RACING NOTES

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1237, 3 July 1947, Page 6

RACING NOTES

BACKERS CANNOT WIN Don’t Chase Losses Advice By Expert At the time when he was winning thousands a yeas’ from Australia’s •bookmakers, the late Eric Conrolly, leviathan Melbourne punter, was asked how the ordinary punter could make a profit from punting. “He can’t,” said Connelly. “But if he sticks to form, instead of listening to street corner and stable tips, he can cut his losses.” From Connolly, the man who worked more stable commissions, who received more “inside” information than any other bettor in Australia, it seemed: strange advice, wvites A. W. Dexter. Form the Formula Yet it was his own practical formula. Form was the foundation of his own success. Connolly listened to information. He also knew from the commissions he worked what horses were expected to run well. But before he would put his own money down, Connolly had to satisfy himself that the horse had form—recent form. People are too apt to- produce the old and incorrect racing saw, “Follow form and go broke,” when they lose. Form and figures count in racecourse betting. There are nontriers—sometimes those very form horses—but not a fraction of the number which people imagine. It’s easy to excuse your own faulty judgment by saying you didn’t get a run for your money. We all do this at times. Form horses are fit horses. And a fib moderate usually will beat a good horse which hasn’t raced for months. Condition tells when the pressure is on in the last 220 yards. Form horses, too, often are goodpriced horses. The average backer is too anxious to listen to tales, will make a horse short-priced because it has “run a secret gallop,” cr “is trying for the first time in months,” or “has the go-fast.” Always “the Tale” “Listening to the tale” leads to Insolvency Road. A hacker should trust his own judgment. Often for hours he will study form, weights, and jockeys, will cover everything but the lounge room wallpaper with figures, before he decides a horse will win. The horse WILL win. But because someone has whispered about another animal, the punter has switched at the last minute. Disgruntled, he blames everything and everyone but himself. The “grasshopper” bettor, who jumps from tip to tip, must lose. A horse’s price should nob influence the amount of money you invest. Too many racegoers think an even-money chance must be a “certainty,” and will put £lO on it. Yet they will invest only £2 on a 5 to 1 chance, which has an equally good chance, but is not a public boom. If you think a horse will win, don’t be frightened because the price suggests that few share your opinion.

Don’t think in terms of “certainties.” They don’t exist. Not even when a race supposedly is “rigged”; not even when there is ‘ only one starter. Horses are animals, not machines, and all sorts of mischances can happen to them in a race. The winner of a “walk-over” once was disqualified at Randwick. The rider carelessly rode it 171 b overweight! The rules were rigid in those days. Disqualification was imperative if a rider weighed in more than 2!b heavier than he weighed out. Stewards now can use their discretion. Odds On The injunction, “Don’t lay odds on,” is good advice. But even some of Australa’s greatest racing experts grant exceptions. Bob Jansen, until a few years ago Australia’s biggest bookmaker, always said a hacker could make quick profit if he backed odds-on favourites in steeplechases, and odds-on favourites in early two-year-old races.

Nevertheless, many big' backers have got into trouble over the defeat of an odds-on favourite. . They have chased their losses, got in heavily, and finally have had to ask for time to pay.

The wise pun,ter. will increase his bets only when he is winning. Then he is playing with bookmakers’ money.

Dc-n’t chase losses. Don’t plunge on the last two race® because you have lc.st earlier.

There’s always l another day. And talking about the last race . . it sometimes pays dividends to restrict your bet to the last event on the card. It has the advantage that you can’t lose more than this stake. If your choice wins “the last” you show a profit and go home happy. Thus, if you are betting for profit, this offers an opportunity for small gain. You can’t lose much, you may collect a little, and you certainly won’t run up an account which will give you a headache.

As far as systems go, it is as good as any other, and better than most.

A punter, whether betting for cash or cn credit, should stay within his means.

Yectr after year’ bookmakers’ ledgers are full of had debts. Some of the debtors will pay when the luck breaks. Some deliberately “take the knock” because -the law gives the bookmaker no right to drag a betting defaulter to court. The big backer, for convenience, usually beta on credit. He cannot carry huge bundles of notes 1 with him on a racecourse. But credit is a dangerous thing for the ordinary punter. Where he might hesitate to hand over £2 or £3 in cash, he is prone to double or treble hig wager when he hasralfc to “settle till Monday.” Monday, too, often brings headaches, and sometimes family tragedy. The only really sound betting advice is “Don’t bet.” But if you must have your flutter, make it a pastime. Certainly not a business.