No Sky telly (poor bastard) so I never watch racing unless it's on terrestrial telly. I'm John, and 56, but being older doesn't necessarily make you wiser in this game. My first bet was on the flat and was on the sprinter Jukebox, because my grandad said it was going to win. I had half a crown each way and it won at 100/8. My first classic winner was Sleeping Partner, who won the 1969 Oaks at 100/6 (I think it was 100/6, can't be arsed to check)
I was taught block settling systems etc etc, by a bloke who worked for the bookie I work for now. I managed shops for him, (an east London independent) in the early 70s. I went away for a while, and while I was gone he sold them all bar one to Labrokes. I still work Saturdays for him now, though this one shop is all that's left of what we used to jokingly refer to as 'The Empire'.
I suppose working for bookies you realise that laying is better than backing, and that's what I do most days on
Betfair. I still bet now and again, but the lays make more money than the bets, which are generally no good, apart from (like Carl) following the patterns of a certain jockey. I've had my disasters, but manage to just stay in front, but I'll never be rich, not with my daughters and a Mrs who could shop for England in the Olympics, and the Gold medal would be a mere formality.
My best ante-post bet. Me and my mates had got stuck into Dramatist for the Schweppes, about 1973 (?) at around the 20/1 mark. Come the Friday, the day before the race, he was 2/1 favourite. How I wish
Betfair had existed that many years ago. It was a Saturday spring morning and I woke up, looked out of the window and my jaw dropped to the floor. It had snowed heavily overnight and the meeting was abandoned.
Used to go to West Ham dogs until it closed in the early 1970s, and our favourite hurdler, Sherrys Prince, was unbeaten there. He won three back to back Grand Nationals at White City, despite losing part of his tail when it got caught in the fence in a semi-final. Funniest night at West ham was a Gala Night, just before Xmas, with 12 races, not long before it closed down. Every favourite won. Some bookies had given up and gone home by race 8 and trying to get a bet on for the last few races meant queuing in the freezing cold for what seemed like fcuking ages. But who cares about the cold when the winners are going by.
Fcuking hell, just re-read it, I didn't realise that post was so long.
I could go on for days...
