Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

If you selected any high street and spoke to 100 who admitted that they loved a gamble over 80 would say that they thought horseracing was BENT.
Of the twenty left. they would refuse to say what they did for a living.
But is this fare.????

I have decided to take a look at the amount of horseraces, that take place and the amount that cause concern. regarding integrity.
My findings you may find contraversial but you cannot deny my findings. are correct.
The horseracing industry is built on advantage, ever since a handicap system was introduced any trainer who had gamblers amongst his clients, will agree there will be horses at some time in there development, that will require an easy introduction, to a certain race. and it is fare to say that they are non tryers take 2 year old,s for instance there is no way, any trainer would sanction this type of runner being given a very hard introduction. and knockrd about even the authorites in charge of racing know this and give this practice a blind eye.
That just makes common scence so anyone who backs a horse first time out in a 2 year old event and finds his selection being handled tenderly. and not actually being ridden out to gain its best position in that race. and therefore contary to Racings rules. but they would be stupid to claim racing in that perticular case.was dishonest.
Would a horse that drifts alarmingly, in the betting and then fails to run within a stone of its expected form. be evidence of a non trier, I think not. there may be certain things that you must not overlook, you watch a horse in the parade ring, then on its way to the start, and certainly at the start itself, this requires a fresh think, for instance if I was a backer and it took 20 ex minors, to get the the brute in the stalls, the last thing I would wish to do, would be to trust it with any of my hard earned. I once remember when I had my very first betting shop in Birmingham 1958 3 years before the High Street Gambling revolution. all we had for information was a little black box on the wall of my smoky betting office.
If there were 50 in the shop. the 50 would be looking at the Box for divine help. and talking to it.
Perhaps they were practicing for the times that they could shout, at the jockeys, on TV. not yet, allowed in shops. the conversation between Punter and little Box, was “He never tried and inch” “They should nick Lester for that ride” ” He will have to leave the back window of his roller open tonight” hinting that a big brown envelope would be winging its way onto the back seat.
But this was just a little black Box. and the commentators, had been no doubt given instructions to make the race interesting, no different to these reality programs, on TV today, so that unless a horse had fallen, all the finishers seemed to be grouped together, over the last fence.or during the last furlong of the flat.race every one who had placed a bet, were happy for the full 5 minutes of a Grand National. except as I said the fallers. at no time do I ever remember hearing a horse being a jump behind. TV opened a new dimension, you could actually become a sofa, jockey, telling you chosen one when to start his run, I have heard many a “NOT YET LESTER” on many occasion.
The first time I noticed this minor point, however was in the 50s, only that dammed Box, I had placed my last Tosheroon ( 2 shillings and Sixpence) on a double one had won at 9/1 and the other came with a late run, at 20/1 the commentary was to much for me, I dashed into the little toilet outside, I could still hear with the window open and I was informed that my selection was still there at the last, fence. along with 5 others.
“They pass the post together” the commentator cried. out. “Its a photo.” 15 minutes later, the result came through. this I assumed was the time when Boots, did the Printing.
Winner 1 second 3 and third 8. my horse was not mentioned this created a stomoch pain that remained with me until the next day when I asked how far my horse had been beaten a friend who had been at the racecourse told me about 15 lenths, was that proof racing was bent, of course not, but you will have to believe me when I say there was a time during this period, when I thought so, and the loss of my £20. plus, perhaps justification. the pain never realy went away and preperation H could not help either.
Prosecution of jockeys, over the years so, small in number, concidering that it proves either they the authority, policing the sport, must have been sipping to many large pims, instead of gazing through there bins. (Binoculars)
But hang on a bit some of the courses that I attended at this time like Shirley Pony,s South Midlands. for instance, I have seen 5 horses go behind a Wooded area before the last bend, in what seemed ages before the Favourite, came away clear.and on his own, I once remarked why it took so long for the runners to do the last furlong, , much longer than the time to get there my Dad said, they are tossing to find who they want top win.
Another point that may have painted my early disbelief regarding racing and honesty.
My Grand Dad, would arrive at my house for Grand National Day, were we would congregate around our little radio. he would give all the children, a new 5 penny bit for a free bet. it was 1947 and I was 10. as we listened to the Big Race my horse was clear I will never forget the commentary, “As they approuch the Melling Road, it is Lough Conn. clear. as they approuch the last two my god whats this coming fast, its Caughoo” It had won so easy the radio commentator stated that he looked so fresh that he could have gone arround again . I actually cried, and my mother, told them I must never have a bet again.
Later that night my father returned from Aintree were he had been working, as a Tic Tic.for a Bookmaker.
Had a good day, Dad, yes great result the Big Race Son,
I told him of the free bet, and my selection and the fact that it was clear at the Melling Road. Yes said Dad, I had noticed Caughoo his jockey, was drinking a scotch, and soda given him by a punter, after he had been unseated first time around, that was before he remounted and joined the race. of course I started to cry again. I was never a good loser. but this gave me a bad start, when trusting racing you may think.
If I look back a little further in time to mid 1800,s Shrewsbury, no longer a racecourse there was an incident were 3 well known and respected Gentlemen Riders, asked the Clerk to the Course if he could help them with there Xmas Shopping by creating a new race specialy for them, as they had all had a dybolical run. and were without funds,
A race was introduced and the terms, displayed
A NEW RACE The Welter Handicap. of 5 sov each, with 20 sov added. for 3 year olds and upwards, Gentlemen Riders, Jockeys 5 lb extra,the winner to be sold 50 Sovs. Event over 1 mile. £10 prize to the winner, any profeshional rider to carry 5 lb Extra weight.
After some cock up the Clerks son allowed a further entrant, to run.
When the Gentleman Riders found out that not only was there 4 runners, in the race non other than George Fordham, champion jockey. had been invited by the owner to ride his horse.
Non of the Gents must have been very bright for it took 10 minutes before the ex Etonian, come to the conclusion, “Never mind we will LET HIM WIN”,
At the start the horse Tom Sayer, and his jockey Fordham, who had been backed from 4/1 to odds on, began to play up.
No stalls at this time,, so it was a flag start, THERE OFF
After two furlongs, the Shrewsbury 3, looked at each other and then looked for George, and then realised that he had not only been left but had gone the oppersite way.,
These 3 Gentlemen Captain Little, Captain Townley, and Mr George Ede. had not become so respected, without believing in Fair Play.so they returned back to the start, only a gent would do that.
What could the starter do, nothing, only try again. I wont bother to relay the result. but will say that the betting ring, the owner of Tom Sayer came out of the bar. to see what price his not very good,horse was, as he had never won a race he was fed up of backing it. but was still interested.
What price my horse Hodgeman he called out, Hodgeman leading Bookmaker of the time, stated evens, Mr Priestly. EVENS, you must be joking well if you wish to lay me 2/1 I will take the bet. off you.
So in the most crooked race in history, the owner, had to pay an arranged fee to the Jockey, if he won. and layed it to lose.he also failed to get a bid at the auction that followed. not the most succesfull coup on record well at least it wasnt for this owner.

But this was to far back in time, so we must accept that perhaps racing once was, a little dodgy, but the powers that be, now have instant, filming from every, angle possible, no dopers, horse ringers. weight ringers, jockeys using hidden electronic devices, and not even that stun gun, at Ascot. two spur a horse on.or in that case off.
And anyway who would jump off a horse at 36 miles an hour, to get it beaten, I would have thought that it would be going much slower if they didnt want it to win in the first place.
So can I agree with the 80% non beleavers of course I cant.
Racing is as straight as it can be at present. the way it is run, makes the game very difficult.to be anything other than that. but that doesnt mean that 100% of those running or riding horses, are honest, in an industry run, for Gambling it can never be that honest,
In fact if we place Doctors, Lawyers, Vicars, Estate Agents, Inland Revenue Inspectors, TV Producers,
Charity Organisers, and not to forget Postmen, in a full list or runners, betting on the most “Dis Honest Trophy” I bet Jockeys would be in the also runs.
If I may be so bold to offer the BHB the new Jockey Club without titles.
I would say if a jockey fails to take a hood off his horse for a furlong, after being allowed one to calm him before the start, then they should place a hood on him, with a big D. and leave him in the corner of the stewards room for a month at least.
Whilst on this contraversial subject, I recently told my youtube, fans that I intended to create a Video of the “Gay Future Coup from 1974.” and although it has had plenty of airing made of the scam. during the past 35 years.I will bring new evidence that if known at the time would have created shock.waves through Parliament.

Having looked at all the facts reported and some not reported. I feel it deserves a fresh examination.

Was Tony Murphy and the so called Cork Mafia as bad as painted.?
Was the winnings as low as Tony started or as High as Bookmakers stated?
Were the Leading Bookmakers dishonest, in there approuch, to the facts.?
Did the tabloid feature writers, do justice to the plotters.?
Did the Police act fairly. in the prosecution. ?
What was the Jockey Clubs role in the matter.and what would there findings have been if they had been invited to run the enquiry and not the police.?
and last but not least what was the full role played by George Wigg. Chairman of BOLA the Betting Office Licences Association,

I will take another 2 weeks to conduct my full enquiry. and I hope it is all worth the wait.

Cubone