Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

Any Gambler must accept that the ebb and flow of Luck will seem very harsh at times, however having examined many of the type, during the last 250 years, I have discovered a few players who have played more than there fair share, of misfortune.
As soon as The Jubilee Plunger was given a £500,000 inheritance he decided to gamble on the Sport of Kings and after a spell of great fortune were he couldn’t do any wrong the cards turned and rendered him one of life great Losers.
Mincemeat Joe also gambled from a young boy having so much luck that they gave him the title “LUCKY”
So Lucky Joe Griffen could do also do no wrong after making £millions when creating mince meat, and shipping it to the starving masses of England, during the war,decided to follow his passion of National Hunt racing in a big way ,his first luck was joining Vincent O’Brien in the pursuant of a horse good enough to win the Grand National.
After 2 back to back Nationals, Vincent told Joe he had another National possible for him, however unbeknown to anyone Lucky’s, fortune had started to desert him,so instead of being the first owner to have 3 national Winners, (later to be held by Red Rums owner,) he finished up, skint, after his buisness collapsed, so close to glory yet like many before him, greed played a big part in his failure.
Joes last bit of luck was after arriving in Mount Joy Prison, and was asked to give all the inmates, a winner the horse won, so he was the most respected prisoner, in the jail. and that lasted until he had served his time,
Never again did he have any more luck, having to sell his palatial home to the Aga Khan,
And return to the small flat that he had started from,
Whilst looking through my notes I have looked to see who actually was the unluckiest gambler in history, and whilst I thought it was probably the House of Sefton.
When I looked at the family of Boat Builders the Ismays.owners of the White Star Line. no one could have gained the wraith of the Almighty so much, as to receive, the sharp end of the stick, so severely.
As a wealthy member of Ship Builders, the company had one thing in there mind and that was to win as many Gold Medals. for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, they could.
The sinking of the Titanic would be enough for any firm, but what there chairman Bruce Ismay brought to the the family name was enough to sink more than a ship he made there name hated throughout the nation and the USA. owing to the unproven belief that the elder brother and chairman of the line had dressed as a women to get into a safety Boat,
Bower, Ismay the younger brother,s first love was as a racehorse owner, with more than a little luck however his first two attempts at Grand National Glory resulted in 2 seconds, he then moved on to the flat, were he had a great horse called Craganour. in the first of the Classic,s the 2000 gns, at Newmarket the horse cruised up to the leaders, and riding with a double handful jockey Bill Saxby released his mount just a few yards from the post, winning by a larger head, the judge however saw differently, giving the verdict to Louvois. there was a mini riot amongst race goers, before, calm was restored.
So good had this horse run in the 2000s, Gns, that he became very short priced for the Blue Ribbond The Derby.
As the approached Tattenham Corner the Suffergett Emily Davison, jumped from the crowd into the approaching horses, Craganour side stepped the scotch Lass, and powered away chasing after the leader 100/1 chance Aboyeur,s at the 1 furlong mark, there were 5 horses spread across the track.
as soon as the favorite moved ahead of the outsider, Aboyeur took exception to being headed and moved over and savaged him causing a great bump between the two, what happens when a horse at speed is crashed into his quarters the front end of that horse moves into the trouble maker, creating a bigger calamity.and can easily give the impression that he was the attacker.
with these two horses, having collided it gave a chance to the other three close at hand Louvois the 2000 gns winner saw his chance first and shot up the inside, along with both Nimbus, and Day Commet.
As they approached the line the five were inseparable, with Shogun, trying to burst through the lot but could find no room. it was an amazing finish. .
No one was sure which horse had won the race, although paddock judges thought that Craganour had prevailed,
After what seemed an age, the announcement that the majority of the racegoers wanted was received with a great roar.
Winner Craganour, second Aboyeur.
After a few moments the all clear was announced, and the Bookmakers began to payout.
After a further 10 minutes there was a further announcement
“”Stewards Enquiry” and the hoisting of the RED FLAG.
trouble erupted on the hill. when Bookmakers withheld any of the winnings still not already paid.
In the stewards rooms the 3 jockey Club Official,s carried out there inquiry. there was certainly enough evidence to confirm that Craganour had been savaged the bite could easily be seen,on its hind.
The first to give evidence was Craganour,s Jockey Johnny Rieff, he had replaced Saxby by the horses trainer, who thought that he had thrown the 2000 gns away, by trying to be to clever,
This new Jockey was part of the American Invasion, a few years before never loved by the racing authorites, the americans, had been sent packing but Johnny was seen as the most honest of the band, but even he was not well liked by the Jockey Club, so Rheiff was not a good witness,
Perhaps he thought that it was best practice to be fully honest, and told the stewards that when Aboyeur attacked his mount, he decided to do the same to the other.
Not what I would have thought, was the best approach.
The Decision to over turn, the result was the first and only time that a horse has lost the Derby on a stewards inquiry.
But Cubone would like to add his own thoughts on the matter.

The old school tie, brigade has always held sway in racing, certainly with the sport being run by the Jockey Club. of the three in charge of the enquiry this day all were Etonians, and the owner of Craganour was a Harrovian.
For those who may not understand, the power of the public schools, when supporting there old chums. that plus a very important point.
As I have said non of the Ismays, were very well liked, this was made worse after there ship the Titanic sank the Ismays didnt come out of the disaster with any glory, in fact Bruce Ismay was a hate figure and that was never forgotten, they also all seemed to have a Chip on there shoulders, coming over as ostentatious, when in fact it was because they were actually shy.
There success in the Ship Building field had also led to a lot of jealousy.
But the final point was who were the stewards.
Major Eustace Loder the previous owner of Graganour had obviously regretted, the sale, he had sold one of the most exiting horses of the time.
So perhaps when his old School Chums. from Eaton decided on there verdict. it was enevitable that they would find in unison. that’s what school chums do, don’t they??
So ended a very unsavory, result,
Bower Ismay, decided not to own the horse again, selling it to South America, were it had great success as a stud. he didn’t reach old age. and dint have any much luck in his racing carrier. afterward either.
When happenings like this occur there are those who say,
“Its only a game and no one died.”

However in this particular event the race was made more famous or infamous by the act of Suffragette Emily Davison, who ran across the path of the Derby field at Tattenham Corner bringing down the Kings runner Amnar, both horse and jockey crashed heavily to the ground. my father who was betting at the Tattenhan CORNER, saw what happened and told me that she had no idea which horse she was bringing down, in fact the leaders, only missed he by inches before the Kings horse who was a long way off the lead collided with her so the suggestion that she had the Kings colors in mind to cause the full publicity for the Suffragettes was not planned, it was just fate that it was the Purple and Gold of King Georges Colours that she collided with.
4 days after the incident Miss Davison died and a further point is that Herbert “Diamond” Jones the Kings jockey never fully recovered, and although it was years later, he was found by his 17 year old son in the Gas Filled Kitchen, of there 1 bedroom flat dead, a sad end to a very sad Derby Day.

Cubone.

When you are born, the finger prints that you are born with stamp you as a complete individual. not one person has ever had the same print.
From your very first moment to your last, that will not change,even twins have different thoughts, plans, idea,s idiosyncrasy and most of all Dreams.
You may be born to a fool of a father, and an alcoholic mother but in those moments when in your bed, on your own, your brain tells you, what they are doing is wrong, if you can change things for the better I am not sure.
many great people have been born behind the “Black Ball” a reference to being in the shit when playing Pool.
The other day I was in the paper shop waiting to get my Racing Post, before me was an old women in her 80s for sure, she was purchasing a £1 Lottery Ticket, something about the old gall struck me as a different person than the normal. I cant tell you why I got that impression just something I cant explain.
I walked over to the Fish and Chip Shop were the women was also in front of me again,
“Can I have the smallest, packet of Chips that you have Please”
Out of her purse she produced 50p and placed it on the counter.
The young girl in the shop, just gave the women a packet of Chips and even though, the smallest portion was 60p she never questioned the short change.
I looked into the her eyes as she walked out of the shop. and was struck by the sadness that here eyes portrayed.
Collecting my 3 pieces of Fish, and a LARGE Portion of Chips, for two people I thought to my self, after the initial “Greedy Sod 3 pieces of Cod”
I wonder why the old one was so sad,
Living alone I expect, not much money to survive on the Old Age Penshion ,Ilness, the problems of old people are endless. but who knows, her individual, problems, after all, she was clean, and well brushed up as my grand mother would say.
This occured at least 3 months ago. I remember the moment because it was Grand National Day, and I had been reading about Mincemeat Joe, a very lucky owner from the 40s. who had greatness thrust upon him only for it to be taken away as quickly as it was given.
I was in a very good mood, all my loved ones were fit well and most of all happy.
This time as the women collected her £1 Ticket on the Lottery, I had to remark that I hoped that she won. first dividend,

“Thats very kind of you Sir”
She was no local there was not an ounce of Brummie Accent, in her speach,in fact I have always fancied myself as an expert on accents from within the UK. and during 55 years travelling to all of the 59 British racecourses, I could give an opinion from whence a person was raised after just 10 words spoken.
Outside the shop the old lady was sitting on a bench within the shopping complex.

I sat myself down next to her and after a little small talk. I asked her were she was born,
was she from, Leeds.
Although I scenced a slight Yorkshire accent, I could hear that she was very well educated and more than likely from a loving wealthy Jewish parenthood.
She looked at me for at least a full minute before saying
How on earth did you know that I have lived in the Midlands for 60 years.

My next statement, had here choking with laughter.

“You wont need any elocution lesons if you win first prize on the lottery will you”
Within moments she was letting go with what I guess was years of frustration, people love nothing better than to talk, and when a person become on there own, for whatever reason, many find it difficult to adapt.
Lonlyness is the sadest thing that can happen to anyone,

When I was a lad I was mesmerized by the palm reader that my mother would go to see, weekly and although my father would ridicule her presence. I dreamed of the day that I could be so clever.
Here was a chance for me to take stage and although there was no drum role to announce my act, I was ready to go.

I get a feel for a Leeds, accent, in the way you pronounce some words although your pronounceation are from well taught parents or a well skilled school teacher.trying no better than to raise your expectation in life. in other words your aparents wnated nothing better than to give you a better start than they had themselves.
Do you live on your own, Love,
Yes, for over 16 years, she replied

I could sense a few tears, begining to run down her cheeks.
Sorry if I have upset you.
After the next 30 minutes, she told me that she was from a loving family who arrived in Leeds, from Poland in 1890. she was the youngest of 8 siblings and was born in 1921.
She came to the Midlands with her husband in 1945 worked in the motor industry until 1970 she never had any children, but were hit financially when her husband died, in 1985.
All alone she lost touch with her brothers and sisters, and never wanting to show her financial plight, to them, she decided not to write or telephone them for many years. they had there own problems without having another old cow thrust on there laps. she knew that they would have invited her into there midst, and that wouldnt have been fare.
The last thing I will do is go to Leeds to seek them out, as some Charity case. I am happy to just survive best I can until I am no more.

“Can I ask you a question,
Yes of course you Can,
Why do you purchase a £1 Lottery Ticket, is it because if you won, a large prize, you would go back and help your loved ones,
Once again she looked at me, like my mother used to look at the Gypsy Women way back in the 1940,s. the only thing missing was the Ball.
You are right, there is no way I will go home and show them that I have failed.

Failed at what, I had now got to the bottom of her sadness,
She had failed in her own mind I concluded with having no Children, not to comfort her but to just to talk to.
Without anyone to talk to. all she has in the world are dreams, without Dreams life is not worth living.

She went on to tell me that she dreams for hours, that if she won the Lottery she would arrive at Leeds, not with any fanfare but just with the knowledge that all here Brothers, Sisters if any are still alive, would be provided for, if that is required. but there Children could certainly rely on her for assistance in there strife.

I was nealy crying now, myself and had to get away, as I had enough loved ones, to look after in my own old age. Thank you, I was wishing I had minded my own buisness. but then again not realy.
Life can be a very hard sad afair to many but before I went on my way, I just purchased 3 x £1 Lucky Dips. and gave them to her,
“Her is a few extra dreams hope it helps,
I never looked back, and sadly I have not seen her in the Chip Que since,I can only hope that she is back in Leeds, acting like some Old Wealthy Jewish Matre Dame..with all the troubles that will bring.

Cubone.

This statement perported to have been made in the mid 19th Centry has filtered through to today, with the same strenth and belief as it was when first spoken.
It is not however 100% true,
The man in the street who loves to support his favourite horse or jockey with a great deal of trust. knows at the back of his mind that gambling is not an equal opportunity pastime.
All Gamblers knew this when they placed there first bet, he realised that what ever means they adopted, to reduce there loss,s the stake holder the Bookmaker held not all the aces but certainly 3.
The brains behind this great historical betting coup can now be outed as a Cork Irish Builder by the name of Anthony Murphy. for many years he had gambled, and although he lost overall he did feel that the loss,s were just % that all hobbies, or past times cost.
During the 1960 to 70s he had realised that this % was becoming to expensive, and he beleaved that this discrepancy came about following the introduction of legalised Betting Shops. and for him to close the gap between himself and the Bookmakers he had to ues a little stealth.
As a buisnessman himself he new that all trades carried expences, and the more it cost to run a business the less value there can be created for the client.
Having read about Mincemeat Joe the luckiest Irish owner during the war years, he was adamant that he would one day have a right touch. one that would be carefully planned and executed, like many people before him, he wanted to win, a £ million in one wager.
He knew that like Mincemeat, he could not expect to own 2 Grand National winners and was also offered a third 1 week before being declared bankrupt.
For many years he thought of way,s to beat the system, of credit control placed on the sport by the Leading Bookmakers,
Only when he became a succesful Buisnesman did the opportunity become more than just a thought.
Like the man who broke the bank at Montie Christo, he knew that the chance would be there only once.
Fate however is a very fickle bedfellow. when you actually feel the Gilt in the palm of your hand, it can turn to shit.before you clap.
When he received the phone call in his room at the Tarra Hotel it was just one word “10″
a few seconds elapsed and this time the word was extended to 10/1.

He didnt have to receive any other statement, from the caller, as he had only given one request,

“Phone me, and just tell me the Starting Price thats all. I wish to know.”
The first to get to know that Gay Future had won was in fact Ladbrokes, the countrys leading Betting
Murphy,s London advisor on all betting matters actually was an ex employee of this firm, so he had a line into the head trading office.
Tony, wanted to cry out loud, “Its Won” at 10/1 but that wasnt his style.
There was something that was ticking away in his mind, it was just to easy, and he was right,
Ladbrokes and William Hills the Bookmakers who had received the bigest % of the Coup were in conversation at this very moment.
Firstly with each other then Coral,s and when they had calculated the full cost, a phone call was made to GEORGE WIGG.
Who was George Wigg, Murphy may have said.
And in a questionair I doubt more than 1% of Punters in the UK or in Ireland would have known who Wigg was, born in 1900 and educated at Queen Marys Gramar, Basingstoke at the age of 19 he joined the army. and served until he rejoined again in 1937.
After the 2nd WW he was elected to the House of Commans in the 1945 Attlee Government were he became Private Secretary to Shinwell. after the 1951 General Election he became a back bencher, specialising in Security matters.
On the 2nd of March 1963 he made the speech that created the Perfumo Storm, by outing John Profumo this resulted in the secretary for state failing to tell then truth. about his afair with Christine Keeler this cased his resignation.
This was not the first time, Wigg had delved in matters of security.
When Wilson became Prime Minister Wigg became Baron Wigg of Dudley, and later was appointed Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board. he also chaired the Tote finally he was given the role of Chairman of BOLA, “Betting Office Licencee,s Association.
A closer examination of Wiggs history, shows that he was a much hated individual. who was a Spy Catcher, not always telling the truth. in matters of state.
During the period of the “troubles” Wigg played a very close role in what became known as the Clockwork Orange Project. it was the spys under the bed, period, when a battle between right and left wingers in the UK peaked.
Wilson was beleaved to be a Russian Sympathisor under attack from the right wingers Wigg was his advisor, in all maters of state.
Although in 1974 he had been put out to grass, a phone call on bank Holiday, advising him that there had been a £500,000 Betting Coup against Bola members . by a team of irishmen, his active mind, began to find a life of its own, his first call was to his very lose friend on the Clockwork Orange Project Colin Wallace
Wallace was a similar stamp to Wigg,
Both ex soldiers, Wallace had been given a job, to undermine the IRA, his duty to create stories to be writen my newspapers, even if he had to produce bogus receipts of skuldugary.never mattered why kill a good story by having to tell the truth was his moto.
The conversation to Wallace went along these lines.
Colin I will give you a list of names and I want you to find a link with the IRA, and if possible .the nead to carry out a Betting Coup to help with there funding. would be an advantage.
The next call was to Scotland yard Special Branch informing of a massive Betting Fraud, by members of organised crime.
A further call was to Sir Micheal Hanley head of Mi5.
a meeting of the Clockwork Orange was called by Wallace and Wigg invited.
So within a few hours of the Gay Future Betting Coup having succeded. there was an opperative of the most serious security department, MI5 sitting yards away from the Irish maffia, having been driven to the Tarra Hotel Kensinton. with a duty to mingle with the dozen Party goers. His instruction was to just listen and report back to Wigg before his meeting with the full BOLA committee.the next day.
Wiggs final telephone call was to the Jockey Club, telling them, that this was a matter for the police not there rules department.
The phone was quickly replaced by the most senior, member of the CLUB, there relationship had never been, one of trust, and like most people The Jockey Club hated Wigg.
So whilst Murphy and his team were still indulging in the scores of best quality Champaigne the hotel possessed. the secrecy, of the coup. was up for grabs, over a dozen newspaper reporters, had gathered, amongst, the Coups partisipants, all of them offering there own version, of what they beleaved to be a honest and succesful betting Coup.
The next day the two parties, met to discuss there next move.
Tony Murphy and his men began the task of drawing there winnings and Wigg chaired the emergency meeting of BOLA.
Within a very short time, the Irish were back in the bar having been told various, differing statements regarding .reasons for non payment. By 12.0 The party of Irish gamblers knew that it was going to be some time, before a ruling on the Coup was conducted.
The trip back to Dublin. held non of the exitement for our team of Irish Gamblers, that there flight inwards on monday had.
As for the meeting of leading Bookmakers. George Wigg kept his cards close to his chest.
All he would say was ” No One will pay out any winnings, until a full enquiry is carried out by the Police”
This is a criminal matter, and will be treated accordingly.”
It is not true to say there was a splt in the vote called for, regarding payment or not,
Only one man, Symonds of Heathorn and Co informed BOLA Members, that he intended to pay any winnings in full. Wigg erupted in rage, and demanded that all Bola members were advised to stick together and a statement was writen out by Bola,s Secretary and given to waiting reporters.
What had started as a clever betting coup, breaking only one minor, Jockey Club rule in that Gay Future should have been housed in the stable in Troon, and not remained in Ireland but how that became part of a National Security matter invloving the IRA, I will never know,
Wigg intended to win this battle the last thing, required was a little thing like Truth.

All though, the year, the public were begining to dispise, the IRA, following Atrocities at Guldford and Brum, and the more this happened the more Wigg would stamp his born out oppinion that the Coup was part of an IRA Funding..
At Cheltenham, in 1975 a specialist team, who had been working non stop, to create a Water Tight case of Criminal Fraud, made a swoop of those caught, only two were charged.
the case at Preston, Mr Justice Caulfield paid Murphy the greatest of complements, when summing up.he said
“It would be absurd to classify you as a fraudulent man in every day life, You are obviously a racing man and enjoy your racing you have at least remained a sportsman to the end”
The jury found the two Murphy and Collins the scotish trainer guilty fining them £1000 each. in what was the most well thought out Coup in history.
But there were more losers than, the Irish following the case, the bigest losers were the betting Industry, and the truth that Gamblers will never be Level on or under the Turf,
But it is great fun trying to be,
The End.
“y

The Fateful plan, that has become known as the Gay Future Coup was believed to be 18 months in the planning. i do not accept that oppinion the “Coup” was actually spawned 100 years, ago.
No trainer or owner could ever organise a gamble. the Bookmakers were always a jump ahead of the Game Bookmakers never missed a trick in gaining an advantage,
Out side every owners yard or trainers, establishment, there would be spys. up tree,s watching for market moves this was during the period of anti post power, Bookmakers knew to the hour how long it would take for a horse to arrive at a course, so when betting on a big event like the Derby or Grand National. if a popular runner was still in its yard not giving him time to arrive for the race, the Bookmakers could extend the price of the runner, and if it had left for the race in time the price would be reduced.
In 1836 the St Leger favourite Elis was still being cantered along the trainers path with 10 days to go before being sent on its journey to Doncaster, it was known that it would take 15 days, to do the trip and still run in the race.
By 8 days, the 7/2 had been extended to 25/1 catching many of the unwary.
with 5 days to go before the race and its price reducing back to its orriginal price the leading Bookmakers could not understand, what was occiring.there had been a double twist. and the controllers were caught with there pants down with new technolodgy.
When the door opened to the trainers yard and a massive 4 horse drawn cart was spotted with the favourite in the back being carried on the long trip in a record time, taking pre-arranged stop overs.
The owner was non other than Lord George Bentinck. the racings reformer.
This was no major organised cheat, no administering of Dope no changing of 3 year olds with older horses to beat the handicaping system. no major cheating by holding back horses for 12 months to defeat the Bookmakers pricing system.
No major cheating of the hedging services, like the one that took place at Bath.
No organised plan like the one that took place at Shrewsbury, when every one of the 4 jockeys, planned to let the other runner win. in fact as a planned stroke is concerned it was mundane, but very affective. every part of this intricate coup was carried out to perfection. taking a fortune out of the St Leger market.
It was just the same as what has become The Gay Future Coup. and The purchasing of an expensive, Bumper, 5 year old, and placing it with an up and comming Irish trainer destined to be a great,, he was given the duty of training it to win a poor qaulity race at a Flapping Track in all but name that was not dificult. to get a list of all the Betting Shops, in London, to place the bet on a Bank Holiday Monday with there multiple meetings, place the bet as if they were Doubles, in so deceiving the Bookmaker that it was a combination bet when it was destined to be a larger single bet was clever but not unknown. or unlawfull
To place the bet over many indipendant betting shops, knowing that the majority of the wagers would find there way into the major betting shops. was obvious. also knowing that the leading Bookmakers would use there power of strenth, to reduce the true odds by over 60% by shortening the last of the bets, through there hedging control. if they had known a Coup existed.
To carry out this control the Leading Bookmakers required a representative on every racececourse taking place on any particular day.
It was a failure of the Bookmakers in not realising that there was one UK racecourse were there full control. did not exist and that the fact that they thought the bet was something it wasnt.
Was only there failure no one elses.
So when a team of Irishmen converged onto London,. with several £thousands of pounds each, and given an area plan of High Street Betting Offices, then placed doubles, on Opera Cloak with Gay Future, plus a single on Gay Future then followed by a Double Ankerwyke with Gay Future and a single on Gay Future,
The bet of £single units became a Maximum stake of 100% on Gay Future.
With the Independant Bookmakers paitently relying on there rediculous tight limits, to protect them, rule 24 stating that any meeting not covered by the blower would be restricted this was an enormous protection. not counting for there knoledge that the Big Three Bookmakers of Hills, Ladbrokes and Corals, would protect the payouts. also.
So when the plan commenced no one knew the outcome. what was however known was the utmost control held by the big three Bookmakers.
A Hop from Dublin to Gatwick took place a short taxie drive to Kensington by 9.30 and the Irish maffia were in place. all caked up.
At a similar time, an Horse Box containing the real Gay Future arrived in Cumbria, via Liverpool.
At a pre-concieved AA Box, near Kendal it was met by a similar box from the Scotland Trainer with the ficticious Gay Future, on Board the two Gay Futures were transfered one back on the joerney to ireland to a life unknown. the other to the Cartmell Racecourse and an infamous life as a part of the greatest Betting Coup in History.
the swap took place and Gay Future the Irish trained novice, was on its way to run in the Ulverton Novice Hurdle, the 4.20 at Cartmel.
The Quality of the race was very poor by even Cartmel standards,
Also in the race was a further runner from the same Scottish Trainer.
This was the surposed Stable fancy, and all the staff who knowing that the (Gay Future) that they knew was usless.
There other runner was a cert to defeat the Irish throw away. so when Gay Future was seen to be sweating like a tap. the stable conections, all plunged on Racionzer. this part of the plan worked perfectly well. although loyal scotish staff were put away was just part of the Coup.
The soap suds rubbed into the horses girth had works perfectly.
One tell tale however was the change of jockey, were Gay Future was to be riden by an amature Mr T,A Jones. instead of the scottish trainers stable lad printed in the evening papers and Sporting Life. who would have had his first ride in public.
Jones however for any one who looked at all the Irish known racing records would have seen that he was no chalk jockey he was an accomplished rider, having riden many winners. for some of the best Irish conections. others who just relyed on what they saw in the parade and betting Ring , would fail. just as Jones mounted he slipped over the horses back onto the floor, in hindsite. it was a bit over the top. so to speak, there was no nead for any other than the betting market, to convince that it was a no hoper.were Raconzier was supported into 6/1 from 10/1 there wasnt a penny for Gay Future only the fact that this was a Bank Holiday with the Cartmell Bookmakers betting to over 150% stopped Gay Future from reaching 33/1 in fact the return price of 10/1 was very skinny and leads us to beleave that some of the chatter that took place at Cheltenham in March had found its path up north to Cumbria..
All seemed to work perfectly. in the race Raconzier fell away after only 3 jumps. and pulled up.with 3 to go. any race watchers would have been impressed by Mr Jones, taking up the running Gay Future was neck and neck with Playbella, just behind was the 5/4 favourite Crocodillo. any race watchers would have seen the three riders, all begining to push and shove,
Ron Barry, to the left Jonjo ONeil to the right and in the middle Mr Jones,
Betting on the jockeys alone you would have thought that Gay Future was beaton however as soon as Jones sat down to ride a finish, it was all over.
The eagle was Landed, the only question to be raised now was how much had they won.
Although, the experienced jockey had been told what was taking place he was still overawed by the plot and punched the air with delight.
The rest of the day was spent on the long trip to London for what they beleaved to be one hell of a Crak. and there carve up.
All the stakes had been placed, even allowing for the fact that at 1.30 William Hill pulled the shutters down Ladbrokes the only one who carried on partisipating, also closed up shop at 2.30. but by then the bets were on. all the independants would never know what had occered as regarding the non runners until after the last race when the results and non runners from other meetings were known.
At 1.45 Ladbrokes had been told of William Hills restriction. but carried on.regardless for another hour before they stopped, they had sent a northern rep from Manchester to make his way over to Cumbria, and Cartmell although he never knew were Cartmell was. beleaving that he could make it in plenty of time, he could reduce any price being offered, there is no doubt that had they arrived and even with limited Cash there power would have been that the price of Gay Future would have been no bigger than evens, even allowing for a short priced favourite already dominating the market.
Ladbrokes have refuted this oppinion as there rep had very limited funds,
Although the leading Bookmaker in Tatts was Pat Whellan betting number one in a 12 man ring. he would have done what ladbrokes requested, and would have offered them unlimited recorces.

Evey thing had been placed according to plan. and the Bookmakers failed to protect there credit control.
An enquiry would have been interesting, regarding breech of Jockey Club rules however like the Dagenham Greyhound Betting Coup. in the 60s, failed by an unexpected weak link
Daganham, planners made it impossible for genuine punters to place bets in the race, and that was a conspiracy. to defraud. and therefore sure to fail.
In the Gay Future Coup the Scottish Trainer showed us why he was an unsuccesful racechorse trainer. he was compleatly un profeshional. he could not convince the authorities that the two horses destined to run at Southwell and Plumpton. had in fact ever started out on there journey.
How simple would it have been to get a tier puncher in an old broken down horse Box as for the other runner, just to tell the vet that it had purged himself continually on his long trip south could not have been challenged,
But no, neither horse had ever started out for there trip and that will go down as the bigest, and most costly failure in any organised gambling Coup.

When all the partisipants in the plan met at the Tarra, for the Party, there was already a feeing of failure, in the air.
It wasnt just because of attempts to draw some of the winnings before the shops shut up for the day, had failed but when the Scotsman arrived as planned in Kensington and told the Irish men of his failure.to carry out instructions they knew there fate.
He was certainly lucky that the name Irish Maffia, given to the plotters by some feature writer on the Sun, Newspaper, was no more than a feature writers, over worked mind, if it had been true then, the Scotsman would have been lost in the Cumbrian Hills. never to be seen again.
However the organisers took that failure in great spirit, knowing that they would never get paid,
And just because of the failure to complete a simple job.
What wasnt expected however was what happened at the Cheltenham Festival in 1975.
It was known that the Serious Fraud Squad were activly involved.

So what had started as a way to get even with Bookmakers who were relentless in moving the playing fields. away from any fair play.
What occured during the 1975 and for 2 years will go down as most sinister, the police, as well as the racings authoritys. knew it was known racing pro,s involved. it was an Irish plan it wasnt anything to do with Irish political Plotters, deadly in Birmingham and Gillingham, during the late 1970s, that was an Ira problem, not a BOLA problem, but the leader of BOLA was non other than Lord George Wigg, and his history in politics requires carefull consideration.
Wigg had been a part of Wilson Parliament. his role, was sinister,

So the next day after the Coup, The Betting Office Licenced Association comenced an enquiry, with Heathorn the Bookmakers most trusted member voting to call the Coup Legal and enforceable.
Wiig rose to speak demanding that the Coup was a Criminal act. and that the organisers were guilty of conspiracy to defraud.
With the majority, of Bookmakers at the meeting that day over 50% wanted the bets to be paid.
Wigg however, demanded that all bets should be nill and void.

At 6.30 after the meeting ended he made a personel telephone call to a special number. the receiver was part of the most sinister part of UK Politics, known as the Clock Work Orraange Committee.

The gamblers, from Ireland had been placed in a much more serious catergary than they should have been.
The gloves were off. and the Irish organisers, became second favourite for success.

The END IS IN SIGHT. the Final Chapter.

The Final Count Down.

After the Cheltenham Festival of 1974 the talk was of only one thing. “The Dream” this was the winning of the Gold Cup with Captain Christy. Bobby was one of these people who failed to gain his rightfull position in the game, born from the greatest family in irish National Hunt history. and yet never lost the dream, he had been given one final chance. in the Gold Cup. riding a pure novice who was arguably the worse jumper ever to compete in a Gold Gup.
Riding to the last. he jumped to the front and although he made a mistake, it wasnt enough, to stop a real irish dream being fullfilled.
Bobby also had one other dream and that was to ride the winner in a £million pound betting coup. and during a alcohlolic crak. over the previous year, some of the plan, had been let lose. not enough. to cause to much trouble but Bobby was not the best at keeping, secrets, and fortunatly for the Gay Future planners. the winning of the Gold Cup. removed the other dream, from this great jockeys, thoughts, that was until it was to late. not many knew the actual facts, but some loose talk had taken place at the festival. many had been told of a possible happening, so clever that it would go down in racing history. lucklily for the planners no name was ever mentioned, only a Plan.
In fact a meeting took place a few weeks after Cheltenham. when the “Londoner” who was arranging the major part of the betting. showed his concern regarding loose talk.
Some one had mentioned a COUP. to him. personally and had also spoken of a brilliant Ringer in the offering. fortunatly that was all that was known of the plan.
A final meeting was to be arranged, in London. As soon as the 3 Irishmen and our Betting Profeshional. arrived at the TARRA Hotel in Kensington, it was clear that the atmosphiere was not good,
“What in earth, is going on you asked me to advise, on this “Crak” as you call it and the first time, I go racing for years, all I hear at Cheltenham in the Bar, was the word clever ringer.
I told you that Talk had lost Wars.
I thought that I was dealing with Experts, and not amatures.”
Mr Big did not say a word.
“I sent you a report. and mentioned that the COUP was to be treated like the DDay landings of 30 years ago.
All that was required was.
Operation.
Weather.
Order of Battle.
And most of all the enemies defences. and how we could breach them.
The D Day landings had been kept secret, I only hope that this Battle of yours has not been let out of the bag. by some drunks at Cheltenham.”

Mr Big raised his hand like the almighty with palm, facing the Londoner

“No one knows more than, 10% of the Crak only me” and it will remain as that.
Individuals may know there own 10% but thats all.
As for the RINGER. I will now tell you what we have achieved so far,”

“I took your advice about the danger of a Ringer and the certainty that this breach of Jockey Club rules would render the Coup dead in the water.
And I will convince you that the horse that will win the race will be the same horse entered to win the race.
We have all the parts in place and like the Dday landings of September 1944, we will succeed.”
The Londoner, looked at the team intensly. and after a moment or two smiled. “Right Then.
“What do you think of the Course,” it was a vailed question showing the he knew what they Irish had been up to. in the last few months.
He knew that they had paid 2 visits to Cartmel. and wanted them to know that he was earning his FEE.
“I have spent 2 days there and the Jockey. has every confidance that it is ideal for the horse.
The weather is in the lap of of gods, and as you know it could change from bone hard to bottomless and that of course is of concern.
“On the day of the race the horse will be in the hands of a Fun trainer like Auther Thomas. but a Scotsman. who hasnt trained a winner for 12 months, and a permit holder but once he gets our horse it will already have been trained to perfection. all he has to do is enter it up and get it to Cartmel. the horse will do the rest.
The race and the betting is all in place, all we nead is the MAP.”
This was the list of every betting shop in London. all in a SATNav type plan. no doubling of yourself, this had been used several times from when betting shops, first opened in 1961 only added to as new shops opened and closed even the shops strenth, was included with a star and rating, from 10% to 100% the maximum being a £100. win only this list had not been used by the team for the trail in April and the Irish knew that they could have got a lot more money on. if they had known were to find more shops.
“The laying out of the stakes is important, you must give the impression that it is a combination bet, said the Londoner.
“But of course all the units will end with our Plant”.
A double or treble, all going on Gay Future will hide the full stake so that all Bookmakers will have to wait for the results of other races before they put there hedging plans into operation.”
Only after any non runners are known will the full implication of the wager be known. No Eachway bets must be contemplated. as the word Eachway is a rag to a bull for all betting shop managers, and crys out big odds.
And always raises the fear level. win doubles and trebles, looks like a Mugs bet, Win bets, do not raise the fear element half as much. as Eachway. if placed correctly you can expect to get £100 win on our selection. no trouble. when a straight £100 Eachway will be known. within a few hours as a COUP. not so in our case. they will be flumoxed as to the danger, until we hope it is two late.
If planned correctly you should have Gay Future as the last runner and at Cartmel.
Cartmel is almost isilated, as far as offcourse to on course hedging is concerned. and you wont even have to cut any telephone wires as there are non.
On our Map. the Bookmakers are graded from 1 to 10. and bets should be offered accordingly.

The Londoner seemed happy with the ringer element. and confirmed that as long as the plan was correct the worst that could be levied against the plans success would be breach of a minor Jockey Club rules..
“However there is one final point that I would raise. with you.
All major coups need a great or at least good enough horse and a greater jockey.
Who will ride the horse ?.I have seen many betting coups fail because of a poor jockey.”
“When a young or inexperienced jockey knows the amount that will be won. they can fail through worry”.
Just take my word for it we have a great jockey in mind,
“The word great will also mean, a not so great PRICE I am afraid”.
Once again the brains laughed, in this case the great will mean also a great price.
“I will be surprised how you achieve that feat. but I am confidant that you know what you are doing. and I wish you luck”.

The Map was transfered, in exchange for a larger white envelope the Londoners job was complete. and the 3 Irishmen were left to themselves,
“Right then, let us go through the plan for the final time”,
Gay Future is being trained to perfection.. it will be delivered not personally but in the shape of the RING.
This other horse is as near to Gay Future as we could find, but only in looks.
Once this horse is tried at the Scottish, trainers establishment there stable staff will know that it is very poor quality. they will assume that it has failed to train on from its novice days. and even when entered into a poor race like one at Cartmel for the August bank holiday, all the stable sniffers will ignore this as a non hoper. there other runner the stable will be seen as the fancied one. that will be entered by the trainer.in the same race. and of course will be a much lesser price. in the event.
The Scotsman knows also that he is to enter 2 more runners on the day in question. at various meetings. making up the combination bet. of doubles and trebles.
It is his job to make sure that they never get to there intended meeting. it may be seen as odd that they both fail to get there but his excuse and the way he takes them out of there races does not require a Winsten Chrurchillian brain.

On the day. of the race we will have up to 10 peole putting on. all answerable to 4 group leaders.
This Hotel will be the Base, and from 10.0 on the Bank Holiday monday morning, we will have over 5 hours to get on.

With all parts in the plan. complete all was left was DDay. and the landing of a well thought out Coup.

The full implications of the amount that could be won, was unknown. to all. but it was imperative that at no time should the amount be over played.
If succesful we could expect a big squeal from the industry Bookmakers who are not good losers at the best of times. but large numbers will only make it more difficult to get paid. but paiy they must, as long as there are no illegal act that takes place.

So it is important. all aspects of the stake are minimised to no more than £100.000 winnings, the amount won will be explained as a way to get out money back from the easter Coup that failed. we can always explain away the total lost that day as more than it was, and the winnings this day as lesser.
It should work. and I am sure GOD will be on our side the Bookmakers in the UK and Ireland have had it to easy for over 50 years. and its out turn now.

C Day the Day of the Crak.

All through the 1973 up to Christmas the different factions, would meet, and talk over the many questions that the Londoner had raised, The Cork three were confidant, that they would not fail. in the question of winning the race, they did however take notice about running into a another Rod in Pickle, that being an old world war saying for running into some one clever,er than you.
“Why dont we have a dummie run,” the others looked shocked.
WHY NOT.
We could pick a meeting similar to the one we already have in mind, for our coup, and try out all the aspects required firstly to see if the money we place will get back to the course and ruin the Starting Prices. because if it does the plan is dead in the water.
.

So on Easter Monday 1974, a quality Irish Horse called Hindsight was entered in a race at Towcester, although popular this course was not much more than a flap. The Rails Bookmakers were almost insignificant any telephone link to the outside world was very poor, popular though for having the odd gamble it was also known by Irish trainers as a very hard course to master it suited stayers popular in Ireland.
The Cork Mafia knew exactly the type of horse neaded and the trainer to use.
Andy Geraghty was ideal. and a request for a possible horse to win a race for them, was no problem, he chose Hindsight. a very good Handicap Hurdler, It had enough in hand to go to work with, having been out of the winners enclosure for some considerable time, and now fully recovered it was ideal for there test. Although they expected the minor gamble to be succesful the main aim was to test the stakes and to see if and when they carried out a fully fledged Gamble it would be succesful.
12 meetings in total on this day. and the Irish made a good job of peppering the Capital town London. as well as other towns, in the UK. up to 8 agents, were used not counting a few in Liecester and Birmingham.
From the start the early morning as soon as the UK Betting shops opened medium sized doubles were placed on Hindsight and Golden Lancer the standard bet was only £40 Units,

£40 Double Golden Lancer and Hindsight and a single £40 on Hindsight.
The total lay out was no more than £10,000 in London the SP Job, went very smoothly. all the stakes on, it may not seem a great amount and it wasnt at the time, for these type of bets, to be taken in one hand not however at Towecester and certainly not in a double, the trick however was simple,all the full stake would finish up in the hands of the big Bookmakers it always does, some of the smaller Bookmakers would sometimes get cold feet and not only pass the bet on to Ladbrokes or Hills, they would add a little on for themselves, so it would not be unknown for an original wager of £10,000 increase into a stake of £15,000,
Once a SP Job was discovered the leading Bookmakers would find the bets weak link and that was its last runner. At the time all Bookmakers had limits, some larger than others, but the Bigest Bookmakers knew that they would finish up with the majority of the stakes.The big Bookmakers would always let the first one run, it was a very clever plan, not to get two concerned with the first, one but to be in a position to fully control the last one, rendering a double at odds of 10/1 and 10/1 into 10/1 and 6/4. If anyone was going to carry out an SP Job. they would always pay though there noes. instead of having odds of say 100/1 plus for there double. they would be lucky to get 25% and that was the reason for SP Jobs in the first place. it was just a way of equaling the ballance.
There has always been a war between Bookmakers and Punters, and this was nothing new.

The plan to place the wager, to look like a mugs bet with more than one horse was simple and affective.
The first runner Golden Lancer was not known as a non runner, until very late in the day and gave the holders of the bets confidance that it wasnt profeshional money. and that it was now of no concern.
Very little is known what happened to Hindsight in the market other than it opened up at 7/1 and slowly drifted out to 20/1 with more than a little help from two well known Birmingham Bookmakers.
It was whilst they were at the post, that a few single wagers of 20/1 x £50 causing it to drop to 10/1 just as they were off the two helpers in the ring,were both back up offering 14/1 that being the actual return, not a bad return, considering. that there were a representative from both the leading firms. in the ring.
As they aprouched the straight and the notorious Towcester Hill.
Hindsight was in a bunch behind the leader, going very well as they jumped 2 out, so well in fact that he ran into the leaders back legs, almost bringing himself to the floor, it wasnt the distance that he lost, but he could not make up the ground from a standing start, and with all chance gone he was an eased down unlucky 4th.
History shows us that Hindsight was entered in a Punchestown Handicap not long aftewards winning in a hack canter.
I was not privileged to have been in the company, of the organising committee but I have been led to believe that they were overjoyed with how the Job had gone. ignoring there loses.
The £10,000 would just be a minor expence to add to those used in the future.
At the meetings that they held during the year, the plan took a very serious turn.
the first thing they would require would the HORSE. and that was what everything hinged upon.
Only one man for this job and that was Edward O,Grady.

Although more than 3 knew something was up, they were all put away at least until they were needed any phone call asking “How is the Plan Going” would be met with “What plan is that”
or “We have decided it wont work”

This was the time for planning and secrecy. there were to many in the know as it was, and that usually results in trouble.

For the next 3 months, only the three and OGrady, knew what was going on. every man had a job to do. and they did it very well. visits to London, Scotland and Cumbria. took place during May, and meetings were arranged to start to pull the plan together, they had arranged that August Bank Holiday would be there aim, and Cartmel. the course.
It still seemed a long way to August, but you could see cunning smiles, begining to appear, on the faces of the three,
A phone call to trainer O,Grady about there Horse, proved the seriousness of the plan, £5,000 had been spent on the horse an ex John Oxx inmate, there had been a lot of interest, and a few serrious bids from those looking for a possible Cheltenham candidate. but Edward managed to get what he wanted..
The trainer was very exited with Gay Future,
Its form as a 4 year old was very good, winning a bumper, and being placed 3 times out of only 5 runs,
On one of there visits, to the trainer he had asked how they would expect to carry out a gamble in the UK. using any Irish trainer in fact O,Grady informed them that they neaded to send the horse over to the UK, to a trainer like Paddy Sleater,
Every one laughed at the sudgestion.
Paddy known as the Master of Grangecon. didnt send one horse over he sent dozens, all to be trained by Arthur Thomas, a UK fun trainer the result, some of the most amazing gambles in the period.
“Sadly Paddy Sleater would be to expensive and would want to much on”

Chapter 3. All ready and willing.

The organised Horserace Betting scam known as the Gay Future Coup was planned during a period of 12 months, Jan 1973 to Jan 1974.It was a well thought out gamble, one or two trusted friends, in the betting industry with years of experience helped advise the irish organisers, many of the problems that could arise from such a planned attempt had been tried and tested over the previous 200 years, History showed that most attempts had failed.
All the points that were needed for a £ Million Coup to succeed. were discussed, and the first question was why has it got to be a £MIllion.
a £million was a figure of speech that aroused great exitment. in the minds of Gamblers large and small. No one had achieved that amount, in history, people like Al Copone with all the power that he possessed could never gain his wish to win that amount in one wager, the fact that he had 50% of the united states jockeys in his pocket, was no gaurantee of success. others from, that period like Arnold Rothstien attempted and so did BET A MILLION Gates the organisor of the Americian Invasion failed even though he did manage £10,000 on a rain drop running down a train window.
It may be possible to gather two one million pound gamblers for a match bet but there will always be one who will try to cheat.the other so I do not know of such a bet. has ever taken place.

The first question you may ask is why did this period in time throw up such an attempt, It is my opinion that it was 10 years after the Betting revalution, and following the 1961 Betting and Gaming act the Leading Bookmakers had a very strong strangle hold on horserace gambling, I assume that many of the Irish, who have always loved a tilt, at the rings, had realised that any attempt to beat the system would have to be well planned. other wise they were doomed.
In this january, a meeting took place in a small public house along the river Lee in Cork Southern Ireland.3 in total all of them were well know in Irelands racing Industry,
In the group was a very experienced individual his exelance was in Gambling and Bookmaking, specifically The Sport of Kings. in the 40s he had been part of the notorious Knock Out Gang that dominated the betting rings, in England. his name will be kept a secret, as his next of kin still work in the trade and are well loved by this author.
the 3 members of the group were part of what has become known as the Cork Mafia. this reference had no bearing on there credibilty. and integrity. all of them, were just Gamblers and the reference did not do them justice in fact as far as there attempt to carry out a betting coup. the reference was to cause them trouble. and hinder there chance of success. this will be discussed at a later time.
The guest speaker, and the Irish 3 had moved to a room up 2 flights of stairs and after introductions. the Englishman in his late 60s, took stage.
“I have spoken to Jim, and understand what you wish to know” it was clear that Jim was known by all. by the smiles and nods. of the others.
“I believe that if a gamble along the lines that you are interested in. is to be carried out it would have be done fairly quickly before such an attempt becomes impossible. that period will be with us within a few years.” he didnt elaberate on this satement.any further.
The man had held senior posts with two of the Big 4 Bookmakers in the UK, .and his presence was very much respected.
“I also understand your belief that an in-justice has been created by the strangle hold that is part of the Bookmaking power base, in England, and Ireland. resulting in an unfairness, for any large or medium sized gamblers.”
“I believe that it is your intention to carry out a Betting Coup in the mainland. before that strangke hold is complete. Firstly I will tell you that there are only 3 days in the racing calender were a betting coup. can be attempted, and that is one of our Bank Holidays.”
“Only on Bank Holiday is the Bookmakers security stretched to its limit, for the UK High steet betting shops, to be hit, with a possible winning return of £1 Milllion it would take over 10 hours and a team of 100. at least. in many parts of the UK, also within 2/3 hours the shops would be allerted and the wagers, refused .” so I am not very confidant of your success.”
This wasnt what the Irishman wished to hear. but they listened, to the speech. with reverence.
The leader. in a very soft voice, whispered “WHY”.
“The Big 4 Bookmakers have a system called the “Pyramid” it is very simple, as soon as a few bets, similar in shape or type are witnessed, phone calls are made along a route clearly marked in the Pyramid Sheet,” and organised by BOLA there trade association.
“A simple request would be made. to see if similar wagers had been discovered, the way around this is to tinker with the bets, by making them look like a mugs bets, one that the industry would see with no great concern, the type of bet, has been attempted before and has always been very easlily countered. so it would be some time before they called a hault. the big two Bookmakers would carry on taking bets over the counter and from the small independant Bookmakers who would lesson there own liabilites.
This wager either a double of other combination of bets is known as a runner owing to the fact it creates running on money. it is easy to control. by the industry, firstly by the shops limits, and secondly the leading Bookmakers who have complete control of the Starting Prices. will render any attempted coup. of this type, not worth while. with the last runner shortend unfairly” and with very little stake. they have the power to shorten a 20/1 to single figeurs some times without a bet being layed.
Just a request for a wager from some part timers would send shivers down the majority of holiday Bookmaker, spines, so it is very dificult, but not impossible I have an idea which course you could use but will make sure when I return to england.
“The Bookmakers know that at one course there may be a rouge SP Reporter but that is not certain. perhaps with 12 meetings, it is possible to find one particular SP man that can be of help. it is also possible that when I know which Racecourse you intend to expoit I may be able to help and advise further.” I may also be able to seek out a Bookmaker that will help in knocking the price out. a little” or at least making its collapse not so serious.”.
“You mentioned that you will not be creating any breach of the law, so a Ringer will not be contemplated. thats good, as I gaurantee that if you do so, the odds are that you will fail. I also agree that you will not be using any stimulant. if I had thought that was possible I wouldnt have came over to see you. in the first place”
“Ringers went out in the 50s, with Francasel”.( this was a reference to the 1953, when a team of midlanders, plus a Welshman organiser, attempted a clever Ring In, at BATH by replacing a very poor selling plater called Francasal with a 2 stone superior horse called Santa Amaro) “the planners would have failed even if they hadnt cut the telephone wires, to stop the thousands of genuine hedging bets from doing there lawfull act of shortening the price, that was a simple Single unit wager, it required more than one of the Bath Bookmakers to be in on the act, and unfortunatly, one of those Bookmakers was shot dead on his door way a while after the failure”.
“The time of Ringers has gone I expect that they will be attempted from time to time in the future but with the same success as Maccabeus, in the 1844 Derby”. a further reference to a 4 year old winning the Derby of 3 year olds.
This caused a little titter, there was no doubt the old man knew his stuff he also had a great sense of humor.with his timing.
“I will sum up. if I may”.
“A 1/2 a £million return is out of the question, a lesser amount could be achieved with carefull planning but, the winning of the race is not as easy as people think, I have known a trainer cheat for 12 months to get a Bank Holiday runner into an event stone better in weight. only to be beaten by a more patient owner with a 2 stone advantage”.
“That however will be in your hands and I have been led to believe you are good at what you do well.
We agree that it must be lawfull” as the Bookmakers Trade Association BOLA will pay up. with a great deal.of sorrow.”
“It will have to be on a Bank Holiday” the reason is that if not on any normal day, even saturday, with only a few meetings the Big Bookmakers will have there first teams out covering all the courses ready and able to do there job. . and that is to protect there companies money. unfairly of not.
“With this in mind I believe that August Bank Holiday.is preferable.”
I would lower your aims with a maximum stake of say £30.000 in total. and hope for a double unit return that would be possible”
“You can try to get some help from an SP returner or one or two rails Bookmakers. and that we can look at during the time before the day. I will like to know the course chosen in good time. I wish you luck, and will be happy to hear from you shortly.

The short walk down the stairs to the Public bar was carried out in silence. followed by one drink then a 2 hour journey by taxie back to Shannon Airport, and the old mans trip back to Brighton via London.

The 3 Irishmen didnt stay much longer in the bar, and drove to there homes, they had lots to discuss, and plenty of time to discuss them.
This was going to be one hell of a crak, and even if they failed it would not be for want of trying.
Before they left.
The leader gathered the other two to his side and whispered “there is only one thing that will defeat us and that is talk”.

Tried and Tested. Chapter 2.

Cubone.

Ever since 1974 there has been quite a lot told about the “COUP” many reasons put forward why it should hold the mantel as the best organised betting coup/stroke, in the history of UK Gambling.
Known affectionatly as the “Gay Future Affair” it has never been investigated fully. or told completly.
I intend to tell the tale warts and all. to a few interested friends and readers,
I would love to entertain you the readers, as best I can, but would hope that at least 20 would give me the reason for taking on this project, if so I will carry on regardless with 8 Paragraphs, I am sure that there will be points never told before, in any of the news paper coverage, or notes used in the Preston held court case. even so, I will use new names protecting those still alive, that do not wish to be mentioned even after 35 years.
The story is about a team of Irish Gamblers fed up with having there Gambles restricted and controlled by the powerful. big three. UK Bookmakers. the way that even the the government played a part in the legal outcome.
The only way that these men the Gamblers could seek an equal balance for there wager, was using a minimal amount of chickanery to level the playing field.

If you are interested I will commence. this week end.

“A Battle of Wits” Chapter One.

Thank you for any interest shown,

cubone.

William Hill was third or second born of 13, (History not sure) his father was a coach painter, Williams left wing views or those of his father,were nothing new to the area that he was born, Spring Hill
Very little is known of his school days, but like lads of the period, 1903. there was starvation all over the place. and although the Hills were not poor, it took some doing providing for 13.
During the nights, there would be no comfortable beds. for all. and a liitle time would be spend, not knowing were all the siblings were.
The jewish area, of Edgebaston, and Balsall Heath, not all that far from Small Heath, and when William met the Woolf Gang, they liked him at once, the lad was big for his age, and towered above Jack. Solly, Joe Tittle, and Tommy Turner, he didnt get on with his father, who was more than a little strict.
Like lots of lads of the day, they joined a Gang, nothing heavy, just our gang,
William worked at the BSA during the day, and did a little collecting for the Works, Bookmaker
The first inkling of a little brain, amongst the gang was when a leading women Bookmaker at Tamworth offered Jack an account, . Solly was to be the Form Student, and the 5 members put a few coppers each into a pool. in no time they were a few punds in front and jack went over by train to collect.
The following week they didnt back a winner, but to my beleife the women never got paid. during this period, oportunites would arise, one way or the other, and as the leaders of the gangs had Bookmakers in the family and friends, it wasnt long before a day out of the races was sudgested.
It was the time of the Brummie stranglehold of all things racecourse and Jack Woollf, and others. befriended Tommy Turner, a young, racecourse clerk.
At a very early age, William loved the gambling world, but his father would have non of it, and there were many a battle royal. at the Hill household. over this hoby.
It was time for Big Bill to join the army. how he got into the Black and Tans, I am not sure but this was a regiment, were many young lads who neaded tuition found themselves, I am not sudgesting that William was a nasty piece of work who neaded tuition outside of the norm, as I do not know but off he went to Ireland and County Cork.
He never alberated to anyone about his life in the army, but there is a mention in his life story about how he, went back to the public house where the land lady had befriended him. after made it in the big wide world, and would buy every one in the pub a drink.
When he failed to pay the first time he ordered another drink for every one when he was told that he would have to pay for the first before the second arrived.
He shouted out, Dont you know who I am.
I doubt the republicans, would known of his history.in the tans, his reception would have been different, I guess,
Back in Brum he was quick to meet up with the old gang, who were making there way on racecourses, under the control of Bill Kimber, this was the period of Racecourse gangs,
Kimber and Towie, ruled the outside rings of the british racecourses with a rod of iron, only a fierce momb in Uttoxeter, and the Leeds mafia, were any threat. to them.
William was no fool although he was a Big Lad he also had a great brain, and he was an expert zoomer.
The word zoom, came from SUM. and was the ability of counting numbers, very fast, that was the bench mark neaded by a would be Bookmaker, clerk or tick tack.
At a very early age William Hill was betting outside at a few midland racecourses, his best friend, Joe Tittle and equal partner, was the clerk.
There was a rumiour that Joe made an error in his clerking that day and they were a few hundred pounds short of there pay out, close friends of Williams were more on the side, of the Bookmaker, claiming it was just an error,even so they welched, or if you are more kind, they were short of there payout. what ever your beliefs, on the matter they didnt pay and didnt bet outside again. for a few years.
William dint have to as he got married and moved to london. in the big leage. of flaps, at first then at the new greyhound world that was taking Bookmaking by storm.
I am led to beleave that the misfortunate event at Wolverhampton was the making of William, there would be no more fiddling about in a cheap enclosure.
What I do believe is that William realised that you had to be in good pitches, and if it meant bunging the Kimbers, or the new kid on the bloc, the Sabini,s to get a good pitch then so be it.
What ever happened the attendance books, owned by the Midland Bookmakers Association. show massive advancement, on the rails, for William Hill from 1940s to 50s were William can be seen to be right up the top of the lists, in fact in front of his friend and past mentor, Jackie Woolf.
His jump from Flaps to Dogs, then Northolt Park the time between 1930 to 1939. was tremendous for William.
How he had made the great jump from, a disapearing act, at Wolver Silver, to the bigest racecourse Bookmaker in the land in less than 8 years I will never know, what is known is the fact that Hill. was a bully, perhaps from his Black and Tan, his temper was like thunder, to staff and any punter who didnt behave, as Hill thought he should, soon received a volly of abuse,some blaim the Black and Tan, some blaim it on to his wife, who was as bossy, to him as he was to the rest of the world.
Her name was Daisey and all his friends, knew her as the “COW” when he made money, he gave her her head and was she flash. no one wanted to sit at the table of any of the functions, Bookmakers would hold at the time.
Only Joe Tittle and his wife would sit next to them, that was odd as Littles wife Mona, was a brilliant. foil. The cow would moo, and Mona would moan.
So good, had William become in the field of on ourse Bookmaking it was a joy just to watch him operate, although if he saw anyone hanging around his joint. they would get short shift.
It was not long before he ruled the Betting world, from any were south to as high as York.
Many of the leading jockeys were close friends and he used that frendship to great affect when shaping his anti post Call over Markets, it wasnt long before William was handling many of the leading pro,s buisness,
In 1945 Hill was given a commission by his trainer, Norman Scobie, on behalf of the horses owner and Wiltshire farmer John Read.
The instruction was for £600 Eachway Vilmorin, at Williams Discretion…
After the race William told the couple that he had made a decision to place it at Starting Price, and had carried out a very clever, Knock Out.the return price being 25/1.
Every one knew that William handled the stables wagers so when William called the price out at first 10/1 then 16/1 and then 25/1 no one wanted to back the horses, with the skill of a great Bookmaker William watched the market, carefully.
Releasing just the right amount without tipping the ballance and shortening the odds.
It was a careful coup and all the experts in the game would have excepted Hills discison.
However the Australian Trainer Scobie and the owner were not satisfied and took William Hill, to tattersalls, Commmittee. for a ruling.
By now the integrity of William Hill was complete and the learned committee found in his favour.
Although it was a complete shock to the industry,
As the Winner and losers walked to there taxie, a confrontation took place between the two Scobie and Hill.
William would never suffer fools gladly, and the Bullie came out of him yet again.
he called the trainer a Ponce. and an Australian Bush-ranger.
After a heated case, once again William Hill won the day, but showed yet again a little of his Brummie day, beginings.
there was no stopping Hill, he now showed his ability of promoting soccer, betting. he built an amazing turnover his soccer fixed odds coupens worried Littlewoods, and Vernons to death, it was only Government who imposed a 33% tax on this new upstart service that saved the day for the Coupens.
This caused the end of fixed odds soccer until its rebound a few years ago.
William was King of Gambling however a simple bet for him, created a scandle that has been hiden for many years until Vincent Obrean the industrys greatest Trainer lifted the lid on what occured.
Owner Raymond Guest had opened an account with William Hill. years before but hadnt had that many bets, the reason he explained to William at a function one day,
It wouldnt look good for a USA Ambassador Gambling. would it.
William smiled and stated that his account was as safe as his medical report was with his doctor.
After a few wagers not always succesful Mr Guest, purchased a great horse called Sir Ivor.
One evening, Raymond and his friend, Abe Hewitt, who both loved a small wager, received a telephone call from Vincent In Ireland.
“Raymond the horse is flying have you had a little wager, yet,
Whislt having a great meal and drink, the two got dreaming about Sir Ivor winning the Derby this being every owners great dream, and not one that is ussualy fulfilled.
Come on Raymond lets trace your Bookie down and have a bet, said Hewitt, they should be up. at this time, of the night.
A phone call to Hills Head Office was no good as Raymonds wagers were to go through to Hill direct, and the Gaffer was on a yacht, in Deauville.
Williams secretary got through to the great man, and the conversation. began.
“William, I wish to back my Horse to win the Derby next year.
William still as arragant as normal.
What horse, have you purchased one of those Obrien Flying machines.
William Hill knew alright what the horse was and had no right to act like a Wolverhampton welcher.
After all he was the bigest Bookmaker in the world.

No one will ever know why he offered 100/1 when his own list showed Sir Ivor at only 50/1.
How Much Raymond,
£500 Eachway, William.
The bet was struck, and the Americans carried on there meal.and later a dream.
William waisted no time in sorting out is form book even though he was in company., just to see if he had layed a stooge. or not,

4th on Irish Derby day, that dont seem Derby form, to me he thought,
Something hit Hill. right were it neaded to, his fat bellie, not far from his pocket.
He knew at once that Vincent Obrien and his team had got another over on him. he didnt know for certain, he just had a gut feeling.
Bally Moss, Gladness, and Larkspur, had all been bad losers for the William Hill team he now smelt another.in the pipe line.
A quick phone call to a friend, with the hope to put his mind at rest.
What price is Sir Ivor for the Derby. Jack.
33/1 William. but no interest.yet.
Was the great man slipping. how had he let the American Ambasador, get through his ribs, he was gutted.
Something told him that he had layed well over the odds.
Most great Bookmakers would have been on the phone. asking the owner if he wanted some 40/1 to go with the first bet, another £500 perhaps. making the bet, £1000 @ 70/1.

What did William Hill do.
He made an error, that has been kept secret until Vincent wrote his official biography.
William Hill the great, telephoned the USA ambasador, to Ireland. Raymond Guest, a gentleman.
And told him that unless he halved the stake, on his voucher, to £250 Win only.

He would publish the wager in the Sporting LIfe. perhaps the American public would be interested in your Gambling, Hill gloated.

Raymond was dumfounded,but he did what only a genteman would do and placed the telephone down.
I am not sure why On the Day that people dream off, Winning the Derby. Raymond Guest had prior attendance. or was he scared that William would cause him trouble on Derby Day in front of the Queen. .
However Raymond could not have attended the Derby as he had to
Go and plant a tree for the Kennedy Park Arboretum, in Co Wexford.
At the memorium Mr Guest with tears in his eyes said
“I want to thank my Trainer, Mr Vincent Obrien, Lester Piggott and last but not least the Giver of all Good Things, ”
I wish I had been there I would have shouted out.

What about William Hill.

One day at some racing function Vincent who had caused many a head acke for William during his life, bumped into each other,
William still smarting over many great winners during the years closed to the greatest trainer and whispered I have made only a few mistakes in my time, but the worst was when I had you in my sites,
during the troubles, and I was in the Tans.
I wish I had let fly.

A gentleman to the death was William Hill. a great bookmaker no doubt. but there the history lies.

Cubone.

I am sorry to report that Bookmaking at Fixed odds, in the United Kingdome is on its last legs.
The Internet Industry that was heralded as the new way of Betting is finished.
Certainly for those who like to gamble on British Horseracing. it is.
It was always dificult, to get any wager on if you were succesful. and that doesnt have to mean, that you are showing a massive profit. on your bets.
Alex Bird the manchester pro gambler from the period 1940/1965.used to have 100 agents getting his bets, on.
Even Alex used to get his ticket on a regular accurance, followed by a “Dear John” letter.
However since the inovation of internet, run by a computor, you dont even get that letter, to explain, that your busness is no longer required.
No all you get is a silly offer, for the wager requested, the Firm hoping that you willl get fed up of being messed about so much with silly offers that you just throw there telephone number. away.
A while ago I noticed that this firm were offering 9/2 a horse that I fancied.

Up it came name of the Horse, Time of Race, its price and its, terms.

Tommy Trinder. 2.30 at Ayr, price 9/2 place terms 1/5 1.2.3. places. 11 runners Handicap.

You fill in the blocks, £20 Eachway, @ 9/2 and up will come the offer,
Max of £1.25 pence. win or eachway. @ 9/2
Take it or leave it.
The firm who offered this bet, are the same firm who in 1946, layed bets, for the Derby of £500 Eachway at 25/1 Airborne. several times.
Taking into consideration the raise in cost of living lets say that a £1 is now valued at 20th of its pre war value. so a £500 bet would be like a £10,000 bet now.

So how is it a Bookmaker known or thought to be the countries Bigest, can only offer, a bet of £1,25.
and still leave you up as a client of there,s.
Simple,,, bets are not offered by a trader or manager, but you, yourself have your bets monitored by a computor.
This computor will receive the request from you and will re-negotiate the request, based on the limits imposed by that computor.
I would have thought that it was better for the firm, to just remove you off there customer base, why would you want this man, telling all his palls. of the offer you have made. and relaying to all in his company, the disgracefull service now being offered.

Could it be that this firm have never been a good firm, so perhaps there history. should be told warts and all so the UK Punters can come to a conclusion if they should bet with this firm. or change to a better one.

This History of William Hill. told by Cubone will commence this evening at 9.0

William Hill Part 1. (William as a Youth”

Cubone.