After nearly 30 years punting on the nags

If the shops are anything to go by then plenty feel the same. Take out the machines and the young punter just isnt there anymore. For older punters too much racing and a huge amount of really poor jockeys isn't helping. Lots now only punting at the weekend.

My interest is definitely on the down slope but then again I've been punting for over 60 years so it's hardly surprising.

Only get involved with the better class racing but def not as interested as a while ago, must be an age thing! Been punting since around 1973 though.

Never been bothered about horse racing, before of after the exchanges, but since the exchanges at least I'll bet on it. I have no emotional engagement with the sport, but then thats perhaps a good thing.
I find it dull, horses come horses go and whichever wins or whoever trained them has no significance on the outcome.

I no longer bet on jumps racing or handicaps Class 1-4. My financial records have told me to cut these out and I need to stick to that.

jumping suffering from being all about cheltenham and trainers frightened to run their better horses. too much racing to keep up with. i only bet now when im at the races which is about once a week

Still Learning,

Have you considered only getting involved in Saturday or graded racing, there's a lot of dross these days.

Some of these flip flop favourites from you know who's yard have left me with little spirit the crap and I say that in a most complimentary way 'we always thought he was a good un' makes me think like you Learning that it is time to simply wind down. I like a very good bet or two restrictions are part of life (FREDDIE BABY PP LADDIES are the worst and BF need I say more + referral to traders for £100 most rest) enough is enough nobody apart from deadheads in the shops no intelligence the shops shut or shutting who cares the authorities are pretty useless do you have any confidence in them. Kempton like dog tracks will be sold like a lot of others I miss the dog tracks by the way the sport of horse racing generally is dying the PC brigade have won. Cheltenham was the highlight of every year week off gaga but unbelievably good fun the whole week tried to win a few quid on the KG then pay for Xmas with Australian men's winner what I owed on my wife's present paid off with what I won at Chelters. Life was very good. The times are changing. C4 is cringe - worthy just so awful

Apologies for gramar had a couple bottles of pom pom.

I still love it but I do hop on & off with other sports which keeps everything fresh

tbh the king george left me cold this year too when it cut up to just 5 runners, albeit it was decent quality

message for still learning =rest if you must but do not quit,you do not know how close you may be to the golden crown.
The great Albert Einstein spent 25 years trying to develop his theory of relativity but just could not get the correct result ,until one Friday after noon while looking out his office window he seen a roof worker on the opposite building moving across the roof while the low sun in the sky created his shadow.All in that second Albert said to himself"feck me i have the answer "

Agree, it is an age thing also, sports betting is the way to go to make a few quid nowadays. Cheltenham and Ascot really only get me excited nowadays.

I thought it was just me, can't get excited by it anymore. There was a time I could rattle off the winners of the classics trainers and jockeys as well but not anymore.

I don't bet jumps anymore pumpkinhead and chemical to name but two ruined it for me.

I bet the flat and all weather mostly place betting what I consider strong favourites. It works best for me.

There's something massively wrong with horse racing at the moment, for the purist - especially in the winter.

The inter festival jumps cards are dire - the field sizes appalling. Mostly run on bad ground, with apprentice and conditional jockeys that punters don't have much experience of and generally can't trust. The number of "gamble races" has increased, as the small trainers use opportunities to make the game pay in the only way it has become possible.

The All weather has gone the same way. Poor racing, inconsistent jockeyship, inside info dominated 0-75's, the addition of Newcastle where even mystic meg scratches her head. Bin Suroor and the like don't run. Kirby doesn't show. The beautiful white grains of Great Leighs turned into the sandstorm of Chelmsford.

To me it's just a numbers game now.

Depends whether you're in it for the fun or to make a decent annual profit.

Most of all weather is completely boring .

The big meetings are very good , but in between there is a lot of pretty ordinary stuff.

In the old days most of us punted in the bookie shops , there was a bit of craic and you could chat to your mates and bounce opinions off them . I have not been in a bookies for 3 weeks approx , there are more opportunities using the exchanges , but it is not as much fun .  Possibly more lucrative , but not as much fun .

Money talks more than ever now , particularly in relation to the trainers/ owners who know their stuff .

Most people used to bet on multiples , now I seldom bet other than on singles . Multiples were more fun , even if it handed the advantage to the bookie .

The bookies also now just follow the exchanges slavishly , minus 10% probably on average .  And the on line bookies generally won't lay anything decent .  Different game nowadays , sport in play is more fun and you can sit at home doing it .

To many meetings.
Should be two grass flat/nh midweek,four on Sat/Sunday.
Close the courses that cant make it pay.
Less then ten runners declared on day of race,No RACE.
Lets force the trainers to run good horses against each other.
Well they do say the trainers..
"We don't know how good they are until there on the racecourse"
Good,well lets get them in a 20 runner Nov Maid/Hurdle or Maiden on the flat.
Instead of the dire 3 ~ 5 ~ 7 runner garbage.
Punters I think will bet when there is descent odds available.
Happy New Year All
"if you~dig" 

Cannot agree with o/p,really enjoying my racing atm,am running a small guest house and after breakfast is served,rooms checked and gym done i do tend to bet most days and usually win 20 a day as standard and 65-90 on a good day.Dont buy a paper or bother with racing post or form like i used to 20 years ago, i follow 2 trainers,2 jockeys and the money! Love irish jumps racing although the commentary drive me mad,been betting since Cheltenham 86 and had a 1 year break once and a 4 month break about 2 years ago.Since my most recent break i learned to avoid northern racing like the plague,low grade tracks like Bath and Brighton too and i have been making it pay consistently. Good luck to you all

Northern racing bath and Brighton did you forget ffos las moonaxed?

I only ever bet on races that are live on ITV and the big races in Ireland and France.
Hasen't been in a bookies for at least 15 years.

Op  ..your name says everything,,,your only a pup in nappies yet..you have 20 years to go ,,before you start enjoying horse racing..

Lay ing is the way forward on here..

Foxy,one of the yards i follow has lots of runners at Ffos las,and quite a few winnes too

gave up the game 2 years ago after 36 years  of punting that dont mean that i am a loser it the fact i am not making money on betfair due to pc  makes my play harder

The solution to your malaise is obvious. You can have too much of a good thing. As others have alluded to it can help just to take in limited

races, e.g. Group races only (to add interest if you're a flat player, include races from abroad). The other thing that keeps my interest alive

is to do research projects into angles using spread sheets to help.

When I feel jaded I just give myself an enforced 'holiday' and do other stuff only for a few weeks. Then the enthusiasm returns.

30 years? A mere beginner

Lee Ho Fooks Joined: 12 Jun 09
Replies: 621428 Dec 19 12:59 
30 years? A mere beginner





As the username implies

Agree with those saying 'take a break' - amazing how much better returning to the markets feels after a few enforced days off.

If it's every day, it gets boring, I know.

Actually, looking at what you said in first post, maybe even a few weeks off.

Coming back to markets/racing after a long layoff has always resparked my enjoyment.

Great time of year to spread a little gloom and doom.
Well done.
Time to give us all some good news - MOVE ON.

Some nice replies there lads. Interesting to see it's not just me. I'll be honest I've always enjoyed a punt, but I can confidently say over the years I am well down. Everyone wants to try to make a living from this game but I think the realisation that is impossible should be accepted as soon as possible. Admittedly the people playing the exchanges are probably doing ok, but I have never had the inclination to do that.

I agree with many and probably put it down to an age thing.

AIS - That will be the way to go for me now. Have a little punt on a Saturday on the better races, but then again are Saturdays as good as they used to be also? Or is it just me?

Moonaxed - even following the money these days aint as cracked up as it used to be.

unless you bet rags its been impossible today

Dec 28, 2019 -- 3:13PM, StillLearning wrote:

Some nice replies there lads. Interesting to see it's not just me. I'll be honest I've always enjoyed a punt, but I can confidently say over the years I am well down. Everyone wants to try to make a living from this game but I think the realisation that is impossible should be accepted as soon as possible. Admittedly the people playing the exchanges are probably doing ok, but I have never had the inclination to do that.I agree with many and probably put it down to an age thing.AIS - That will be the way to go for me now. Have a little punt on a Saturday on the better races, but then again are Saturdays as good as they used to be also? Or is it just me?

People will tell you they make money on the AW. Total liars unless they are hockeys/trainers or owners. I've had my suspicions for a long time now but I'm convinced people who continually contradict those who say racing is bent are the same ones who are connected and need punters purely to profit from them.

*jockeys

Apparently less than 1% are winners, and it is likely that less than 1% of them post on here.

Negativity at it's best- how many families save up all year for the family holiday and then argue for the 2 weeks!!

There's so many different ways to make money - it's not all just about picking winners. That's the beauty of exchanges and trading potential. Horses offer so many different angles for using the exchanges, that's one reason I've changed strategy so many times over the years.

Either way, I didn't think this post was about whether winning is possible more just lack of enjoyment and interest.

Dec 28, 2019 -- 6:26PM, stu wrote:

There's so many different ways to make money - it's not all just about picking winners. That's the beauty of exchanges and trading potential. Horses offer so many different angles for using the exchanges, that's one reason I've changed strategy so many times over the years.Either way, I didn't think this post was about whether winning is possible more just lack of enjoyment and interest.

Correct stu, hence my reference to betting on footie, golf and darts. I seem to get more of an enjoyment from that as opposed to horse racing, I didn't even seem to get excited from the occasional winner at horse racing, although I'm not saying it's any easier to win on darts, footie and golf!

Racing can get very 'samey' in intense trading. That's why I'd suggest a lengthy break from it personally, then come back with fresh eyes and mind.

Judging by the daily apoplectically screeching TV commentaries, the sport's more exciting than it's ever been.

Completely agree; racing has lost its mojo. National Hunt it is partly due to the poor fields. The festivals have really diluted racing in Jan/Feb in particular. Irish NH racing they just take it in turns to beat each other so completely switched off from a betting point of view. Flat racing it is only group one races, Royal Ascot and York that I get interested in.

There is too much dross racing and too many races for the good horses to go for thus avoiding each other and the bookies are chocking betting with mean pricing which has destroyed ante post markets. The biggest problem NH has is the pool of top class horses jumpers is getting smaller and smaller each year.

NH racing can’t be in a good place.

I must be 40 years younger than the average racegoer.

Nobody my age as a general sweeping statement gives a  F about any NH race bar the GN and Cheltenham, that’s including no F’s given about the King George etc

The field sizes are horrendous and it’s often freezing.

It’s expensive to get in compared to stakes used by most younger people.

The Flat might survive and wouldn’t put that down to any racing, simply drinking facilities with a bit of racing in the background.

As for most people my age there is absolutely no concept of value whatsoever. For example if you had a NH with 2 horses in tomorrow and you said you can have 5/2 either of them, more than half would say no thanks I don’t bet racing.

This isn't just a racing issue - the world has expanded in an online and wider sense, horse racing is basically an anachronism in many senses. But the fact it still goes on says it all. It's found it's own way to still be around, and will likely continue that way for some time to come.

Who knows what will continue in the world we live in, and so what really? Live for today.

dylan jones,piers morgan,andrew neill,paul dacre,anna wintour,itsmeswaddle.

Chavman, value bet, Kemo sabe , big Aitch.

i forgot kelvin mckenzie

feel exactly like you,steel learning.now i bet on cricket, soccer and the occassional, group 1 races, i used to love boxing day king george, but didnt even watch it on thursday, i the mean reason for me decline in horse racing is coolmore approach to the group 1 races and itv racing on tv with chamberlain and chapman. OH FOR BBC RACING WITH JULES

The great sport is in decline. It pains me to say that my enthusiasm for betting on horse racing pre race is at an all time low. ( I have been betting for the thick end of 40 odd years )

Small stake big priced multiples is my only real fun interest bets nowadays in the early markets unless i think i can get in and out of a bet pre race as i am happy to play the market in running if i think all is as it should be.

I do play in the run at specific tracks where i feel confident that certain track bias is possible and / or if i see one developing at a track during the meeting.  Leicester hurdle track on bad ground is one.

There can be fatigue with the amount of ordinary racing but I still get a buzz about the better races after 65 years of watching. Field sizes have always been as issue at busy times but when most courses could not water, 3-5 runners were the norm in dry spells 40 years ago. You do have to limit the kind of races you bet on. The only one I looked at away from Newbury was Kipps at Lingfield which managed to win at short odds. Fair Kate was my best win of the day but Sevarano was the big disappointment. He probably needs further if ridden like that.

Ive been punting for over 60 years. Things "change", you probably  don't like the films anymore, the music anymore.I T. V.  RACING is as good as  it gets. No need to go down to the betting shop anymore. "IT'S ALL ON LINE", MAKING LIFE EASIER.Talking ABOUT "BETTING ANGLES", MOST RACING YOU CAN BACK THREE OR MORE IN A RACE AND STILL MAKE  A PROFIT. DONT GET GREEDY "JUST NICK A BIT.And for you "Stil Earning". I hope you are well, but you remind me  of Victor Meldrew. ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. (NO OFFENCE). H APPY  PUNTING, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.One last  thing.Paisley Park owned by Andrew Gemmell.

smartpunter you live in cloud cuckoo land.

Films are OK if you shop around, music I just use Youtube occasionally but don't listen to much. My TV watching consists of Sky News, Bloomberg in the mornings and sport for the rest of the day but I get out walking and wildlife watching most mornings for 2 hours or so, longer in the summer. I used to attend live horse racing 2 or 3 days a week but since they stopped Tote Credit and I gave up my ROA badge, I don't go much anymore. As far as betting is concerned, I do it to make the racing more enjoyable and I tend to follow owners, trainers or specific horses. I avoid handicaps on the whole, particularly anything below Grade 3. After so many years some things look obvious. Khaled Abdulla well bred newcomer on a Friday for instance. Grade 1 horses in a maiden. Only comes from experience.

a day at the races is pretty expensive even before you have had a bet,the next big downturn in the economy and its coming will see some tracks go under and the rest will struggle when the drinkers decide its better to watch in the pub than spend £20/30 entrance fee

I would imagine itsmeswaddle's account of how young people view racing nowadays is very much correct and you can understand why.

RTV costs less than £1 a day for 2-5 meetings and in my view you get much more information than you could ever get on course.

Dec 29, 2019 -- 11:54AM, sparrow wrote:

I would imagine itsmeswaddle's account of how young people view racing nowadays is very much correct and you can understand why.

yes exactly right...horse racing as a sport is not even on the radar of most young people these days
and when that generation becomes parents, and the older generation dies, it will only become an even smaller minority sport
an existential crisis

Much too much racing i used to love going racing, dreamed of owning a winner,the best part for me was searching for value among the books,winning a few quid on the day was a reel buzz often went on to the dogs in the evening. I still enjoy Cheltenham and Royal Ascot but most of the rest is downright boring including the Derby.

Meanwhile point to point with far less facilities, no TV money and low prize money continues to draw crowds and is thriving.

that's more grass roots though sage, I don't ever see that declining

It is declining actually, far less runners but on the plus side everything is trying.

I don't get the doom and gloom must admit.

We've never had it better as racing punters/traders. If the gloss has gone off some races, that's the same for many things these days as suggested above - music is complete rubbish these days, the golden days of TV shows has gone. Nothing we can do about it, that's the world.

But as a racing punter/trader I have no complaints about the current state for sure.

I agree with smartpunter, it's never been better.

Particularly if you read form on a computer in contrast to going through the pages of a form book.

Yet perhaps that's the problem, its so easy now that punters tend to get involved in too many races instead of concentrating on getting just one or two correct.

Hard not to be negative.

Positives - almost every race is available to watch.

Negatives
Being told that 'having a touch' is ok and 'any money for a runner from this stable blah blah' is ok , nothing to see.
National Hunt is what hooked me on the sport , difficult to see a long term future where the racing supremos and media grovel when a horse dies because of a few social media comments, instead of going on the front foot and telling these people to start with others areas such as farming and slaughter of animals for food.

I think there will be a time where it only exists in Ireland.

Anyone who thinks there are more dishonest races these days can't be very old. I knew jockeys in the "good old days" who knew which horse was going to win quite a few races and certainly knew which ones would not win in almost every race. Many NH horses ran a week or two after coming in from grass and nobody cared, it was obvious which they were. No cameras, the stewards all owned horses, bookmakers had a nark in every big yard. One of the differences was that they were better at losing without anyone realising but if all else failed they jumped off at the last fence. The whole point of betting on horses was to find out "who knew" as Big Mac would have said. These days, 90% are fit and 50% are trying their best. Those that are not are raw novices or coming back from injury and would only be ruined by a hard ride.

Cant agree with your last part sage, with the video tech now watch any race and you can see how many are not off.

Sageform.....Totally agree and they assume it's all suddenly happened because of the exchanges. In the 60s there was a major problem with doping as well as all the usual skullduggery.

Sparrow
off topic do you ever hear from your old china the forum sad to say is not the same without him.
regards
Ronnie.

No way to tell Deptford. Do you seriously think that any of the novices that jump the first flight 20 lengths behind the leaders have any intention of showing their true ability? It is much more prevalent in Ireland where they have bigger fields. That is not to say any of them were capable of winning of course and the trainers know that before the start. I am not talking here about the very few favourites that are deliberately stopped when well capable of winning.

sparrow, I can also remember when it was possible to buy a bookmakers pitch on course for £50 a day and lay the ones you knew were not off. Not that I did anything like that but I knew people who did.

sage, I wouldnt punt over there if you could guarantee me West Ham would be relegated!

Ronnie rails.... not heard anything since I last spoke to him on the phone when I received your message.




sageform....My father was a bookmakers clerk for many years up to the mid 60s and I'm aware of much that went on.

Sad to say every aspect of the sport is corrupt, not surprised interest is waning for some. Everyone can see and has seen for years there is far too much racing but what do the BHA do? Bookmakers, broadcasters, journalists all contributing to the corruption and some not even realising it. Trainers & jockeys, "ambassadors" for bookmakers and paid lots of money by them, its laughable.

I've been betting on horses for 30 years as well but my interest hasn't waned at all. However completely gone off Football.

Snap giggity - record has been appalling in my football returns recent years, going great guns at horses recent in comparison.

Betting on football is a hopeless task.

put new bank in and working on horses only myself, closed my bookies account and on here only singles from now on and cutting back on them, actually watched a lot of races today waiting on my first runner and enjoyed it.I agree was getting involved in footy golf racing darts just to much and I agree I think boredom at middle age big factor, But have to get back to reality for when retire so can have couple bets to look forward to, The truth is when we get a certain age winning dosnt matter that much but losing to much is nightmare
so have fun bets. Icut my bets right back today on singles lost a little but was fun.