Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

At 9.30 this morning I had an appointment at my asthma clinic to evaluate my inhalers. no great problem lovely Asian nurse really understanding.
I explained that I was having, problems some night breathing, and could feel a build up of mucus.
She said a funny thing considering that my doctor had been filling me with a basket full of pills for 15 years.
It was is she knew something that no one else did or if they did they didnt want to tell me because there was no money in it.for them.
All you nead is WATER.
If you think about it, water is the cheapest thing we have on the planet and is something we cant do without and yet most of us hate to drink, it, and it is almost FREE.
As I drove back home my mind was spinning not about my health but about a question that a punter asked me the other night, and it was why do bookmakers refuse bets,?
And what is the most dangerous problem for a gambler.?
Straigtht away the word CHASE came into my mind, the biggest danger for any punter is to chase his loses.
Whist debating that I should write tonight about the topic, a car on my outside, came across with no warning and shot straight up a side road. all I had chance to do was flash my light and blast my horn.
As he moved over in responce to my rage he gave my a two finger sallute, as if to say.
Ok so I almost killed you but so what fuck you.
Although I had celebrated my 73rd Birhday only the day before i was fuming and shot up the side road after him.
At the top of the road by a junction, I eye balled him with a scowell.
At that moment a cold realisation came over me, what I had done was stupid.
The door to the car opened and out came the driver, perhaps 6. ft tall although for a moment he looked 8ft.
He was smirking and one look into his eyes, I could see he was still overcoming a cracking night he had had the night before,
In a second I had to evaluate what I ment my Cracking. was it a great night drinking that he had still not fully recovered from
Was if a Crac night with a load of fellow Irishman,
Or was the Crack, something more sinister, one look in his eyes, was enough for me to wish I was still with my Asian nurse blowing in here little machine.
I was in trouble. all right my attempt at a road rage was about to create a dangerous precedent.
As I stood there awaiting his move, in instinct, I began to use deaf and dumb sign language, that I hadnt used for 30 years. at that time it was to stop some time share operator from collaring me. all I had to hope was the he wasnt Deaf and Dumb.
Well at least Deaf as I already knew he was Dumb.

I was doing mouth and hand signs not in an agressive manour but more of an oppology.
He looked at me began to laugh got back in his car and drove away.
What a fool I was to even attempt to engage a complete strainger in an argument.
All I can do to finish this debate is convince all my readers that the streets are no longer safe, in fact they are dangerous, to the extream.
With millions of people unemployed and struggling to servive they have no were to turn to, other than a drug to hide from reality and that leaves them with nothing but anger.
I should have known better and apologise for belittling any one who relys on sign langauge to get by.

But please instill in all your children to be careful. and count to 10 before you react to impulse.

That brings me to what I was thinking about when I was almost taken off the road.

When a punter bets with a Bookmaker the Bookmaker will within 1 week now how much he will take off that punter by the end of the year
How does he do it simply by watching how he bets.
If he best one or twice a day, then miss,s two days before betting again. he is a punter but not the real type bookmakers want.
If you are a UK Gambler you will have noticed all the FREE bets that Bookmakers are offering new customers, at present anything from £50 to £200.
A promotion like that you may feel is expensive tom the Bookmaker, however if they finish up with 10% of CHASERS, these being punters who just place a bet and then lose complete control of there emotions, betting like a maniac usually over the last few races, these race known as The Getting out Stakes, shows a real mug punter, one who will cause so much unhappyness for his Kids and Family that he shouldn’t bet ever.
I will now let you into a little trade secret have you noticed over the past 10 years the last races on the day that used to be non handicaps the race type were the punter has a little more chance, has been replaced with the hardest race of the day.
Any compulsion is bad, but compulsion in gambling is the most dangerous and expensive you will ever come across.

You must remember that Gambling is a Hoby but in the case of all other Hobies, they have an expence that you can afford or not.
For example spending to much playing golf, can be a problem, but I cant see how you could, lose you home, and the rooms that your children live in, by playing to much golf, unless you are Gambling, with a better golfer than you.

It saddens me to realize that many kids who have nothing before they start. Gamble on something they dont understand. in the first place.

Here endeth the Storie from the Good Book. of Life.

Cubone.

A Tissue is a Forecast of how the betting will open up prepared by Bookmakers, or a professional assessor.
It is not a divine art, it is a balancing act, between offers and acceptance,
In the 1940s the best Tissue Expert was Jack the Judge (Jack Pinder) who would turn up. in a tattersalls ring and have a call over not unlike one taken for the big races Anti Post races.
Almost 50% of the Ring Bookmakers would be his client.
Jack used to bet for about 2% a runner, but what made his prices so good and accurate was that with a big majority of bookmaker in the ring having the tissue it had to be an accurate starter point.
Of course in some races were there were a lot of guessing going on with unknown runners with no form but from big gambling stables there had to be a lttle licence imposed by the leading Bookmakers offering all the horses at restricted prices and a W next to the unknown, runner this not being offered until there was some sort of shape taking place with the remainder of the runners.
I Birmingham there was a Bookmaker who for 20 years dominated the Early offers Rue King was his name, and his Tissue was as accurate as at any time however he did have a little advantage not known by all of the clientle.

before he started offering his service 20 minutes before a race, were he would gaurantee any horse to win £5000 he had already allowed a small (Fiddler) to go up 10 minutes earler, but with a no gaurantee service so after 10 minutes, several of the big prices had been requested, but not necesarly accepted, by the samall Bookmaker called Snuffie Long, what Long lold him was invaluable, saving him from laying 50/1 a 8/1 chance.
What makes a Tissue a very sensitive thing is that not many Bookmakers offer there maximum liability until the market has settled so although, they may start at 120% for a 10 runner race, a very large wager as soon as the Bookmaker opened for business, would be severely restricted.
Also what must be understood is that all bookmakers have a two tierre system where a Great Client who loses £25,000 a year can have what they like within reason.

A good example of both a betting ring from the past and the betfair ring at present the first periods of betting has so lttle liquidity that it is nothing but just an open guide.charade.
Even the top 12 internet Bookmakers who have there own tissue would not go up with there show until at 8.30 Bet365 and Fred Down, have started the days business, no one else would make an offer until those two markets have settled. and they have already used Betfair as a guide,
No big punter can even bother to look at the markets, until 30 minutes, before the off and even later. certainly if he is a £10,000 player. plus,and they do exist, in fact I beleave that 85 % all UK Horserace Betting do not enter the markets until that time.
And that no more than 15 massive Gamblers, enter Betfair at that time. there strength allows them to actually shape the markets to no one else’s benefit than there own.

What must not be ignored is that the betfair market is THE MARKET, in the majority of cases, and its general formation although very minute it will finish up accurate.

In 2007 when FredDone came out with a 1% a runner Tishie I could have told them it it was unsustainable. and would cause them to become introvert refusing any bets other than small, stakes,
This was self defeating as no Tissue could be that accurate, and my records show that they are not.
because of this a new breed of punter evolved known as an Arbur, (most are only price chasers) this caused all the Internet Bookmakers to offer less a service than a leading BOOKMAKER should .
The guaranteed price offers (Although great for a few) is a service to far, only the fact that the starting price system is controllable, allows them to do so.. however stats of which horses drift, would be interesting,the offer is not what it seems, but still costly, Bookmkers still beleave that computor betting still has a long way to go before bottoming out and I agree. so they will offer lmost anything to create there share of the UK Customer base,still untapped.
But one of the costs, is lack of integrity, and confidance between Punter and Bookmaker, many genuine punters who are no more than price watchers, are still restricted like inspired player would have been 50 years ago.
In 1940 there were 25 Bookmakers who would have taken £5000 bets on the telephone I dount there are any Internet Bookmakers who would offer a £1000 bet unless the client was a 5 Star loser.

I would guess that every time a new publicty push by a Bookmaker offering a massive Freeby occurs 90 % of the applications are relations of existing arbers.
But they may feel that 10% new genuine customers is worth the cost.
I can only see in the next 10 years 50% less High Street Bookmakers, and a Unique Internet service, of no more than 5 real strong Bookmakers offering a concession less, service, but to larger max wagers.
The down tern will be a massive Illegal Market like there is still in the USA.
This will be availble by the new breed of computer/mobile phone that will allow every one to have a high street betting shop on there LAP

Cubone

In the UK we have two main TV racing Channels, ATR( Attheraces,) and RUK, and a private service for the Betting Industry called SIS. in the case of the first two they have carved up the 60 racecourses, all in competition, we also have many Bookmakers offering there own Radio, links, to bring there clients all the up today information.as soon as they can.. information being the most important ingrediant in Gambling. from the 1850 to the present day the Bookmakers held the information in a vice like grip.
Taking bets, from punters who knew very little of the market changes Non Runners going changes, jockey alterations. to name a few.
The most dangerous and unfair situation is when the general public beleave that every one is on a level playing field. you and I know that is not the case.
When Betfair the new KID on the block.in 2002., began there punter to punter computer driven services, acting as an agency, for the two clients, spead of information was imperative.
Form 1850 with its Carrie Pigeon result service, through to a 1880 morse code, result service to early 1900 Royal mail telegraphs, then the similar time, (Blower) Telephone, called the Blower for that was the noise the telephone made when a user had to clear the way with a hefty Blow, finally speed of knoledge has changed alarmingly for the Bookmakers, wiith the results and shows being almost Live. however now in many case the punters can receive the information before the Bookmakers this is a very dangeropus developement for the whole of the industry, and in many cases money without work for a few,
When Betfair began to bet, second by sec in running, soccer for example. with this service being so fast, the Word Live should have carried a Health and Wealth WARNING.
The word LIVE game . in many cases was a byword for theft.
The company realised that non of the services were actually live, not even if they were being played in the UK, there were seconds delay and in the new world of in running betting a seconds is a life time.
As soon as live games were being sent over continents, to read in our newspapers Live Coverage,from Holland was a red flag for warning however the majority just did not understand. the implications. of a second delay.
There has always been a sentence that I have relied upon, in all games and services, in Gambling and it is,
“Who Protects us from the protectors.”
We now have a giant Gaming Board, many havent a clue what Gambling is all about it took me 35 years to know the little I know about chicanery, so a public school boy who just happens to know a little. but who probably doesn’t know enough how to wipe his own bottom is not a good situation for the non thinking punters of the world.
Within a few months we had the unatractive situation of teams sitting in the front row of a Tennis Tournements, or walking around, a few yards behind a threesome at golfer, relaying information stroke by stroke.

When a way would shot from the tee, can be seen to be heading into a lake, the UK Gamblers should be wary, but as they don’t know of a possible delay, so what, it could be said that there has never ben a level playing field in Gambling, so we shouldn’t expect one. the alternative is of course just look after your own affairs and do not worry about any one else.
I must say however I do not be leave that, as it only ends up with someone finding a better advantage and then the clever dicks, of the world are in a very dangerous situation themselves because they think have an advantage and they havent,
Trade associations, like Golf have made desperate attempts to take out this obvous chickanary by banning the use of Telephones, this was quickly countered by the Bad Guys with teplephones that are small enough to be in the chanell of ones ear drum,. and undetectable.
A recent game were the players were on the last tee. the error by one player represented for a quick finger strokster a bigger profit than the whole of the Great Train Robbers,put together. without any of the downside of time in her majesties prison.
The clever guys now dont bother to get there hands dirty with guns, and hammers, it has became whiter than white crime.
To counter this the Betting industry introduce a time handicap. of in soccer 5 seconds, delay in bet activation.
But not being confidant that the countrys were the programs are being produced, can be reliad upon is a big problem.
The other day a program producer had a genuine delay of several minutes but forgot to tell his, customers round the world. the reason when asked why he just didn’t realise that people bet second by second. he thought all bets were taken before the start of the game. were has he been for the last 10 years.

The saying that people should look outside the box, has never been so relevant as today.
The reality games of Big Brother, X Factor, will one day, be shown up for the disgracefull Blaize approuch to security, in information, they know that the general public like to bet on the outcome, of these programs, in fact a new stream of Gamblers have been sucked into the Hobbie, by these Fun Games. but not so funny if you are betting against the recent Irish twins, who were kept in, the program much longer than they should by the producers, for Telephone revenue only.
It may have been fun, for the many who cried out NO when the lovely, singer pitched against on a public vote when only the change in policy by Simon Cowell produced a massive result. not from, a fact of life or even ability of the contestants, Simon Cowell, openly states he loves a bet, not I assume or hope on the X factor, it is sometimes unpalatable when the terms of reference as to the rules are blatantly re arranged because it suits the telephone numbers.
Were a lot of gullable gamblers fail is to understand that it is one great money machine with only femails, voting, and there very young children, no male would be so stupid as to telephone a premier rate service (been altered now)
but still costly, just to hope they can shape the result of a pre concieved contest.

Finally on todays rant.
You can see that I have no pop ups, or revenue scource although even a person passed his sell by date, neads to eat a little.

Were I feel there is a niche markets is in Horse-racing service, the period between the racing channels start through to the close. there are many spar moment, were yesterdays produce are shown again, were an interesting slot could be produced the companies, are not prepared to spend money on but the UK racing indiustry is full of great tales from the past and the present.
Why are there scorse of punters going to racecourse, 70 of them going into special private box,s to gain an advantage on the general public, and another 30% who go into the parade rings to evaluate how the horses are prancing there chances away, for some reason or other, this information not relayed to the general public until they see massive market movement against the animal.
Tony Robinson, of Black Adder Fame, has stolen a niche market on subjects you wouldnt think there was an ordiance, for,
We know there would be a market for The Man Who Broke the Bank of Monte Carlo.,, Lord Hastings who lost, 3 Ancestral Homes, and the Curse of Aintee, and so many more that a racing nich market could produce, for coppers.
A final point every day I get scores of comments, telling me how wonderfull my storys are when even an old man like me isnt that Gullible, but has finally realised that realy would like me to help promote there viagra markets,
I dont mind tipsters, locking in. to a tale thats been produced for a little entertainmment ..

Finally.
Any one who can genuinly advise how I can make my Blog more attractive, visually I would be gratefull.
So I can then produce an interesting tale at least once a week. with photos, to improve the contents.

Good Luck

Cubone.

There are days when nothing happens but you know that it is a start of something fresh.
Today I was watching horse racing at Ascot, Haydock Park, and Salisbury, not to mention the sand at Lingfield, sadly in the warmth of my home.
And more sadly my betting was by way of a computer.
Any one watching the fare today would think that Horse-racing is thriving but not so.
The Sport of Kings, (Queens,) is at its lowest ever in my time. 65 years.
However today, I was astounded at an interviuw by c4 ITV between the racing team, headed by Cat and backed by John Macrirrick.
At first I missed who the girl being interviewed was.
Although I soon picked up that she was Victor Chandlers new Public Relations Officer.
The question as to were she had come from to this point in her life, mentioned Modelling, Racehorse Trainer, who had ridden in the Grand National.
That normally would have been a good enough start, but there was something about this lady, that intrigued me and I am sure thousands of other viewers,
She seemed to ooz fun,and that alone has been the one ingredient that has been missing of late.
She never stopped smiling in between her snuffle obviously suffering with a cold.
Not being a Big Mac fan I had missed who she was.
And was hoping that even her first name would once again indicate to me what I required.
Having riden in the national would be a kick start after all I am a Racing Historian.
Well let me see who isnt it.
Charlotte Brew was the first ever rider in the race in 1976 and she got round to the the Last fence saving a £million for the High Street Bookmakers, but that would make her, well no gentleman would guess a lady’s name never mind a heroins.
Geraldine Rees, now she was the first to get round, and I remember her lovely curly hair and great smile and this wasnt Geraldine. in fact I was there and her mount was so far behind every one would have been in the bar, unless they had backed the winner and then they would have been in there Bookmakers que.
This day almost every one waited to see the horse clear the last fence even Bookmakers who had a massive pay out to finish the course cheared it was a unique occasion and one that would do racing a lot of good.
10 others have riden in the race so it wouldnt take me long to find the answer to my question
Linda Sheddy and Joe Carrier.
Val Alder
Jackie Oliver
Gee Armitage
The Lovely Venetia Williams. we see her regular on Tv usually at Cheltenham. and it wasn’t her.
Penny Ffitch Hayes
Tarnia Davies
And the last time was Rosemary Henderson.
Im sure the Irish Girl got round but eve her name alludes me, the on set of alzheimers I guess.
It wasn’t the delightfully Rosemary as she was known as the Galloping Grannie. even though she finished a gallant 5th. and I didnt hear the galic accent.
As I have seen all these Jockeys ride in the race I doubt I ever had a good look owing to there Gum Shield and outsized Helmit.
At a Guess I would say it was Tania but I am not absolute certain.
I do remember her panting like a wilder beast about to be caught by a lion.
She had managed to get to he 5th from home in terrible conditions.she was as brave as all the others before her.
As soon as she spoke however I visulised her as the next Face of Racing. and a women to boot. The Irish have the Crac so we have the SMILE, if that doesn’t increase attendances nothing will.
So let us start with her day job.
PR for Victory Chandler the younger.
Son of a great Bookmaker and an equally great Grandfather. no doubt his customer base will increase from both male and female
The only down turn is that the other Big Bookmakers will be on Ebay buying up all the old gold watches.

Although This women, ozzed fun. her smile was infectios even with the handicap snuffle that showed an on coming cold.
Who ever it is, I hope that Victor Chandler doesnt hope to keep her to himself.

And not only has she almost got round in the National in no time she will know all about odds,
Perhaps she can then convince all in the industry that without gambling there would be no racing without horse-racing there would be plenty for people to bet on and a lot cheaper.
So the first thing Tania even as a Public Relations Officer for the old establish Bookmaker VC, could do would be to establish that racing is to Expensive. and who better than a beautiful girl to convince those in Power.no one can ignore a pretty face.
So I give the award as the first inovator for change in the British Horseracing Industry to Victor Chandler the Younger,
Dont be fooled by his 1930s face over from an ld Pathie News Clip.

So here we go who ever the lady is, racing is on a role. almost 100 years after a women Mrs Helen Vernet bet on the rails at Hurst Park and made Ladbrokes.an innovator.
I beleave that Ascot on the 23rd of June 2010 is a similar day in the life of the British Horse-racing.Industry.

I’ve managed to locate the girl down to a VIKIE HAIGE
The plot thickens as I cannot finder her having ridden in the Grand National but was either a trainer or and in charge.
But that doesn’t take the fact away that she has started a new phenomenon of Beautiful Public Relations Officers,

Eat you Heart out Corals Ladbrokes and Hills, and by the way I have located a Gold Watch on ebay for a £10

Cubone.

It was one of those days you dream of not a cloud in the sky. but not to hot, got my Sporting Life,
decided that I would have a week off from my High Street Betting, shop. this was weather for relaxing.
I was living in our 250 year old Thatched Cottage, and decided that I would go out onto the front lawn and have glass of sherrie.
I was in a great mood having backed Johny Ackerbua the Great Nigerian 400 meter Hurdles Champ.
the wife having finished her shopping brought her coffie on to, the lawn and joined me.
“Do you know Don, that the Battery Farm by Kingston Church Empty all the old hens out and sell them to the Indian Restraunt at Stratford upon Avon,
They are absolutely ruined as they have been forced to lay twice a day instead of once.
There poor inners must be shocking the pain terrible”
I had a feeling that something else was about to be delivered. she had become a Greenie.a few years before, and if I had not put my foot down we would have been in Tibet.causing trouble for the Red Army.
She had once chased the Hunt Master away from our 5 bar gate, even though they had met there every year since 1860. not the same Master may I add.
It is terrible what they do to the old hens.
What a shame Darling I thought there was a lack of white meat in my masala. last time we were there.
“They told me that we can have 50 for 50p each”

50 you know I don’t like Currie that much. anyway.

“No they, said that if we put them in the field at the back of the house they wouldnt eat much but after about a fortnight they would fully recover and there feathers fill out beautifully just like they were originally in no time they would be laying lovely fresh new layed eggs again”

We could sell any we didn’t want. what do you think…???
I had to pamper to her a little so that week end we had delivery of the scrawniest bunch of hens you could every imagine.
When dropped off in the field out of big black sacks, 10 in a sack they just lay there on the floor as if dead.
The wife was going round taking to the creatures as if they were old aunties back from a terrible holiday in Weston.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. but wasn’t very happy parting with the Poney (£25)
The next few days they still hadnt recovered and I was about to telephone a Shab Courdrey from The Curry Centre. who number I had managed to find.
By the end of the first week there was an amazing recovery some were scratching and pecking like mad, the noise I must admit was lovely. nothing like the noise made by a dozen Girls touting for business in my childhood slum’s.
After two week it was my job to collect the eggs, seemed like hundreds of them. they were every were
A dozen for Gran two dozen for the post man, not a bad idea, I had thought of.in the bushes, I guess it was nature trying to hide there new brew.
After the first month we were starting to find it difficult to find a home for them every body seemed to hide when ever they saw me,
Like us they were fed up of Eggs.

That night I had one of my great ideas,
“What to do with a 100 New Layed Eggs a Eggs a week.
I had the idea from the little Lion stamped on eggs by the government.
I drove to Bromsgrove W.H.Smiths and purchased a John Bull printing outfit.
My betting shop was called County Bookmakers so the stamp read

“COUNTY BOOKMAKERS WE LAY ANYTHING”
The first 2 dozen were cleaned and placed on the kitchen table,

With a careful procedure every egg was stamped with the advert, in black die.
On the way to Bilston a town in the Black Country nr Wolverhampton, I was quite exited as soon as I arrived at my shop I was on the phone to the local evening newspaper always ready for a local story.
They soon had there camera team and there head feature writer at the shop.
I knew that at exactly 10.30 Old Bill would appear as if by clock work
He was a WW1 veteran and was regimental in every thing he did.
Morning Donald. nice day.
Yes William here I have something for you,
A dozen new layed eggs.
“My God I have not had a new layed egg since rationing. in 1945″.
They were in a little box and I gave him a bakers dozen 13.
A few photos were taken of him with me posing for the paper.
Off he went and I carried on, helping the reporter with the tale, of kindness from the towns local Bookie.
It must have been no more than 20 minutes, when the front door burst open and Old Bill stood there with his shirt sleeves up as if ready for action.

YOU BASTARD HE CRIED OUT.
Standing there with a side plate balanced in front of him under and my noes.
On the plate were two buttered slices of Toast, on the Toast carefully cut into 5 slices were the eggs,
You could see “We LAY ANYTHING” on every slice. not unlike Blackpool Rock.
The dye had run straight through the porous eggs.

You almost Killed me if I had eaten the eggs I would have caught Salmonella.
I intend to report you to the police.

It was only a quick reaction by me that stopped the photographer from taking a new picture of the Veteran of the Somme. in action.

A Free bet of a £10 was just about enough to recover the eggs and stop the tale from reaching the evening scoop.
A funny thing happened to the chickens a week or two later, two REGNARDS (Foxes) that the wife had saved from the Hunt came back to repay her kindness.
They came during the night and killed the 50. leaving only there feathers.to show were they had been.

So ended a glorious humanitarian effort by the wife and my free promotion.

Cubone.

Ringers in Horse-racing has been a staple diet from the very first day horses competed with each other.
If you could take part in a match bet one day and then having got beaten in a close finish,
Then take the bet again but this time your runner is a STRIKE a look a like. copy of your horse, one that is much superior. then you are on a guaranteed winner.
In 1900s Peter Christian Barrie decided to change his fortune as a Racehorse Gambler by Ringing Bad horses for good.
Most of his Coups/Stroke were in selling plates the worst quality of horse race and by using a special paint that was waterproof. could change a much better quality horse to the bad one.
fooling all the Bookmakers and authorities in tern.
The odds were based upon the horses form and only the name of the horse was sufficent to gain its entry in a specific race.

It wasn’t just Barrie that carried out this scam for in the USA a horse called Rule Away won 3 times in 3 different names and all at large prices.
During 1953 a team of Midland Bookmakers purchased a top quality French Sprinter called Santa Amara, and got it entered under the name of Francasal a very poor quality race horse.
the meeting they chose was Bath, the race a very inferior event,and bets were placed all over the Midlands and South,
To make double sure that no hedging money would find its way back to the track, and shorten the price of there Gamble a team were sent to the outskirts of the Town and the telephone wires to the track were severed.
It was only some do gooder that saw a man up a ladder pretending to be the GPO worker and reported it to the Police that created an enquiry this resulted with a prison sentence for the leaders and an unfortunate incident a while later were the brains of the coup was shot dead on his door step.
The bringing in of elaborate security like tattoos on the inner lips of horses and in the ear of greyhounds seemed to bring this con to a halt however many attempts were carried on even as late as 1982 were the last serios attempt took place.
Cubone happened to be at Leicester in March of that year, when a 2 year old event took place usually all the races pass by with out much bother however this one caused hoots of derision.
The winner Flockton Grey had won by the proverbial Tonne in hand.
A very conservative 20 lengths in fact however I thought at the time it was more like 30.
What surprised me was that no one noticed the difference between the winner that turned out to be a 3 year old sprinter called Good Hand. running against 2 year olds.
Why I questioned did no one see the structure of the Winner with the other early season juveniles.
Good Hand was a well built 3 year old with a chest like a barrell running against 2 year olds. all very weak in stature, so early in there lives.
Having spoken to a top trainer a while later I was informed that it would have been like a Top Soccer star playing in a Boys Brigade Match.
And yet no one noticed it until after the race.
The 10/1 was an amazing price for such a simple stroke.
Since then there have been no recorded Rings so we will assume that it has died out But I doubt that is the truth of the matter more like it happens on a reguar basis but no one notices.

Cubone

The other night someone asked me what was the most outlandish Betting Coup that I had ever seen or heard of, during my times in the Gambling profession.
And if the strokes or cons of yesteryear have been cleverer than the one,s during the 20th century.
Well cheating in Gambling is not always cheating in the true scence of that word.
For example the bench mark I use is the criminal law. if the con, stroke, is not criminal although is against the rule imposed by Bookmakers to safe gaurd there profits, you have to ask if the rules themselves are fair.
I will not consider all the strokes, that have taken place in the last 200 years other than by a comment “Illegal” or Fair Game.
And they will not be in any particular order.

No 1. Only a few years ago two young good looking lads, were looking at the up and comming Golf Event the British open, they played a lot of golf them selves, and were good judges they had a short list of 10 players and even with so many selections there over all price for the group was 9/2.
Whilst trying to find a reason for reducing the list. one asked the other what price a Hole in One for the tournament.
Without a moment to think of a well thought out reply. the second came up with 33/1 to 50/1.
For what seemed like ages the two looked at each other it was clear that they had hit on a possible ground breaking coup.
Within that time they had both simultaneously realized the enormity of what they had discovered.
Paul was the first to speak
How much money have we got, it wasnt a great deal as our intrepid Gamblers were on a bad role at present.
The next thing they did was settle down for some serious stats seeking. how far shall we go back
10 years will do. ok and we take our time and come up with a price for a hole in one at the forth comming OPEN.
The next morning 12 hours later the two met again and both asked the same question.

What price a Hole in one at the forth comming OPEN

Paul pushed his offer writen on a golf score card, towards John who did the same.
50% Evens was the shortest quote and 40% 6/4 the largest.
Come on John we are about to win a fortune,
Over the next 2 weeks and before the open. comenced the two went all over the place from betting shop to betting shop.
Making the same request What price a Hole in one at the OPEN.
The first offer they received was from a lone independant, well known for his brashness he had built a name for being brave, but was no mug, his father and grand father had been Bookmakers before him and in his own mind no one knew more about Gambling Odds than him.
HOLE IN ONE you must have more money then scence.
100/1 I will lay you.
The boys didnt wish to act exited however it must have felt like Alec “Wheelbarrow” Paterson did in South Africa when he found Gold lying on top of the ground. at Pilgrims Creek.
In fact John carter did a double twist and instead of smashing the counter with the cash he had, he asked if he could have a small double the British open and the USA Open. at the same odds.
The Bookmaker was now laughing like a Cheshire cat,
I am not sure but wouldnt be surprised if at that moment the passage
“You must be Having a Laugh” was spawned.
When the Lad came out of the shop with a well writen betting slip clearly indicating that the wager was
for a Hole in One an ACE. in Golfing terms, to be recorded at the British Open.

Un like “Wheelbarrow, Patterson who was a Blabber Mouth, who went into the nearest Inn or Bar and told any one who wished to listen. what he had found Gold.

The two Gamblers kept this secret to them selves.
In the very next shop they went to they were pole axed when the little Jewish, Propriotor. said without looking up from his desk. It is 66/1.
placing a £50 on the corectly worded Ticket (Receipt) the Bookmaker called them over and said.

You have not writen the name of the Player you wish to select.

So in two shops no more than a mile away they had witnessed the difference of Bookmakers not knowing the odds that they were offering. or the danger of unclear terms.
What they had discovered was a play with words.
the odds for a Hole in One at a Tournement was no more than 6/4. and the odds for one player named to score a Hole in One was anything from 50/1 upwards.
By allowing the Bookmaker to trap himself, by laying the odds for the one named person. but writing the wager as if for any player.
Back at there Hotel and with a multitude of Slips. with prices averaging 60/1 the trap was set.

Will we get paid was the next question they asked each other. and that was one that would test the honesty and fairness of many Bookmakers all over the UK.
at the same time making John and Paul. became known as the “HOLE IN ONE GANG, toasted in many golf clubs the country through.
In the Hotels and meeting places were the Bookmakers trade organisation were to meet however it was a matter of finding out how they could get out of paying this glorious, Wager.

It is fair to say that there winnings over all was a £1,000.000 and changed the whole concept of High Street Betting shops they would never again be so un prepared in fact a request for a Hole in One bet would in future receive the F Word. at best and at worse., removal from the shop. by the arse of your pants.

Number Two. Ringers.

Cubone.

It was indeed a great shock when this morning on collecting my Racing Post (UK Sports Paper)
I could see as a leader banner, giving there readers a tale of “Great Eccentric in the Sport of Kings”

It was clearly a story of Miss Dorothy Paget the 1930/50 Women’s Icon. the first person who broke the mould. for women’s rights but in stead of flinging her self under the hooves of the Kings Racehorse in the most important horse-race in the world, THE DERBY.to promote Suffragettes beliefs.
She took the silver spoon out of her mouth and broke every one of the Religious Codes that she had been taught.

She Smoked, 100 Cigarettes a day, she Drank her self to sleep. (Brandy) Gambled large amounts of here multi million £ inheritance. on slow Motor Cars (Bentleys) and quit often slower Racehorses.had her full English Breakfast each morning at 4.30 slept until 6.0
To late to place here wagers, so she had an understanding she could place her bets 3 hours after they had run.
The opinion however that she was a shrewd Gambler is at odds of normal Bookmakers practice.

The auther David Chapman a much respected writer on all matters Gambling, was more delicate than Cubone, in his protection of her sexual idiosyncrasy. but after all he is a professional writer were I am just an old man spending a few of his dwinderling hours on the game he loves.

No doubt any comparison between my tale a few days ago under “The Fairer Sex” and Great Eccentrics, is just a pure coincident.

Cubone.

Although born into 2nd generation of Bookmakers all specialising in Horse-racing and greyhounds, I have come across a lot of people who beleave that the only way to beat the vigorish, the word itself called Vig or juce is to cheat we in England call the Vig just commission.
It all means the same
If Muhammad Ali was fighting Rocky Marciano there would be many Books who disagreed with the odds.
the best odds available taking all the offers let us say was evens each of two, if those were the odds there would be no vig. and like the Roulette table offering red and black at evens it wouldn’t be very long before the Casino was closed, beaton by the expenses to run the place.
In a very well run casino with great security they are happy to take the smallest vig in town but all betting were the layer or Bookmaker intends to pay. there must be a deduction in favour of the house,
It is this deduction that saves the Book long term. and all business,s have to show a profit.
But the game is seeking mistakes made by the Odds Maker. it is not a divine art, in the case of Marciano no Bookmakers in Italy would have been offering top dollar.
Take China betters for example. they have a massive, historical lean towards the colour red. so when Red Rum won 3 of our Grand Nationals, Bookmakers in China Town had to eat at MacDonald for a while.
let us take games in Casinos. it is a great environment, loved by most, but one of the greatest conns in our History was planned and executed by a group of English gentlemen, joined together in opening one of the best Uk Casino,s since Crockford opened in 1828
This 20th centry Casino Gang was no better or worse than if Meyer Lanski had been in charge called the “Clermont” in Mayfair, one of London’s hot spots, then and now.
John Aspenal and his friends the “InCrowd” knew exactly what Crockford the old Fish monger knew and that was that the surounding had to be as classy as the homes that his clients lived in and they mostly lived in castles,
And there is no doubt that you had to be Blue Blood to become a member. as soon as you applied, it wasn’t how much money you had in your bank account it was what school you were educated at.
Bugsy Segal wouldnt have got past the front door no matter what bung (Inducement) he offered the doorman.
One of the clubs best faces or “Greeter” was Lord Lucan, the great great grand son of the Bigest Blunderer in Britiish History, George Bingham the 3rd Lord Lucan.
His instructions at the Charge of the Light Brigade is well known by us British and once a year we chant it
“Into the Jawes of Death into the mouth of Hell rode the 600.
This is not a History leason on british Warefare but shows the type of members and of course along with many Earls and Dukes the membership was soon full.
people like Tiny Rowlands , and Sir James Goldsmith joined John Aspinal to creat this fantastic casino, right in Berkley Square, the place were you would have found a pair of Nightingales. and there are not many casinos that can boast that.
The first thing that Apenal did when he was ready to open the Club was ask the British Experts in Oil Paintings at Christies and asked for a Masters, on loan for a few weeks so on the opening night. there were a Monet, De Vinci, and Van Gogh on the walls.
They had too steal the best chief arround what ever they offered it had to be the best food in town.
A few years ago “The Fat Man” a Billionare Shiek Fouad Al Zayat lost £191 Million his claim was that they allowed him to much credit. there may have ben a few more reasons for him losing that much than a credit problem,
When a recent Book stated that it was John Aspenal was the bigest cheat in history. perhaps the USA may have a challenger in Bernie Minoff.
However the bigest Bomb Shell was this Book on the History of Aspenal and the fact that every night, there was at least one game that was as crooked as a Hind leg of a racehorse. no doubt the Claremont expences were running riot, they neaded to increase there profits,, however in stead of adding a little to the Vig, he decided to use a Sandwich, a block of cards that an expert Card Sharp could place up and inside the Shoe, whist playing Chemmie right in front of the Croupiers noes.
the amount won from the English Blue Blood and aristocrats, was as much as in Crockfords day.
Of course Lord Lucan disappeared, along with Glen Miller, Jimmy Hoffa, and Shergar a champion racehorse and Derby winner, but we cant blame all that on the Mafia the disapearance of Lord Lucan, is a mystery because even though he was one of the original members of the Club, and he loved to play Chemi (bacaratt)
It was to dangerous to tell the Lord what they were doing, for although he was about to become bankrupt he was still a gentleman, and etonian. he may have even told some of his old school chum,s about the scam. as he has never been found it is best for us gamblers to blaim him for killing his wife’s helper.

This will show you what has occurred in casinos in the past. of course they are over regulated now so the % odds are as tight as it has ever been now is the time of the professional player, those who specialise in certain sports were the margins allow for skill by players to break through the books protection.
Luckily more and more people are playing on sports events and most lose, that allows a very few greats to steal (Win) some of the Vigorish right under the Bookmakers noes, and there is not a lot they can do about it.
The time spent to become an expert at all the popular sports is almost impossible.
Much to time consuming, but if you cant or don’t have the time, to become an expert then seek out a professional in these games as they are about. and then use them, only if satisfied with the record.or results. but take my word for it they are better than you yourself.
We in the UK have a massive advantage over the USA owing to the variation in odds between the 2 countries, not the win odds or in the case of USA Football, the Handicap. but in ,most games we offer place terms at fixed odds, this allows the chance to score a massive advantage when the event is reaching quarter stages in Tennis, for example
A price up to win the tourney is based upon the win odds. and in the UK if we offer place odds to reach the final those odds are fixed at 1/2 (half) of the win odds.
During the rounds, heats, the win odds will vary but these events will become very dangerous at a fixed place odds. and it is possible to back a player that nead only get to the Final for you to show a profit. I will explain this advantage in another tale.
In fact if the USA sports traders can get there heads around our place markets they will finish up livijg in the British Castles of the losers, who were Skinned alive in the 1050,s
I will fully explain this fundamental flaw in the UK markets,

Also there are many people now in the UK who are playing the market moves, as an arb or trade this has been made exiting by the development of a new Gambling Facility called Person to Person Betting, or Exchange Betting. this gambling phenomenon was produced in the early part of 2000.

And the developers were also Public School Boys.

I will create a tale of the development of this new revolution shortly, its pitfalls and its massive advantages when betting alongside a professional advisor’s help

cubone.

Having spent years and years, reading about Gamblers it has been taken for granted that they were all men.
However why do they have to be men,
I would think that the women of the world, have more of what is neaded to be a successful gambler than men. women would find it more difficult in there make up, to go chasing. and bet with funds that they did not posses. I also beleave that a very attractive young lady may find it easier to gain advantages from inside information. and that could be a great advantage.
One of the greatest Gamblers that come to mind for those Gambling between 1920 and 1950., will be
The Honourable Miss Dorothy Paget. her great auntie Florence Paget who married the Worlds biggest loser Lord Hastings.
So when Dorothy was born 1905 she was thrown into horses from her mother a Whitney.
her father Lord Queensbourogh must have added the readies to play with.either way she was
Born with non of the girlie attributes, and she was virtually impossible to discipline

Expelled from all her 5 exclusive schools, she would certainly have had an ASBO.or two. or there equivalent.
She would not have been entered into any beauty pageants. .
After her mother died at her 12th year. she was impossible. and ran riot.a realy nasty individual.
With cousin Jock Whitney owning the great Gold Cup winner Easter Hero, she was sucked into ownership. herself.and seemed to take to challenging every one in site.
Her love of the horse was in her blood from the start and for a few years before her weight ballooned she was a very good Hunter and had a very good seat.
When in her late teens she moved into racing of a different sort , with a fleet of Bentleys were she had considerable success.
But in her mid 20s she started to Gamble. and what a bad loser she was. even with millions at her disposal she didnt like it when a horse that she had paid good money for was defeated after her trainer told her it would win.
Within 20 years she had had 17 Trainers.some the best in the game.and still she wasnt satisfied. usually sacking them without much warning.
Her love life would have been a good film script for The L Word.
At her home The Hermits Wood at Chalford St Giles, she had half a dozen secretaries all of them lovely. young things.
Dorothy never went to bed until at 4.0 every morning so she had plenty of time to spend looking at the form of her many horses, planning one of her betting coups. she would also have great big navie Breakfasts. but at 12.0 at night . not 8.30 the morning.
Her Bloodstock must of cost her several £millions but her first great success was to purchase Golden Miller a horse that has been forgotten in the battle for supremacy between the Gold Cup greats of Arkle and Kuato Star, thats a pitty because Golden Miller would have been up alongside those two bar its very bad record at Aintree that seemed to damage the great horses standing . all though he did win it once.
What made Miss Pagets day was to defeat MEN. not only did she think herself more than equal. to the other owners all men or in fact the Bookmakers all men. it was a battle of the sexs in more ways than one.
When ever she was asked for an interview by Men of the Press. they were abused only one the Times tipster Captain Lyle managed to get his toe in th door at the “Wood”
Even after her number one secretary Ruth Charlton married a jockey some thought even that was a marriage of convenience, although Charlie Smirk was not the greatest judge in the world. in her defence she only backed her own horses.
With all her trainers she loved nothing better than to have between 5 and 8 runners in an afternoon at variuos meetings.
Some of her big coups were the Cheltenham Golden Miller, Gold Cup and Insurance, Champion Hurdle in fact she won many of the big National Hunt, races, and of course she won the Derby with Straight Deal winning her in the reagon of £1 Million in today’s value.
All in all she won over 1532 races. she won the Gold Cup 7 times and 4 Champion Hurdles.
In 1933 Dorothy had one of the biggest punts in racing history the horse Tuppence was supported from 250/1 into 10/1 not only was it Miss Pagets money that caused the plunge, for some reason the public took a fancy to the Derby runner as well.
It finished 19th behind the great Hyperion.
A great eater at the wrong times, she became obeas and she began to look like another racing character from the 1990s.John Macrirrick.
In 1933 Golden Miller won the Gold Cup again this time beating here cousen Jock Whitneys Thomand 11. to her great delight.
One day at Worcsester a Midland Bookmaker called Jack Woolf, a close friend of William Hill. was on the rails when Ruth Charlton was looking for her regular Bookmaker but he hadnt arrived.
Jack was recomended and took all Doroths bets, that day were she never backed a winner with her standard bet between £5 and £10,000 a throw,
In 1935 she decided to go for a Grand National Killing. with Golden Miller backing it from a starter 12/1 to 2/1 one of the shortest prices in the big races History. running a shocker and unseating her jockey, Dorothy just walked into the Parade ring after the race and led the horse away from the trainer. Briscoe.
A very superstitious person. she hated camera.s as a complete omen of disaster.
Although she had hundred of winners she never bothered as much with the breeding as what her trainer told her. about its chances. once it was fit to run she expected them to run well and if a trainer told her it would win, she dam well expected it to win. or the trainer would suffer the consequences
her greatest Love other than her horses was a Russian beauty called Olga de Mumm,
At the still young age of 54 Miss Dorothy Paget died of a heart attack, non of her Bookmakers divulged if she was a winner overall or not.
But having spoken to Jack Woolf just before he died he told me that if her usual bets were the same as she had with him at Worcester that day she would have lost several Millions£.
All her bets were “Top of the Book” that term meaning that the Bookmaker would ignore the wager for calculation purposes.
Knowing that she was a loser, in time.
Ramsdon the last of the great losers. in the 90s was certainly a “Top of the Book Punter” and how much did he lose.??

In her way I guess she had great fun and after all. she certainly could afford what she did, and if you can afford to lose large amounts so what.

However she was not a good influence for the Fairer Sex, if I was looking for an astute women Gambler.
But she was certainly honest and trustworthy and I know of not one betting dispute that she had in all of her transactions. but her character is easily summed up if you take a glance at her trainers of both codes.
Briscal, Owen Anthony, Frenchie Nicholson ,Faulke Walwyne,Walter Nightingle,Sir Gorden Richards and Fred Darling,just to name a few.

So If I am looking for a Great female Gambler, I will have to keep looking. it was more of a hobby for Dorothy in some battle between Men and Women. and in this case I guess Men were triumphant.

Cubone.

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