Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

All through my life I have looked for different meanings to quotes, or sayings those who read my blog will I am sure reaise that I beleave that Life after Death is not that we will come back to find my mother and father in the Detached Cottage that they always dreamed about, or to find my great grandmother on X Factor showing just how good a singer she was but never had the chance to show it.
I beleave that we ourselves are the passer of Life After Death in the good things that were passed on to me, by my parents. and those are to be passed on to my kids and grand kids.from me.
However life changes and some of the good ideas may not be appropriate in a changing world.
Watch your P,s and Q,ms. was always drummed into me, from birth,
I never did quite understood at the time what it meant, but got the gist as to the meaning,over time,
I was to behave myself.
Good manors, polite, helpful, all the things that would make me a better person.
Over the years I have tried ever so much to follow my mothers, doctrine.
If anyone spoke to me I would answer in a friendly manour, and listen to what they were saying.
When on holiday in Tenerife, in the 70s, my mother would have been shocked when a Time Share pest, stopped me on the street corner and wouldnt let go until I agreed to go with her to the head office to be pestered. some more.
I quickly realised that the only way I would be lleft alone, was to use a trick passed on to me later in life by an old Fagen Type. years before.
If ever in trouble and you want to be left alone he would say just pretend you are Deaf and Dumb.
By placing your finger in your right ear and move it to your mouth
The sign will convince any one that you are are lacking in speach and hearing this will save you from many dangers.
Giving you the upper hand in the confrontation.
It was quite funny to hear the two Time Share grafters, discussing what I had shown them and what it ment.
The one said to the other “Dont waist your time with him, hes a Mute”
A week later when I was singing in the hotel Karioki Bar, I was confronted with a team of the pests, on a night out. I have never heard so much laughter, until an uncle of mine talked his vicar to playing
WMCA at his funeral. a few years later.
Other tests, for me came in the 60s when I was a driver of my first car, every time anyone overtook me, I just had to over take them, it was as if my brain just switched into the overdrive to what I had been taught.
I will never forget the day I was passed by a Mini the first time I had seen one.
He shot up the inside of my car, causing me to break hard I passed it on the outside giving the driver a tick tack sign for a masterbation.
It was as if I had stolen a joint of meat off a lion he was attemting to force me off the road it was the first Road Rage I had come across.
Never a coward, I beacond for him to pull over so that I could slap him in the face with my soft leather driving gloves.
I was out first and walked up to the mini. so that we could discuss the matter like two gentlemen.
As the door to the mini opened and a leg got out I quicly realised that the leg was of a 6f x 6inch giant. how on earth did he get in the pygmies motorcar I will never know.
Back in my car in a flash I thought what my mother would advise in the circumstance, deaf and dumb language would certanly not have worked. I managed to escape certain death. or thats what it seemed like at the time.
Over the past 10 years I have come up against a few moments that have also taxed my beliefs.
On a tube, in London I was quick to give up my seat, to a pregnat women when a man in his 40,s dived into the space pushing the women, aside, in the process.
Instead of the women being distraught she seemd more ill at ease with me for giving her the seat in the first place. what was I after breast feading perhaps.
Another one were I cant help myself, being tested, is when I get to a door before someone else and open it for them to pass before I move through.
There was a time when 100% of peopel would say Thank You. when I was young I was pleased with the “Thank you young lad I bet your mother is proud of you”
Not anymore.
They walk past as if I am the Door man at some second class hotel.
I just have to comment.
“Do you think I am a Doormen” or ” I take tips you Know?”
Over the past few year I have realised that life has changed and not for the better,
No passing on of Life,s best thoughts, in many cases.
A while ago I decided to go for a little walk it was a lovely night and as I walked towards an underpass I was confronted by, 4 young boys about 14/16 and they were out Trick or Treating. however they hadn’t even coloured there faces,
Always a great tipper or good apple when ever a group knocked on my door, for Xmas Carols. I was most polite with.
“Sorry Lads I am out exersizing and have nothing in my pockets,” I was just about to say.
Call at number 8 in the next road and I will find you something.
When the leader of the pack a snoty nosed lout shouted.
“You nead exersize you Big fat xxxx ”
I went into my olld Head Master mode from my school days and was about to mump his head together when
a Hault sign came across my brain. it was for the Sign to get me out of this MOM.
I had to think quickly, “follow me to my home in the nxt drive pointing to a house in the wrong direction my my own, I added.
“And I will see if my Son Chief Inspector, of Police has some change.for you”
Over the past 2 years I have been thinking a lot about dangers in the home, and have placed a few security gadgets, in case of emergancy.
What would I do, I quite often think..
For sure I will not be caught out completly if my house was broken into, by a team of villans ready to harm me and my wife if not happy with what the were after.
I have a dog, like the rest of the family she has impecable manours, and loves children, however he is a Stafordshire Bull Terrier. working on the assunption that any team of chancer,s who may decide to take a pot luck. on the hope that there is something worth while in my house, they could decide that without a gaurantee of finding cash, in the attic, they may as well leave the house with the bull for later.
A few years ago I was about to do some betting for a friend who had a good idea, to beat the High Street Bookmakers from some of there cash flow
All legal and above board it was a very clever plan.and it worked.
the problem was that you neaded to get larger stakes on than normal.
bets of £500 pounds if possible and that was difficult unless in the City Centre. the plan was based upon small % but gauranteed winnings at least 7% on turnover was expected.
Although in my 3 score and ten, period . I was not scared of mixing in the City Centre. although I knew that many emegrants. frequanted the shops, and I would be mixing with some very poor, and sad type
I would ask shop managers if I could lodge £1000 and bet up to the amount, this was in fact giving me the opportunity to creat no nead to be seen passing cash over the counter, to often, could always collect any winnings the next day ussually in the morning when the shops were empty of custom.
During one days trading, I was betting in large stakes, and I had run out of funds but still had many winning tickets to cash in.
The shop was full. and I had to collect two amounts a £850 and a £1210.
I collected the cash and quickly moved to the toilet area, because I couldnt stay counting the money at the till.
In the toilet I had to place the money back in 4 blocks of £500 Each for easy betting.
As I counted the first £500 I placed it on a toilet role holder with an elastic band arround the cash.
As I reached to transfer it alongside the rest in my pockets It droped to the floor.
As I attempted to guid it with my foot I accidently kicked it under the next cubicle,
Falling to my knees I put my right foot under the space between the two cubicles hooking it back into mine
Not before seeing two large knees, with throusers around the ankles.
Out of the toilet in a flash. and into a seat in the corner of the office.
A few seconds later the tiolet doors opened and a roaring bull of a man, came rushing into the shop
he never said a word but looked at every punter as if to guess which one had stolen the money that he had found between his legs.
I didnt know wether to laugh or cry,
I often think what the punter an Irish man, at a guess, was thinking if he had placed a request to his god,
Please let me win some money, and in a flash there was his request on his lap.
Only to be stolen away in a second flash. thats enough to create a non beleaver all right.
Although I had some great after dinner tales, to tell about the time I was not foolish enough to see that it was dangerous work.
So although the profits were very good I decided that Internet betting was the answer and not cash.
A further worry came about when as I was stroling through the city centre there was a pull on my gold chain arround my kneck. quite a thick one from the 60s it left a very wide bruse were it was yanked.
Luckily I held its strenth and didnt break
That plus all other jewellery were removed in any trip to the second city in future there is never any nead to show Bling in a high street. not with a crowd of strangers, hovering about.
Reading the Sun the other day, was very woried to hear that a busnesman who was attacked. in his home and told he would be killed if he didnt open up his safe for the house breaker.
When he told the villan that he dint have a safe he was stabbed in the fight that pursued he managed to get the knife off the perpetrator and fight back gaining the upper hand he hit the man on the head with a cricket bat giving him brain damage.
With the verdict anouncement that the thief who broke into the mans house was only a minor event compared with the GBH caused by the man in his own home I became worried.
When I read that he was sent to prison I gave the subject further thought and decided that if my wife and grand children who stay over at least once a week were in mortal danger I would have to take the chance of being imprisoned in there protection. and would be happy to do so.
There was a plan to purchase a Stun Gun or even a Tazer placed in a very secure place for extraordinary circumstance. discussing the mater with my legal advisor I was talked out of it. although being a would be outstanding cook I am aloud to carry a pocket full of ordinary pepper.

So all I can say that if Life after Death is in fact meeting my past loved ones personally I will certainly have a lot to explain.
I guess they will not beleave me when I say I had to tamper a little with there rules, but I know they will forgive me after a while.

Cubone.

One of the most difficult things in life is to keep a secret, the reason in most cases is we all like to brag, it is no use inventing a bloc buster without doing up, all those who over the years have told you, that you are useless. and could never find an original thought even if it bit you in the arse.
What is the reason for purchasing a Lamborghini. with your last £250,000 simply you like to shout load and clear, Ive arrived, and even if you have to sell it again 2 years later, you cant take the sight, of the faces of your so called friends out of your memory bank. when you roared off, down the little lane were you were born.
Why do people purchase paintings, that actually, look crap. it is not because they love every morning to gaze at the 5 million £ canvas. no its because the people who come to party,s that he holds at his mansion, treat him as if he is a god for owning such an expensive painting.
When I was a young lad, in Birmingham, I used to love to take a new girl friend, out to the Plow and Arrow off the Hagley Road, and order, a steak “Diana” not because I liked that particular steak or even the “Sauce” no it was because it was the only time you got the Head Waiter to cook it for you at your table and when he Flam Baid, it, in Brandy, every one in the Restraint also knew you were in town, and if that wasnt good enough for you to secure your leg over then nothing would.
Even when playing Chemi (Baccarat) in a top Casino. it was “Flash” to go Banco when no one else was willing to do so. for that second all eyes were on you.
Why do a certain class wear BLING. so over the top. that it looks silly.
Its not a new fashion to wear jewelry. it has always been a calling card. for the wealthy, not sufficient to be wealthy, unless you show every one that you are.
To sit at home in a cold flat with £200,000 in the fridge placed in the freezer block inside a box originally used for a pair of kippers. and don’t have the heater on so as to save money. is not clever, unless you believe that you and your readies, will creep between an eye of a needle. and have no faith in the saying
“You cant take it with you”
Even many of the Rich, who have had there come upence, in the last few years, having to sell there wives, tiaras, but not before replacing them with Zircons and paste.
No one knows the difference, in fact if you wear classically well made cloths, no one will guess that the jewelry is not authentic.
It is an art, to look classy, and you could dress, some of the soccer stars, and there wives, until you run out of time and they would still look like, they are going to a fancy dress ball.
The 49 £Million Lottery winner will find within, less than a year that he has made the biggest mistake, in his life by claiming publicity, for the win, never before in history has it been so imperative, to keep that win a secret.
Secrecy has always been the best policy. and in gambling, you should be as secret, as the 35 year Act of Parliament that allows non of us to know what secrets transpire day to day,the reason for the statute, “Secrecy Act” is that the Law Lords know that every one is a blabber mouth at heart.
Barnes Wallis, who invented this winner in 1941, was not original in fact he had read of the Cannon balls that were shot into water to gain an extra 50% in distance in a 19th century.Book. Why did it take so long to realize the possibilities, it was an act of Parliament.
Why 35 years, that is stretching it a bit far, but in Gambling, many people survive by picking peoples brains, after a plan, had been hatched but not yet laid.
A great tale once told to me by one of the Midlands real great Bookmakers Graham Green, Born in the slums of Birmingham, he never told a lye but on the other hand, would add a colourful. amount of answers that when you weighed them up you realized that he hadn’t answered the question that you asked him
When people would ask him how he had gone at the races, financially, when making a book, not like some who would embellish, the answer, so as to appear cleverer than they actually were, Graham knew this so he believed that it was stupid answering such a question when you never got the truth.
So what he did was make up 3 differing, replies, so that although he wasn’t actually telling an untruth, he wasn’t telling the truth neither.
Ive done my Bollox, , was answer No1, My Boots no 2 was reference to the high healed Boots that Bookmakers in the early 1800s wore so that they could be seen in tattersalls, this was before stools were allowed.
No 3 and a serious set back was when GG. stated that he had done the “Crown Jewell’s.
Never one to elaborate, in the 1950,s Graham was at the back of all the major racecourses, being in his late 20s. and a spitting image of Elvis Preasley. the KING, of Rock.
One day, an elderly, but still very attractive women, approached him, at his pitch, and in a very quite voice asked if she could speak to him for a moment.
She asked if he would take her bets, and give her the best odds.
When she offered up a £5.00 he got off his stool and shook her hand warmly.
Of course Madam, what ever you want, I will give you the very best price in the ring.
With a squeeze of his hand, the women, departed, not before she told him to call her Dorothy.
During the next, 5 years, she had several bets, majority of them winning, not even Grahams staff knew who she was, and it was not until his 65 Birthday party that I attended, that he told me about the secret,
The day that “Dorothy” placed her first bet with him, he knew that she was no ordinary little punter although a £5 in 1950 would be equivalent to say £50 now, it was the way that the first horse ran, and of course it didn’t nead the brains of Sir Winston Churchill to know that all the bets were from on purticulat stable.
He told me that a few weeks after there meeting, he noticed, Dorothy with her Trainer, in the parade ring at Birmingham. Bromford Bridge racecourse the trainer was non other than the hotest Gambler in the land, Ryan Price.
He was one of the most secretive of trainers who ever placed a saddle on a horse, his policy was “Never let your left hand know what your right was doing”
As he approached the couple, Dorothy ignored the Bookmaker, and Graham did the same, but both smiling to each other as if to say, “Our bets are our little secret”
Dorothy of course was Mrs Ryan Price the the wife of the Findon Wizard.
How much did Graham won by following Dorothy s bets, he never said.
It was nothing but fate that Graham got the secrets, from the right hand of The Wizard all right.
The most secretive set of Gamblers in history were known as the Hermits, of Salisbury Plains,
It was in 1903 when a trio of owners, grouped together, fed up of having there plots unearthed, by the Bookmakers secret service,
Ex Public School Boy and Financier Percy Cunliffe headed the group. so secretive was the team that they gave the training to an Irishman, Fallon, who was told to only employ Catholics, and Cuncliffe built a training establishment, called Druids Lodge this was hidden from any main road, and the local Vicar would test the honesty of all the work riders, to see that they were truthful and would keep secrets, although all even the stable lads and work riders never knew much, as even the trial jockeys never knew what weight the horses were carrying. even Fallon was was never told, during the period that the Hermits won every large Handicap. going mostly at very large prices,
Even the stakes were secretly given to the a Birmingham Station Master and 100s of agents, were then used to stake the coups.
All the other real secrets however during the history of the Sport of Kings, all broke down by the failure to keep that simple ingredient, Secrecy.
The Dagenham Coup two many Cooks spoilt the broth,, the Cutting of the Telephones for the Bath Ringer called Francasell, was scuppered by a Frenchman who didn’t speak a word of English. telling a complete stranger that the real horse was a French champion.
So what about today is it any easier to keep a secret than ever before.
Unlike in the 40s all Big gambles had to go through the Big Bookmakers of Hills and Ladbrokes, there Anti Post markets, were amazing betting in equivalent to £millions in today’s amounts,
In 1940s William Hill. hatched a plot were he trusted only one person, and that was himslef.
By placing horses with all the main trainers in the land. William had then swear to secrecy. that when a horse was to be taken out of a major Events like the the classics, of the major Handicaps. he demanded 1 weeks notice this allowed him a massive advantage, when shaping his books.
In 1947 William Hill was discussing the 2000s Gns about to be run at Newmarket with Fred Darling the great trainer, the Bookmaker was told that Tudor Minstrel the trainers runner was a certainty. in fact Fred was confidant that he would win the Derby as well as the 2000gns.
William was shocked when told that the horse that would win the Blue Ribond at Epsom was not the same horse as the one that would win the 2000gns.
William arranged to meet Trainer Darling, later that evening, to discuss, business.
William was a great judge of Breading and held great beliefs about the nead to stay the 1, 1/2 miles at Epsom and raised the thought that although Tudor Minstrel was a very fast horse and the greatest miler, in the country at the time.
When he was told that in the stable Blue Train. was slaughtering Minstrel at all distances over 1 mile.
William Hill went into overdrive “SECRECY” was going to be worth millions, and Darling was told what was expected of him.
Although the weeks up to the 2000gns there was only one horse being supported, massive bets were taken.
William was in the front of the ring, but a very funny evnt was taking place.
Although Tudor Minstrel was on every ones mind Hill was also offering a very good price, for the double
2000gns and Derby usually when the same horse is backed for the double the odds are always cramped.
But in this case with Tudor Minstrel at 11/8 the great Brummie Bookmaker was peppering the same horse at 8/1 for the Derby this price was unbelievably good to good some may say.
After the race (2000gns)
William went into over drive offering 6/4 for the DERBY.
He was almost knocked over in the crush.
However like all good plots and secrets, there can be a Fly in the Honey that can cause problems
This was when a telegram arrived at the Bookmakers Office,
“Will nead to see you as soon as possible. Fred Darling”.
The news was bad alright Blue Train had gone wrong and would never race again.
What William did was what only great Bookmakers do, and that was to pepper the horse at the lower price, therefore increasing his liability but at the same time decreasing the actual odds layed.
History Books, show that William Hill a Bookmaker and judge of breading has told all who listened that the Favorite, Tudor Minstrell would never stay the 1.1/2 mile at Epsom, but that was Poppy Cock as it was by Owen Tudor the winner of the derby and the Ascot Gold Cup.
Of course he couldn’t divulge the Secret why he peppered Tudor Minstrel.
After the derby were Tudor Minsrel finished 4th, William was seen as a clever dick, but no one has ever mentioned Blue Train.
In the 60 year since there is something that has taken place to tern the Industry on its head as far as secrecy is concerned.
When a gamble begins, the only way that it can succeed, is by no one knowing the truth, well as few as possible. at least.
A bit like the dying words of a famous Irish trainer, who whilst lying on his bed awaiting to meet his maker, he called his head lad into the bedroom.
” today, I want you to place £1000 on our horse after it has won, take the winnings and give it to my wife as I will be gone you can have 10% of the winnings.”
The head lad, who had never conduct a stable wager, asked the Trainer if he thought it would win and what price did he expect”

The trainer said, ” If I was handling the wager myself I could answer both questions,
But that was when only one person, knew about the Gamble but now there are two”

Never before has Secrecy been so important.
Unlike the Stable lads at Druids Lodge, who were locked up. in a fort like, establishment.
Today’s Stables have dozens of Lads and Lassies, Secretaries, Vets, never mind the Jockeys there relations, and not of course forgetting trainers wives.
Every one has a Computer, and as Betfair commence, trading at 8.30 the day before it only needs a fast little fat finger, taking a big price, even before any plan is contemplated and the cats out of the bag.

However there is one thing available to the new breed of Racing Owner, trainer, or even jockey,s who love a Gamble and although a little unlawful. I doubt that many would take much notice, of that fact
No nead for just the trainer and his Bookmaker to handle the commission. now.

The other day a Gamble was ready planned and the pistol was cocked,
For 6 months this plan was ready for a £500,000 plot,
the horse had been tried a certainty,
at least a proverbial Stone in hand,
The price that they wanted was double figures. at least.
No one was told the time or the place, but of course many knew the name of the Horse,
No one touched the Exchange markets, and by the time that the market began to form, the horse was on offer at 20 plus, a dozen account owners on the internet, were primed and ready for a calculated plot.
The time was set for 10.30. at 10.25 a few foolish, players, began to take a little dabble on the Exchange markets prpbably thinking that they had got there stake on in the internet. the 28/1 for £37. was taken leaving no more than coppers left. at any real worthwhile price.

On the internet the market price had collapsed 50% and still the plotters had no more than 10% of there planned stake. placed.
Sitting there in the Bunker. it must have been disastrous to see there plan, in ruins.
Lucky for the plotters they had a brains behind the coup.

It is not my duty to whistle blow, but the amount, placed was soon recovered, by changing there hat from Punter to Layer,
This of course was never available to the planners from past years,
I do feel a little sorry for those not in the plan originally, but whilst at school as a lad I knew that any one caught copying always finished up wearing a dunces cap. in the corner of the class room. and they were lucky for 20 years before, they would have been told to take down there trousers,

Never mind there is always another day, so carry on keeping a secret. it is always the best policy.

Cubone

In the 1960,s there were many greyhound tracks all over the country. but also we had some great FLAPS and although the GRA looked at them with distaste many were run on a par if not better than the officual tracks were.

Joe Booth a great trainer and at his peak, had entered on of his well known puppies, in a heats and final for dogs not yet 2 years.

The dog a strapping pup. black as the ace of spades, was offered at a very restrictive price even before the heats commenced
Joe entered the pup himself, and was suprised (or thats what he said) when it sailed thriugh into the semi without breaking sweat
Now at odds on he broke the track record that had been in place since the 50s.
The Bookmakers at the track were not pleased, by being restrictive they had in fact taken more liability than they would normally. for one of Joes, punts.
As Joe turned up for the final. and with a large crowd in place the track Owner/steward took Joe on one side and told him that there had been an enquiry, about the dog he had entered,
“This is not the dog that has run the heats,”
Joe very quitly, stated that it certainly was, but after he realsed that the dog was about to be disqaulifiued.
he took the track manager by the hand and walked ti the car park were Joes white van, was parked.

Opening the back to reveal 2 Dogs and a Bitch all fast asleep.
Joe explained that he had entered on of the dogs from this 1958 litter and could he decided whicj puppie had run the heats.
Joe knew that he was in a predicament, but also was the track. they had obviosly been prompted by the track Bookmakers to get them out of of a large financial hole..
Believing that to take the dog that Joe had take into the parade ring, for the final out of the rquation then the payout would be safe.
When the tracks customers, who had supported the Booth dog in the heats, also put preasure on the track, to concede at least a runner.
As betting commenced. the 2/5 that would have been the original price was ignored, as some of the better runners were supported.
a few minutes before the start,
and Booths runner now 6/4 there was an almighty plunge. removing all prices on offer until as the hare commenced not a price was visible.
Placed in the same trap 6 as the original runner, the one chosen by the tracks management.
Flew out leading all the way and recording a time better than the track record smashed by his brother now fast asleep in Joe.s Van. had in the semi.
Told the tale by Geoff De,Mulder I hope that it was true but even if not it did show the type of esteem
That Joe Booth was held in.
A great trainer at all track not just flaps. many believed Joe to have been the greatest in the history of the game.

Don Butler.