could we not just have one industry run bookmakers?

Wasn't that the idea of the Tote?

Of course its a wonderful idea but sadly any attempts to launch a racing owned exchange or bookmaker would result in it being run by under achieving, network appointed ex public schoolboys. This coupled with the fact that they would be competing with the nashing teeth of the real market beholdent to shareholders or individual owned business's would mean a doomed to failure scenario. One day in my dreams I would like to see a creator of the next 'Betfair' wake up one morning and say to himself 'how much money do I need when to live and to die' and simply hand over the bulk of the business to a worthy cause.

Some people do hand over the bulk of business to a worthy cause.

Gates & Buffet have given away a few billion. Not sure they give much to racing.

Is racing a "worthy cause"?

In the grand scheme of life perhaps not but it is closely linked with the core business. My main point is that opportunities at the tote were lost because of poor management.

Wasn't that the idea of the Tote?

no. Just have a funding system that does not make the BHA powerless and does not allow bookmakers to call the shots. Competition is good although the universal SP system does reduce competition. Betfair Exchange have their own SP and it is higher 99% of the time. Why can't the big bookmakers be able to set their own SP?

Sage, I can't agree with you on that last point, bookies being allowed to set their own SPs...
Can see a scenario where they've got an acca running onto the last horse for a large amount. They can just return their own SP as being several points lower than the others to save themselves money.
Similarly, just cut a few points off the SP of every horse in the GN...
With the amount of bookies doing BOG dwindling, it'll be back to taking the early price or SP again soon. If the bookies are in control of both, then the overround surely only going to increase?

Very well put reg

Yes good points Reg. The Betfair SP is set by us-in theory.

Yes good points Reg.

hows olive btw?

Sage, just been over your way, a short trip to Wedmore
I was expecting the fields on the levels to be a bit more under water than they were?

I've seen it worse is what I'm saying

Very bad near Godney Reg but they seem to sacrifice that area in wet weather. Otherwise the North and South drain and the Brue soon get rid of the water.