Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

“Didnt we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor.”
A Beutiful day we had lunch on the way all for under a £1 you know.
I realise that the Bangor spoken of wasnt the racecourse by Wrexham, but why spoil a great tale for a little untruth.as the Bangor of the song is in Country Mayo West Ireland. and not far from the sea.
This war time song, however reminds me of the period of the 1950s when teams of Bookmakers would start off for there trip to, this wonderful National Hunt race course, with years of history, and great fun for having a day out.
All the family would get into our motor car an Austin Ruby, 2 in front and 4 in back sitting on each others laps. Grown up,s below and Kids on top.
There were plenty of dangers on the way. and any strong wind and the flimsy car would be blown over but in my case there were other dangers to confront. as a 12 year old I was still in short trousers, my uncle a heavy smoker threw his cigerette end, out of the front window, only for it to blow back in the rear..
Straight up my trouser leg, and with my parents smacking me hard in my crutch area intending to put the thing out, the car went on its merry way. this continued for what seemed to be ages, before one of the more intelegent members decided to stop the car and strip, me of my pants, and in so doing removing the cigerette still alight.
The first degree burn were confined to a very small area, fortunatly, the pain only lasted for a month, the scar, however still remains to this day, confirming that a day out at Bangor is not always so wonderful. but i still take look when bathing, and all the great memoiries come flooding back.
The track itself is very nice with the tatersalls enclosure, standing on a plateau high above the racecourse allowing great views, of the last 3 jumps,
Historically Bangor is mentioned as the course that our finest jockey Fred Archer rode his first winner, not you may think in some small pony race or a cheap selling plate, but in fact it was a 3 mile Chase.
Archer the same age as I was when seriously wounded by a half smoken Players No 1. Fred Archer in his case was more lucky, scott free, taking every jump. in a style that made many watchers agree that here was a very good lad. one with a great racing future. and that future was as a Champion Flat jockey.for many years.
How a 12 year old lad came to ride in a steeplechase I am not sure but the owner of the horse Maid of Trent was happy to take the word of a racing expert.
“If you are looking for a lad to ride any of your chasers Madam I have the very one to ride for you”
Weighing out at the unbeleavable weight of 4st 11 lb, a weight that many of our Macdonald reared Kids, today reach before they are 3.
So a jockey who rode more winners in his time than any other than Gorden Richards, had a great future ahead of him, before puting a gun to his own head, historians blame strict dieting the cause.
A few days ago I was invited to a local barbeque were the conversation bored with talking about swine flue, moved to my pet subject the Sport of Kings, (Queens)
A local wiz kid, who had put his finger up to our Credit Crunch. and was doing great, selling cheap goods on ebay, so cheap that only the postage charges was the profit. great idea, that even Lord Rothchild or today the panel of the Apprentice would have been proud,of.
In stead of selling cheap. and stocking high, this youngish lad was selling at no profit. and yet was earning a fortune.
He had a staff of 10 and decided to take the words of our ww1 song about having a day out at Bangor literally.he was a racehourse owner and when his trainer told him that he had entered his Chaser at Bangor, what better than a day out for his loving staff.also.
3 cars, new mercs took off at 9.30 for the two and half, hour trip up the north west to Bangor stopping off at Witchurch for a pre arranged breakfast.
All 14, arrived at the track and were shown by the course manager to a bar room, for there entertainment. not the best facilities as Bangor is the only racecourse in the UK without a grandstand.
The horses owner and his wife , loved every moment of the day out at the races.and so did the staff.
when they entered the parade ring to see there lovely, chaser they had all entered into the full fun of the experience wearing blue and yellow coloured ribbons, the same colour as the horses jockey, a tendency that was most popular during the 1850,s. but died out of late.
The horses trainer, informed them all that he expected a great run from the horse even though it was no world beater.
They all scurried off to place there little bets, some not wanting others to know there stake, not wanting to be deemed as small fry.
there were many Bookmakers at the popular track, both inside tattersalls and a few outside in the cheap enclosure.
The noise when there horse who was lying in 4th place at the last fence received a great pick me up when one of the leaders fell. so loud the chearing became that regulars at this popular course looked towards the small group. with disdain. others enjoying the site of obvious new comers to this great sport. just smiled.
There horse had finished 3rd and received more pats than you would see at an Irish Derby meeting.
The wine flowed extensivly over the next two hours before they made there way home. to the midlands.
All of them agreed that they had indeed had a wonderful day the day they went to Bangor.

At the Barbeque I was surrounded when it became known that I was a retired Bookmaker.
When I mentioned that I had attended Bangor meetings from 1948 to 2002, right up to the day I retired.
They seemed to be exited as if they were back, on the course I entered the fun, of the day even singing the Day at Bangor for them much better than the usual “I did it my way” by some Frank look a like.
After a while one little women, not much heavier that Fred Archer at his prime, spoke to me she was very articulate,and friendly.
“Would you explain to us, something that we have not been able to conclude. ever since our day out”. and that is how our winnings were calculated with the tote and the Bookmakers. we all seemed to have differing amounts. and we fail to see how they were created.
After 55 years in the gambling profeshion one thing I could do was calculate a bet.
Of course I will.
Firstly I explained that an Eachway bet, was two bets, one to win. and the other to place.
I wasnt aware of the result so I had to look on someones computor for the full result.
The horse was 3rd in the 12 runner Handicap Chase. and its Starting price a very nice 33/1.
so there winning place was at 8.1/4 to 1.
A £10 Eachway showing a £72.50. net profit.
I was amazed by the differeing amounts they claimed to have received.
One poor Gal who had decided to place her £2 with the racecourse Tote and expected that the chearing was so loud that it represented a small lottery win. was not so fortunate when she pocketed only a £5 for her pains.
We then came to the bets placed with the racecourse Bookmakers. after a few moments I was wishing that I had not entered into this debate. in fact it was getting a little heated.
One guest happened to be the maths head at the local school. so I decided to make him the leader of there pack, in no time he had me stumped.
How is it he wanted to know could a winning client, receive differing amounts although the stake was the same.
I stood up protecting my old Bookmaker friends from the various names they were being called as it was obvious that I had al the answers,
My statement that perhaps the racegoers had received different prices, failed to gain support when the old women produced the receipt.
The Bookmaker who had taken her bet kindly, gave her the receipt, when she explained that it was her first day at the races and her very first bet. he was a gent she stated.
On the slip. it clearly showed that she had placed her £5 Eachway, at 40/1 and had recieved £55.00
I explained that 1/4 of the winning price was 10/1 so £5 x 10 was £50 plus her £5 stake, she smiled Wonderful. that what I was told.
I was so pleased that I decided to have another Bacardie and Coke.
However there were a few others not so passive. I could tell by the look on her husbands face, that all was not complete. standing behind this man were 3 others all with a similar look on there faces.

OK. give me you bets and I will work them all out for you.
£5 Eachway at 25/1 I begen nodding my head in sorrow explaining that he had not been so fortunate as his wife. gaining a much inferior price,
Yes he explained with a smirk that Bernard Madoff Scam artist would have been proud of.
This man was not a confidance trickster but the person he had placed his bet with certainly was.
The £5 Win at 25/1 was clear enough but the place return should have been 5,1/4 to 1. a return for his stake unlike his wife, should have been , £36.25. but when I looked at the return it was only. £25.75.
I was astounded the Maths teacher asked for an explanation as to why the fraction was different between the two bets, allowing for the differing price he asked why the fraction of 4 differed in the place returns,

i had to take a large gulp. of my iced drink. I could see what had occured and after no time I collected all the receipts (5) after a small calculation decided to pay them the difference I thought that would be the end of the matter, the whole lot didnt come to more than £20 and I was pissed and in a good mood.

After the garden party ended I walked the short distance home and made clear notes as to the short fall, from the bets, you could see that 2 of the bets had been calculated at 1/5th the odds and the others at a rip roaring 6th.
This was the worst disgrace I have known in 55 years how do the racecourse Bookmakers expect to
create good will civility and promt payment, doing this sort of thing. one thing I can say is that the price odds that have stood for over 50 years, i fact races of less than 8 runners were calculated at 1/3 of the win odds 1/2 places. in that time I have never known any bookmaker on course or in the high street, were bound to fixed place terms.
My telephone call the next day to the NJPC the authority for what goes on at racecourses. took place before 9.30. and I waisted no time requesting an explanation.

” Bookmakers on a racecourse can now do what they like as long as the sign on there boards, show the terms that they are offering.
But they cant pay 1/6th odds a place in a 12 runner handicap can they.??????

The telephone went a liitle quite

“Its not the worse case on our records that is 1/9th.”
And the answer to your question is yes they can….
1/9th a place. you must be joking I was astounded.

The words to the song, about having a great day out at Bangor, will have to be re writen. however Debbie Cook the song writer has long been gone.

I have kept in touch with the owner of the horse and have been invited to attend there next, day out at the races, so I can pay a little attention to the well being of my new found friends, it is Bangors loss however as they have chosen Ludlow, for there next outing.
I do understand that there are a few times that certain races represent very bad trading terms for Bookmakers and they do not wish to bet at a loss leader, and like all buisness men they are not expected to. but they know that on most occasions, they have the power to adjust the win odds to make there place terms safe, and that the punter has to have 2 bets the win and place, and I can only assume that there is plenty of profit in the win book, and if not then why???
What a very few are doing by raping the unwary of there rightfull returns, is reducing future attendance at that course. for certain.
If they expect to compete with the high street, internet and exchange operators, they better think it out again. like Fagan in the song from “Oliver”
I give all my fellow racecourse Bookmakers and punters alike the very best of wishes. but like the old corner shop. I can only see then serviving another 10 years and that if the get there house in order, they are in a great position, the tote are usless a big majority do not wish to bet by internet or exchanges, but when they go into the bar, they will soon be advised by some no all. that they have been shafted and the Bookmaker will have certainly lost the whole of that parties, business for that day. at least.
Do not follow the lead for the old corner shops. and dive into a hole.
Take a lead from there age old predecessors pollish up there appearance, I dont expect check suits and spats but ban there staff wearing track suit and trainers. but most of all. make them laugh, they have paid a small fortune for a day out and to make that day one to be remembered, they will have to work at it.
Or the old day out at the races, will be a thing of the past. Epsom, and Derby day is pricing itself away from the working class,s that was there Day. every one of them from Grandfather to the youngest sibling.
And as for ascot. that has become what was first intended a private party for the snobs of the world.

God help you. for after all. to be given the right to offer your service, from a protected ring in the most popular area, of a racecourse, there must be a profit, to be made but that profit has to be, Fair. and 1/9th for a placed horse may be complicated to work out for the majority, but you can only skin a cat. once before he dies of the cold.

Cubone