i got any extra pocket money though lol….
No joy today for the sires both well beaten, last day of the month tomorrow and hopefully a change of fortune and whatever the results I will do a monthly review and analysis of their performance and see if any improvements can be made…..
2.45 Wolves – Lightsome 7.0 Betfair Sportsbook
Makfi, 6F, 5 runs, 2 wins, 4 places 40.00% Win SR, 80.00% place SR
Drawn well in 1 well handicapped and gambled on heavily at Chelmsford finishing 4th on the night you couldn’t come from behind be interesting if they go for her again.
Staking £16.56 – 2% of £828.33
3.20 Wolves – Pulsating 2.88 Betbright
Dragon Pulse 6F, 5 runs, 2 wins, 4 places 40.00% win SR, 80.00% place SR
Forecast at 11.00 on HRB surprised to see her so short has 13lb to find on the fav and 4lb on the Osborne runner but someone somewhere expects a big run if maintaining these odds.
3.50 Wolves – Heartstone 5.5 Bet365/Betvic/Marathon
Fastnet Rock, 1M 4F, 11 runs, 5 wins, 6 places 45.45% win SR 54.55% place SR
Pleased to see this one stepped up to this trip here at Wolves only the 12 runs and yet to win but lots of promise including 2 x 2nds on Tapeta both here and Newcastle over shorter trips, Now over this 1M 4F I like her chances tomorrow.
Others to note………
Adrian McGuiness is one to take note of when he sends his horses over from Ireland to run here in Handicaps in the last 2 years he is 9 runs, 5 wins, 6 places and he sends over 2 tomorrow…….
2.10 Wolves – Pillar 8.5 Bet365 & 4 other books
2.45 Wolves – Oor Jock 5.0 Bet365/Betvic
This one also has excellent sire stats over C&D
Shamardal 33 runs, 12 wins, 20 places 39.39% win SR, 60.61% place SR
Looks like I’ll be backing both Lightsome & Oor Jock here maybe a f/c too
In the 5.20 I’ll be taking on the fav with both Dreaming time 7.5 & Naab 5.5 both first time starters but the trainers have 100% & 36.36% win SR’s in this class, C & D maidens at the track. I think Josey Gordon rides this track better than anyone and gives her rides every chance here.
I also want a bet on Cliff 7.0 in the 5.50 well named as he is/was very much a cliff horse. A 26 run maiden on turf always had lots of ability but would not put it in at the end of the race but has found a liking for the AW with 8 runs, 2 wins, 6 places with both his wins being here over 6F & tomorrows trip of 7F his only other run here was a head defeat. I think he is solid EW material and hope he continues his upward curve here and think off 72 he still has a lot to give.
Good Luck with any selections
Cheers
Steve
Good morning Josh and all hope you are all well.
My first bet that I remember was Mr Frisk at the Grand National I was 11, I asked my Dad to put 50p each way on (the £1 came from my 1 and 2p jar ) I Remember jumping up and down watching the race holding on to that betting slip, that day a seed was planted in my mind. 🙂
Today I’m have a play At Wolverhampton in a couple.
2:45 – Oor Jock
Like Steve Wiseman in the 5:50 I like Cliff and have been following him looks a sold each way bet with Edmunds on him again today. But Appleby as a couple of interesting runners Lanham which is her first run for the yard and I as come up on a system I run for Appleby and Also Win Lose Draw again a system as flag it up. So I’ve got a bit of all sorts going on in this race 🙂
GL for today
Forgot to say my best ever value bet was in the county hurdle a few years back had backed Borora at 225.00 on betfair for a £10.00 and had £25 on the place market first 4 he came in 4th but got 96.0 for a place lovely payout for 4th lol
You like your hefty payouts for 4th Steve! That must have got you hooked haha.
My enduring memory was the 1995 Festival,went for the 3 days on a coach hotel package,I had Master Oats backed for the Gold Cup ante post, was a winner even before i got to the course with the bus tipping pool.Think Rough Quest was one of the winners at 16/1 on that day,went on to win Grand National the following year.My Boxing Day friend Royal Vacation struck again on Sat at 14/1,might have had a rub of the green again,avoiding the carnage,but that aside he is progressing rapidly,is versatile regards trip and ground,sound jumper,left or righanded tracks no problem,Has 2 entries for the Festival,would like to see him taking RSA route
Hi Pab
I was looking back at that race afterwards and I was properly kicking myself for not backing Royal Vacation. It looked like a real tricky race on paper but he was miles clear on HRB ratings and despite the fact that he was lucky the time before when Might Bite went down he still beat the rest fairly well off level weights and most of them were rated 10lbs higher so the raise wouldn’t have stopped him and 12/1 was huge. Does mean that should Might Bite reproduce than Kempton form he will take a hell lot of stopping in the RSA.
And there was silence about favs was advertised all over the net,going was soft i think,always look Brennan /Tizard at Chelt,PB knows any tigny stone there
When I was 16 I was sent to work on my uncle’s farm mainly doing the milking. My 2nd cousin Mike was also working there doing the horses. My uncle trained a couple of point to pointers.
We were talking one day about what we hoped to do when we were older (both 16 at the time). Mike said he was going to train the winner of The Grand National. I had no idea what I was going to do.
We both went our separate ways and many years later I backed West Tip ante post at all prices from 25’s down to about 10’s over the weeks before the National only to see him jumped into at Bechers 2nd time round and knocked over. The next year I also backed him when he won but of course he was favourite from an early stage.
His trainer was Mike Oliver, my 2nd cousin from all those years ago. What a dream to realise.
Subsequently when my business was going well about 10 years later myself and a mate decided to go 50/50 on a horse and phoned up Mike who found me Thinkers Effort. He ran once under rules winning a 2m6f novice hurdle at Stratford for Henry Daly. After that he got a leg and after a year off Mike took out a permit and was training him for the Foxhunters, sadly he went wrong again and we gave him away to a huntsman who rode him out with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds for a few years afterwards.
Mike still buys and sells horses, mainly pointers from Ireland.
Hugh
That’s a cracker, Hugh. What a dream to realise.
One horse to see again, Sea Pigeon with Greatest jockey J Francome Champion hurdle 1981. Poetry in motion. The best time of our lives!!!
So so i bet on horses just over one year,at the beging i didnt know how to read race cards after one month i had 33/1 win on Venetia mare Presenting,it was so easy only on horse performing on heavy 4 horses race
Than after three months of my betting Chelt festival came
I had three winners from13/1 to 25/1 and 8 ew highest 42/1
Southwell 3.40
SPYDER
Too big @ 66/1
Has form on Hy.
A serious must have for any punter is a yearly subscription to oncourse profits,cost £20 for year,for this you get a monthly digital magazine ,usually around 50 pages,full of racing articles,different systems, and my fav which trainers to follow in the forth coming month,a example yesterday was a system following around 6 different trainers on heavy ground at 3miles 1furlongs plus gave the v Williams winner ,at ,6_1 returned 4_1 ,at 20 quid amust have.cheers.
not so much punting memories,but i few names that made my early racing day memorable-over the jumps -tingle creek lanzarote comedy of errors birds nest bula sea pigeon night nurse and my favourite pendil on the flat triptych rose bowl allez france and must mention snow knight as i backed it at 50-1 when it won the derby as my dad got a tip for it ,iwas i think around 16 at the time great days
Not my first bet but memorable for me was backing Tyrnavos for the Irish Derby at 25/1. He hadn’t done as well as expected in the Epsom Derby but his trainer (Harry Wragg I think) thought he would redeem himself in Ireland – and he did.
I also remember one day in London when, between business calls, I called into a betting shop 10 minutes before the off to back Connaught Bridge at Yarmouth in the days of Henry Cecil/ Joe Mercer. It won at 11/2. In & out & better off in 15 minutes – that’s the way to do it.
My first bet was a winner. It was in the early 60’s, I was 14 or 15(Underage). The horse was called Clarion Call. It must have been on the flat as it was Summer. I knew nowt about horses but was persuaded into the bookies by my friend. I put 6d eway on the beast which won at 20\1. The returns involved a ten shilling note which I had to hide from my father as I was on 2\- a week pocket money.
As a child /teen I travelled around the tracks of southern England with my father (a on course bookmaker ) and have seen some of the greastest horses and jockeys . I only missed one derby between 74-1990 and also attended ascot Goodwood Newmarket plumpton Huntingdon more times than I care to remember but my favourite horses come from a much lower sphere . Point to point , amateur jockeys and under rules castoffs coming together in a pure form of racing where the prize money would just about cover the petrol for the horse box if you lived local . A breeding ground for young aspiring jockeys and horses alike to learn their craft before moving on to bigger and better things . If there is one near you I’d advise you to have a day out at one http://www.jumpingforfun.com for more information
probably my earliest memory of racing was being told not to touch or play with the Black “old fashioned” phone that sat on a shelf, in the living room, near to my dad’s chair. He was a Bookie in the very early 50’s. He would take me sometimes around to the pub, make me stand outside whilst he went in to collect the “timed” clock bags from his “bookies runner”, where he would be sitting in the corner of the pub taking bets.
Another time I was leaving for school and a neighbour called me over and gave me a bet for my Dad, inside the wrapped-up bet was the money…the wrapping was a betting slip. I went to school with the bet in my pocket, totally forgot it was in my pocket until after school dinners….I panicked, told the teachers I had to go home immediately….after crying and pleading with them to let me go, I ran back home, about 3 miles away….never knew the outcome of the bet but never was given another wager to place with my Father.
Someone here earlier recalled “Jump Sunday” prior to the National meeting. A big day out in them days and people used to try to climb over some of the fences once upon a time…..being a child they appeared to be massive constructions, getting into the ditches and looking upwards to the sky.
My Mother’s bet in 1961 was Nicolaus Silver, then becoming her favourite horse…..I was allowed to bet half a dozen in the race each year, my special treat….I had the winner quite a few times, Oxo, Merryman & ESB….the best would have been Ayala & Foinavon and I still cannot remember why I picked them but I did
I remember going through a stage of backing all Pat Cosgrave rides, especially if he had a Haggas trained horse under him. At the time as a combo they had an excellent strike rate.
Then came 27th September 2016
5:40 Wolverhampton, Cosgrave was on Quinteo I backed it at 100/1. Just a small punt E/W…. I posted it on twitter just before the off and thought no more of it. Then I get a notification I reply to my post saying “how did you do that”
It turns out the favourite had been withdrawn and Quinteo had been backed into 12/1 and came first.
I’d only been into backIng horses regularly a few weeks and was very proud that I’d picked out such a big winner! I’ve never done it since though. Lol
@Russats
My first ever bet that I remember, which of course was a winning one, was at a point to point. I should think I was about 10 and had sixpence on Solar Eclipse at the North Warwickshire Point to Point. I think it may have been the first ever meeting they held at Lowsonford having moved there from a course near Alcester on the Droitwich road.
I think it was returned about 20/1 and my mother was outraged that I’d been allowed to bet. Dad was chuffed though!
I had been taken to point to points for as long as I can remember before that, always a great adventure travelling in the back of an old Mk1 Land Rover.
Hugh
As a young lad, my Dad was a Bill Wightman fan. As we lived close to the stables, we followed all of his horses. He had a wonderful spell in the mid-1970’s and I remember getting hooked on the horses.
My first bet was on Air Trooper – he won the Ayr Gold Cup at a 10-1 shot. Here I am now, still hooked & loving the horses as much as ever.
Malc (City Boy)
My memories go back to the 1940’s, well before Bookies became legal. My dad was away in Burma, Mum was an usherette at the local picture house and she’d have a regular 3 sixpence each way doubles and a sixpence each way treble (patents weren’t known!!). I’d come home from school for my dinner and, on the way back I’d take Mum’s bet to the bookies’ runner outside the local pub. To collect the winnings (and Mum did ok) I had to go to the back gate of a certain house, knock on the back gate in code, a little trap door in the gate opened, a hand came out and took the winning slip, and handed over the winnings. Never did hear his voice or see his face!!!
Horses names that come to mind are Royal George, Lough Conn, and a horse named Sir Ken that never seemed to get beaten. Not forgetting the great Jockeys. Gordon Richards, Doug and Eph Smith,Bill Rickaby. To be followed by the great man himself….Lester Piggott.
Conrad E
My Ma loved Lough Conn I think it ran in the National..i’m sure.
When the Irish lads won they’d scatter coins for the kids to fight for…lol.
Some great Jockeys there Conrad….what about Scobie Breasley……Wasn’t Eph Smith deaf?.
Women and silly bets? Reminds me of my mum. Would have a little flutter in the big races on anything in emerald green. Got a few winners over the years at sometimes monster odds.
My dad won a comp at work of an all exes trip to Prix de L’arc. I remember Gundry was short priced fav and he gave my mum £20 to have a bet. Only runner in emerald had a star in it’s name and she duly put a quid each way @ 125/1 and kept 18 in her purse. Star whatever romped in and all brits around them (including my dad ) were moaning except my mum who was doing a jig.
He called her all the names under the sun when she told him she’d only put a quid e/w on but she was well chuffed.
Must have been 1974/5 cos she bought me my first bike, a year old DT 125 with her winnings.
HI Alpha2 [Hugh], I’ve written an explanation of the scraper and Finishing Touch above in reply. If you can understand it ha ha.
Mine was the 1973 Grand National my Uncle had a massive bet on Crisp (£50 which I think was a week’s wage) he thought it was a certainty and was taking us all down the club after to celebrate!
Was in his living room with Dad and his wife & daughter, every on was jumping up and down as it cleared the last.
I have watched the run in dozens of times since and still cant believe it got caught. I reminisce over what I see as the golden hurdle era of Monksfield, Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon & Bird Nest. This year’s Champion Hurdle winner is hardly going to be worthy of the name, so poor is the field looking.
Any one know about the racing trader Duncan rafferty
Is his software information genuine
It was September ’65, I think and I remember the bank clerk coldly telling me that ” it was not the bank’s policy to help me overspend my salary.” So I cashed a cheque for my last 5 pounds – but I needed at least twice that for the Football Awards Dinner at the Cafe Royal that evening. I wandered over to Billy Mahon’s at Beehive, Brixton and more in hope than expectation wrote out a betting slip – 4 shillings E.W. Tote Returns Iranian Court. The main reason for selecting this horse, trained by Vernon Cross and ridden by Frank Morby, was that in a field of moderate 3YO Maidens at Newmarket it was the only one not to have run that season. I went home, bathed,shaved, put on my best suit and fairly sprinted down Brixton Hill to get to the Betting Shop before it closed at 6. There, in the result slot, was chalked the name Iranian Court 33-1. But in a column next to it was the Tote Return, put up by a zealous Boardman. I could hardly read the figures there were so many of them. It paid 97 pounds Win and 17 Place – I forget the odd shillings. I could hardly believe it as the counter clerk gave me 115 pounds in return for my slip. I tipped him a fiver.
As far as the Dinner went, I travelled there and back by taxi and filled the Cup we won with champagne!!!
2 bets stand out for me the first one was what I called the colour telly horse in that if he won I would get my first colour telly alas royal relief just couldn’t do it. A more memorable bet was an ante post double I had the first leg Tom Watson winning the open going on time charter in the oaks which obliged on the first day of my holiday in great yarmouth
Best for me, the ‘Big Two’ turning into the finishing straight in the 64 gold cup at Cheltenham. Mill House and Arkle fighting it out till Arkle ran away from him after the last. Mill House never got near him after that although he still won good races. Although i’ve seen some terrific chasers since I doubt if any of them could have beaten Arkle.
Love reading the blog & comments:
My first memory is that of my grandad taking me to bookies as child, and putting me on counter with a lollipop while he placed his bets.
I remember one horse in particular that got me hooked into horse racing. That horse was Rum Cay – only ran 3 times but won 2 – (33/1 in a NH Flat race, and then won a Maiden race on the flat the next season) but is probably better known for being the dam of Persian Punch.
The reason why I remember this horse was that it was advertised for sale in the Sporting Life on the day that it won at 33/1 – my dad placed a bet on it, before he took me to the local library to return some books.
We went home and turned the TV on and looked at the result on Ceefax (So you can tell how long ago it was!) and still remember my dads reaction.
Currently a member of Elite Racing Club – so the horse that I follow now is Marsha – always gives her all, and richly deserved the Group 1 (Prix de l’abbye) win in France last year
Am I right in recalling that back in the 60’s if you did a double at the track on the tote in the days of those flimsy rectangular slips with the numbers hole punched on them you had to go back with the winning ticket from the first leg and swap it for a ticket for the second leg?
Hugh
Hi Alpha
You are absolutely right about the daily Tote Double and daily Tote Treble. If the first leg came up you had to go back to a Tote window to swap your ticket for one in the following leg. If I remember rightly, the Tote Double was on the 2nd and 4th races, and the Tote Treble and the 3rd, 5th and 6th races. Always a fun bet, a bit like the Placepot today in that it kept the interest going through the afternoon.
Tony Nomrna
One betting memory, my mum. used to follow harry wragg in the seventies, also liked a horse who had a dump before the race, so when khaki kate trained by wragg had a dump think it was at royal ascot it was the perfect bet, i rushed down the bookies at the end of the street, gave the bet two bob to my dad who put it on, it duly won at 33/1, my dad picked up the money they were a bit slack on the weigh in those days, just as a stewards enquiry was announced and khaki kate was disqualified.
lovely memories from all and thoroughly enjoyed
my first bets were on Freddie in the national 1965 and again in 1966 both times 2nd.
My most memorable was having a very large bet running onto Red Rum
How i wish Crisp had held on that day
I honestly believe he deserved the race
and even though i won a lot of money.
To this very day i wish the result had been the other way around.
My most memorable bet was in 1972 off work with a broken leg.
no money and down to my last 2 shillings
i tried to borrow enough money to buy a packet of fags but no success.
called into my local bookies to see if there was anyone who could lend me enough for fags.
no luck so decided to do a shilling e-w 6 horse acca at cheltenham.
pendil, parlour moor, bula, tudor dance and the ghost can’t remember the first winner but all 6 won.
netting me over 87 quid a fortune in those days to me anyway.
I remember walking into the betting office with 4 winners and 2 races to go only to hear fallen Tudor Dance (my 5th horse) screwed my slip up and chucked it in the bin
The commentator then said hold that Tudor Dance is still with the field.
what a scramble to get my slip when it won.
All running onto The Ghost in the final race.
what an apt named final winner.
I was like a ghost has the horse hit the last
then sauntered up the hill for an easy win.
what lovely memories
Hi Cliff
I backed Crisp that day and it was a fantastic sight watching him wing the fences and was a long way
clear all the way round until caught on the line by Red Rum who was in receipt of 2 stone!!!
It took me till 1977 Red Rums final winning National to forgive him,when for the only time i backed
Red Rum in the National.
Crisp and Red Rum should have been a dead heat but then Rummy would not have been the greatest
National winner of all time,and remember the fences where a lot harder than they are today.
In the late 50s on Saturdays I used to be a ” runner” for my dad a street bookie.Remember one particular Saturday after all bets were in I had to take a bet to a local business man a bigger street bookie than my dad, to lay off all bets on one particular horse Joe Sime was riding at Donny.Dad had been in a local town pub bought a couple of drinks for Joe Sime and came away with some useful info. In those day’s you could return “pop” bottles and get threepence back deposit, so I collected 1shilling & threepence worth of bottles & yep backed the horse.Returned just over 10 shilling to me a fortune 🙂
Shek2nd
My first memory was when my mum & dad took me to leger meeting at donny (local track) what sticks out more than anything was the loud call of ” I Got A Horse ” Prince monalulu was the person in question. He was carabean tipster who wore flashy coloured cloths with feathers in his hair. We bought a tip from him it was Charlottown it finished second l’ve been hooked ever since !
Dave S
Some absolutely cracking stories in there lads. It’s been like a trip down memory lane. Well done to all of you
quite agree, this has been the best comment thread every I think! Thoroughly enjoying it.
My mum and dad used to run a pub in the late 70s and early 80s. One night a young man came in asking if if anyone could give him a lift to Newmarket, an unusual request as the pub was in Yorkshire, anyway my dad was always a keen racing man and the word Newmarket perked his interest so he got chatting to him and sorted him out a lift.
Turns out he was the head lad for Sir Mark Prescott and in return he gave dad the name of a then unraced two year old to follow that season (1980 I believe).
I was a fifteen year old under age better and the horses name was Spindrifter who went on to win 13 of his 19 races that season with my paper round money on every time and I’ve been hooked on racing ever since.
Brilliant. These stories keep getting better! Amazing the number of ‘ways in’ to the sport. Superb. Enjoyed that.
My story is similar to you Josh, i.e. not too interested in horses until mates of mine had been to the races a couple of times and suggested I would enjoy the days out.
I was 19 at the time and agreed eventually to go. I enjoyed the day out and even though I don’t recall much of a success there and then I decided to venture into a bookies the week after.
In my lunch time I picked out 7 horses and because I couldn’t decide which to keep and which to discard decided to put an accumulator on. I watched the first one win in the shop before having to go back to work.
Back in the days before mobiles there was such a thing as Racing Results phone lines so egged on by work colleagues I rang one (on the payphone!!) and found my next two had won also. I waited another hour to ring back to find the next 3 had also won, now 6/7.
Despite the cost involved I had to ring a commentary line to hear the final leg. I’ll always remember the horse that won that final race, Sharons Royale, only because my horse came third. 🙁 Nil return.
So beginners luck?.
Next day decided to pick out more. Chose 5, selected 4 for a Lucky 15. 3 winners and the one I discarded had won too. This is easy I thought.
Next day decided to select only 4 for a Lucky 15 and this time all 4 won. Final winner was Area Code and with the winnings bought myself my first pair of golf shoes.
I have to say It’s been downhill ever since 🙂
I had a bet can’t remember it exactly when red rum got placed to Mr teasyweasy horse rag trade I think if red rum had won I would of won enough to buy a semi detached house where I live £350,000 instead I settled for a one year old Ford cortina today’s equivalent around 15grand this was beaten october2015 when I did a 20p e/w Canadian four winners 33-1 25-1 25-1 14-1 and a 14-1 third lost by 1/2 a length and same again I returned 29,632 pounds if the other horse had won it would of been 556,000 ish so near yet so far away but still very happy and went out and spent most on a 4×4 so I wouldn’t give it back here’s to next time
over forty years ago ,i went racing at nottingham with a man i worked with and just before the first race the man spotted a ex player and manager of my favourite team rotherham united,the chap was then on the board of swindon town and one of the directors had a horse running in thd first race,hd said thdt a few players had travelled up and they were trying to get £2000 on it at the time my wage was around £12 not sure how true that was but when the betting started thd horse was priced up at 8-1 and a load of men went rushing in ,so i put £5 on the price then went to 7-1 so i put the rest of my money a fiver on the race was a 5 furlong sprint the horse went straight into the lead and went about 5 lengths clear and stoped there so in about a minute i won around 2 months wages felt like a millionaire the horse s name i will never forget Jenny Splendid.
Lots of saved my bacon bets in this thread. My memorable one was when I was a student at Birmingham Poly in the early 70’s. I was on a full grant, £100 a term from memory and I had blown the lot on a Ford Anglia in about week three.
Saw that a horse called Mighty red that I had seen at a point to point earlier in the year was going in a Hunter Chase at a Warwick evening meeting, so it must have been May I suppose. Had my last £5 on at 12/1. Lived for the rest of the term on that £60. Feckless students eh.
Hugh
i have two memories that i never forget.
One was backing Aldaniti antepost at 50/1.
The second even now hurts me.
It was a gold cup i think in the 1970s.
The horse was called Border Incident and was ridden by John Francome.
On his day he was the best chaser at the time but was more injury prone than Michael Owen.
However they managed to get it to line up at Cheltenham and i had 5 antepost bets on.
As the race went, there was only ever going to be one winner and it was Border Incident,
Then at the fence at the top of the hill, disaster as the Francome fell off the side.
I was gutted.
A reporter spoke to Francome after and asked if he would of won had he stayed up and he replied ” I was going so well I would of won the race by 10 minutes!”
O the pain
Been playing horses for an age so have quite a few memories , King George boxing day many moons ago, big fancy for Barton Bank, punted it accordingly and happy as Larry when about 10l clear coming to the last, down it went and the Jock who I think was Adrian Maguire(spell check) scrambled to get back on but was a little slow, sad day but sticks in the memory bank even though it was a losing bet .
Many other good memoirs though like Joveworth sluicing up in the Ayr gold cup, check out the price of that one, one of the easiest winners of that very tough sprint, loved the soft over 7f this day was a heavy 6f and it was perrrrfect for it, 83 84 I think without checking dates
12th march 1954
pointsman won
winner
winner
treetop won 7/1
nigger minstrel won 10/1
cushendun non runner
15x sixpence doubles +20 sixpence trebles 17/6
limits trebles and accums 150/1
robbed