ATR - Who are we?

[alexmac]

Well, I guess it is my turn...

After an enforced absence from this place I am back, and looking forward to the jumps season.

My name is Alex, am 24 years old and live in Reading. I am first and foremostly a Geography teacher, but also teach Rugby, Football and Cross Country to the lads at my school. I get to travel aswell, having set up a partnership with a school in Oman in the Middle East.

Thats enough about me, now onto my 'background'... I first started gambling with my little brother when I was 15 and he was 13. We were both tennis players, and we used to sneak into ladbrokes and put on ridiculous tennis accys. These things came in a few times, making us what seemed like a fortune back in those days. From there, I started to regularly punt on football, rugby, tennis and cricket. I stumbled across the PL when I was a first year uni student and I wanted to know what a 'Super-Yankee' bet was. I typed something into Google and found a link to this place - the rest is history.

As horses go, I was never really into them until 2nd year at Uni. I studied at Newcastle, and one day went up to Gosforth Park for a distinctly average flat meet. I instantly fell in love with the sport, and have not looked back since. I would say that racing is now my number one past-time. I regularly back horses, and have now reched the stage where I take an interest into how racing 'works'.

This summer I tried to get to as many race meets as I could. I got to Royal Ascot, The Eclipse, The Champons Meeting at Newmarket and a good 10 other meets. I simply love it, I love the atmosphere, I love seeing the animals parade, I love chatting to the jockeys... I even treated myself to a VERY small percentage in a horse called DESERT LIGHT. He is a 6 year old gelding who runs on the all weather tacks in the midlands and the south. Last year he won 2 races from 13 and was placed another 5 times. I am hoping for a bit of fun with the 'ownership' lark this year.

As for my bets - I am not a terribly good gambler. My problem is I have no discipline. I chase losses and have on more thanone occasion had to take a break from the game to sort myself out.

I now know however, that I have fixed any 'problem' I may have had. I have become very disciplined, using level stakes E/W bets only. I have a 'stable' of about 30 horses I always back, and have become far more successful after employing this tactic.

Saying that, gambling is not the reason I love horse-racing. I only ever back my horses with small bets (I simply do not have the money to place larger bets). I just love everything that comes with the sport.

My favourite memory of horse racing was seeing my favourite horse 'Ouija Board' in the flesh, at last yeasr Eclipse. Sadly, she did not win on that occasion, but I still will never forget 'meeting' her. Other highlights include seeing Kauto Star win the Tingle Creek last year and backing Numberixvalverde at huge odds ante-post for the National a few years ago.

Placepots seem to be my nemesis... I have lost count of the number of occasions I have go to the 6th leg and not had a placed horse!

Well, thats my 'story'. This year I will be posting up comments on my 'stable' of horses as, and when they run. I am hoping to come out the over end of the season 'up', but if I don't I know I will have had alot of fun along the way...

[alexmac]

Oh yeah, and I worked in a bookies for 2 years in Newcaslt ewhere I saw some very funny, and often very sad sites... Thats what now keeps my head screwed on...

[Tom Hedonist]

Hello folks.

Unsurprisingly my name is Tom. I'm 38 years old.

I think my first ever bet was when I was at school, about 14-15 yrs old. I bet several friends that I could go the whole day without speaking, although I was allowed to answer teachers. I almost made it as well, until with about half hour to go someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned round and said "Yes, mate?" I ended up paying out about £7, which was more than my paper round earned me in a week

I make the occassional trip to Romford Dog track, as I live quite close by, but I've yet to get to a horse meet. I like the madness of dog racing. A quick gander at the form for the next race whilst queueing at the bar, stick a bet on, rush track side and yell "Come on the f*cking four dog!!!" for a minute. Then back to the bar and repeat the whole process until the last race has finished.

I've been betting regularly for about two and a half years. Generally I bet just at the weekends unless i have a day off during the week, which doesn't happen too often.

Initially I put on lots of Lucky15s. Like most people I had the occassional big score, but in the long run I gave it all back and more. Now I like to take a far more disciplined approach. I bet for small stakes, with the theory that if I'm any good at it my bank roll will grow and so the stakes will slowly increase.

I study the form for each race and use the Sporting Life site to base my initial selections on the going and whether the horse has previously won/placed at that distance and/or course and whether the jock has previously won on the horse. I then use the Racing Post website to check the BHA, Topspeed and RPR. I try to avoid short odds (2/1 and under) and prefer to try and find an outsider to back each way.

I much prefer the flat and have ended up in profit for the past two seasons. However I feel like a complete fish out of water during the jumps season and last year gave back what I'd made during the summer. I use the same 'formula' for making my selections, but I just don't seem to be able to crack it.

I don't post enough of my selections on ATR, although now the flat season is over, I'm not sure they'd be of any use to anyone in any case.

On a side note, when I started gambling my Mrs was worried I'd lose everything (addictive personality). Now whenever I have a winner at decent odds, she says "Why didn't you tell me, I'd have given you £100 to put on it" "Cos it might have lost, luv!"

[mileni4uk]

Originally Posted by Tom Hedonist

On a side note, when I started gambling my Mrs was worried I'd lose everything (addictive personality). Now whenever I have a winner at decent odds, she says "Why didn't you tell me, I'd have given you £100 to put on it" "Cos it might have lost, luv!"

Not only you, mate

[whoneedsrio]

Must be my turn then.

I'm John & in late February next year I shall knock up the half century

I've always liked watching the horse racing, I can remember watching Grandstand in black & white in the 60's with my Dad & trying to pick the winner. He was never into gambling, other than a couple of lines on the pools so I can't blame him for my interest.

When I left school in 1974 I started as an apprentice printer, one of the printers liked a bet & on most Saturday mornings we worked over, I'd pick three out & Vic would put them in a round robin.
One Saturday he says "what we got"? I showed him my three picks.
"Theres that crackerjack Irish horse in that race" he says so I dropped my choice & picked another.
Of course the sub gets beat, the other two win at decent odds & my original choice turns over the Crackerjack

At first I was more into the jumps, this was the time of Night Nurse, Monksfield & the horse that was, still is & probably always will be my favourite Sea Pigeon, twice champion hurdler & the best handicapper on the flat that ever walked the planet.
Over the years though I became more interested in the flat to such an extent that during the 90's I bet very little over the sticks.

Like most I staked small on yankees etc for a good few years till the late 80's. By now I'd started working shifts which is where the money was in printing. I'd saved up a betting bank & started betting mainly in win singles. 1987 was a breakthough year for me, I kept a record of my bets & made a profit, that was the year Mtoto won the first of his two Eclipse's.
Things continued pretty much in the same vein till around 1999. I moved house that year & as part of the new mortgage I had to open a current account, so there I was with a seperate debit card. I'd had a little dabble with the odd internet bet but now I could stick my betting money in there & keep it apart from the normal account & it's very rare I go in a betting shop now.

When it falls right for my shift pattern I do go racing, mainly to York where the standard is nearly always good but I have been to most of the Northern tracks.

In terms of staking, at the start of each season flat & jumps I reset the bank to 1000pts.
My maximum bet would be 10% of the start bank & the minimum 1%, the average bet is around 30pts or 3%. It wouldn't increase or decrease as the bank goes up or down it would stay the same for the season.
At the end of the season the bank is reset either up or down & it all starts again.
Betting this way if you are sucessful allows the bank to grow steadly till you arrive at your "choke point" this is the level where your maximum bet is the most you are prepared to stake.
At this point you bet to this level & even if your bank increases you do not up the stakes

Selection wise I tend to follow the same pattern year in year out, I know the races I like & the ones I don't.
I use the reverse selection process, looking to see why a horse can't win, if I can't chuck it out it goes on the shortlist. Sometimes I will back more than one in a race, it depends on the odds.
I always take a price & most of the time I better or equal the SP.
I still mainly go for the win single but will go ew or for a forcast or the odd multiple bet from time to time.

ATB.
John (Rio)

[Carl]

Hi guys,
dont often venture into ATR
Errmm well ive been betting on the horses properly since 2005 but ever since I went to Wetherby races in 1991 I was hooked on the whole betting lark.
Like I said only got into it properly via my mate who I sometimes bring to PL meet ups.

I read the form etc and scour the internet for any clues to races but as you might have noticed Im a bit of a Godolphin fan so sorry for the boys in blue tips that havent come in

One thing I have learnt from guys on here that in this game you never stop learning and just when you've found the 'key' to spotting winners other factors come into it, but Im more of a " Why is such a such a trainer taking 1 to such a such a place" or why is a jockey booked for 1 ride in the 12.40 and his next/last ride at 5.00.

I like to read between the lines but recently Ive looking more into the stats of racing ie why 1 trainer targets a specific race.

plus as you know I do own Farbets.co.uk which mainly gives out Football tips and Racing tips for free.

Errm thats about it really.

[jtw1]

Hello out there

Name - JOHN
Age - 46

A brief history
-------------

Been following the Horses since i was knee high to my Uncle George who took me to AYR races where he was a member .
Started betting when bookies shops were dark and dingy holes , your betting slip in those days was not unlike an old fashioned bus ticket and it was up to you to remember how much you'd bet and who you'd backed !!!
In the in-between years i've seen plenty old good /great racehorses and tried to visit as many racecourses as i could .
Nothing beats a day at the races and for quite a few years i was a regular at KELSO ,even though i stayed in EDINBURGH at the time.
Saturdays were as follows - Out of bed , dressed , down to buy the SPORTING LIFE [ now that was THE best racing paper , It was the Bookies and the Arab money behind the RP that forced it out of business ]
Study said SPORTING LIFE for a couple of hours , make selections , go to bookies with my bets + old mans , sit and watch ITV 7 / Grandstand [ Then along came Channel 4 ] , after telly racing finished along to bookies to Listen on the old blower to a few more races , back for football results ,
tea time , Dr who and then if Dad had won a few bob and Uncle George was visiting we'd be off to POWDERHALL dogs to lose the lot !!!! AH GLORY DAYS.
Something strange happened after a few losing visits to KELSO ; now i don't wish to sound big-headed but i usually came back winning /level more often than not throughout the season ] but as i say the losing days started to outnumber the rest and i basically fell out of love with the game .
Remember one meeting where if it wasn't odds-on shots winning it was 20/1+ shots with absolutely no chance on paper of winning and i distinctly remember the Fav [ decent odds] in a Seller [ i know ] drifting like a barge but your's truly lumping on and left scratching my head when it trailed in about 40 lengths behind a supposed no-hoper.
Ever since then , as the regulars on ATR will have noticed , i have long periods where i'm just not interested but then that little bug that bit soooo many years ago has a bite again and the good memories come back and once again i'm hooked [ for a while any way]
Nowadays i tend to try and NOT study form too much and prefer to follow the statistical approach which has it's ups and downs but its what i prefer to do now and it can find a few winners , until the losers start and i go into hibernation again

[Billboard]

I'm John....31 next week, live in Dublin (from Kent)...work for an ad agency.

Horse racing has been in my family for years....a huge oil of Desert Orchid dominates my parents living room. My 1st bet was Dessie when I put half my days pay from my Saturday job in the local bakery when he won the 1989 Gold Cup....had to beg my Grandad to put it on for me.

1st trip to the races was the 1995 Derby....had 30 quid on Lamtarra at 14/1. Love flat racing, jumps I can take or leave. Horses are the only sport I bet on and I've been playing poker for money since I 15.

Royal Ascot is my Christmas and the Derby is my birthday!!

[R & R]

Hi

Im assuming I qualify to post here, even with my part-time status on the board.

My name is Allan, live in Glasgow and an avid Glasgow Rangers supporter, 28 years old, happily married with 2 kids and another on the way.

Enough of the personals.....

Had my first bet when I was 16/17, scored a 12/1 winner with £2 and that was me hooked as they say. Not a great lover of the big horse race meetings but more the smaller, trappier meetings.

If I had a specialist subject with regards to horses, it for some reason would probably be Irish racing as I tend to solve the heats there much much easier than UK, also like a bit of AW.

My favourite horses in training are Harchibald, Detroit City, Fair Along and Al Eile.

My favourite horse of all time is Azertyouip, and I personally feel that the era of the "Holy Trinity" was the most exciting in the modern era of Jumping.

Think thats about it........ anything else you want to know or think I have missed, feel free to ask.

[Cassius Marcellus]

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...

[Cassius Marcellus]

I've had my disasters, but manage to just stay in front

Me and my fcuking big gob!!

Layed 7 today, 5 of the bastards won.

[peteg40]

Originally Posted by Cassius Marcellus

I've had my disasters, but manage to just stay in front

Me and my fcuking big gob!!

Layed 7 today, 5 of the bastards won.

You said it mate

[peteg40]

Hi,

My name whould you believe is Pete.... Live in the West Midlands just outside worcester..... married two children both boys eldest is 20....youngest 10.......

Support the mighty Arsenal used to go a lot when i was free and single in the days of the great Liam Brady....don't get to many games now as i referee most saturdays and can't get tickets for home games.... but with a few local teams in the prem can get tickets for those games...

My first bet was when i was at college aged app 18... Willie Carson Hatrick went into the smoke filled shop with £5.00 came out with £70.00 thought this is easy moneybut time told me no it wasn't...

Since i have been on PL have bet more wiseley and am starting to show a bit of profit.... Some great tipsters on here IMO....

Did meet up with a few of the members on here at a PL race meeting at Worcester about 3 years ago..... What a Day..... Will have to try to get on one this year but it's hard to get time off work and to get away from the other half for a couple of days........

Well that's about it chaps not very interesting but thats me

[TheRat]

Don't think I knew you were from near Worcester
Where abouts Pete?

[peteg40]

Originally Posted by TheRat

Don't think I knew you were from near Worcester
Where abouts Pete?

Malvern mate

[TheRat]

Lovely. I live fairly near the centre, well, a villiage called Hallow
Well, actually I live in Madrid now! But unfortunatly back home for a few more days still

[Gingertipster]

Gingertipster, The Early Years.
The name is Mark, 41, and single. Joined PL only in July this year.
When I was knee high to a pony I wanted to be a jockey. Started lessons when about 6 years old. Got carted a couple of times and fell off. Then they put me on a thoroughbred, too high up for me so I stopped.
Always watched racing on TV, it was not the gambling that got me interested, just loved the sport. In 76 (I think) the family had a sweep stake on the National. I plumped for Red Rum, he finished 2^nd but picked up the winnings anyway for beating the other five selected horses home. Ten minutes later, we saw the result on screen. First number 6 (or was it 16). My Nan had picked her horse by its number and did not know its name, you guessed it Number 6 Rag Trade. So with the winnings in my hands I had to give it all back. The next year Red Rum (and I) won.
Looking back I can see my mother tried to put me off betting. She gave me an exercise book to write down every bet I would have made (if old enough). Much to my mothers disgust, by some miracle I made a profit. And a gambler was made.
At 18 I opened an account with a local bookie and lost £200 within a few months. Thought I knew it all in those days, now of course I Know I know it all. Well almost, you are always learning at this game. Then came the 1985 classics, had an ante-post bet on Oh So Sharp for the 1000 Guineas, won by a short head and short head, just getting up. And £25 each way on Slip Anchor at 16/1 for the Derby, easy 12 length winner. That year I put more in to my building society account than I earned in wages. Bought my first Timeform book and never looked back.
Often found over the years I was pretty good at predicting favourites months in advance (not the winner just the favourite) so ante post bets were / are a good source of income. Mr Frisk 33/1, Bobbyjoe 25/1, West Tip 20/1, Dawn Run 5/1, Desert Orchid 5/1, Looks Like Trouble 33/1, Kicking King 12/1 and many many more, that is not to mention the flat.
Best ever result was in 2003. Had watched the 2002 Greatwood Hurdle when Rooster Booster won well under top weight from a good quality field. Thought, that horse must be about a 20% (4/1) chance for the Champion Hurdle. Most offers were around 7/1 or 8/1, one had 10/1, but Stan James offered 12/1. A bet with a capital B. Put my usual amount on, thought bets like this don't come along very often, so backed it again to win 4 figures (just). Then, a few days later my Timeform arrived and described the performance as “good enough to win 3 of the last 4 Champion Hurdles”. By this time it was top priced 8/1 but had to go in yet again and doubled my stake. Lucky its temperament held for the rest of the season. Rarely shout a horse home but did that day.
Joined the West Berkshire Racing Club about four or five years ago (not an owners group). We go on visits to stables, studs and have evening talks by racing personalities held at Newbury racecourse. I can thoroughly recommend this and any other similar racing clubs to anyone interested in the non-betting side of racing. WBRC membership costs £12 plus £5 a visit. Went to Paul Nicholls, Marcus Treggonnig, Alan King, Emma Lavelle, Shadwell and Gainsborough Studs to name just a few. With visits to Nicky Henderson and Henrietta Knight already lined up for January. Am also in a team which takes on a host of racing celebrities, including teams from the Racing Post, Raceform, Wetherbys, Trainers, Jockeys etc. in an annual quiz (on 22^nd Jan), great fun night.
Member at Goodwood and a tattersalls member at Newbury besides being a regular at Salisbury, Wincanton and Fontwell. Infrequant journeys to Ascot, Sandown and Bath. Unfortunately the furthest I venture north is Cheltenham.

Two days that changed my life.
In the early 90's, at Wincanton I got talking to a chap about how we bet. I said I look at the Timeform race card and find horses with the best chances of winning. Then back the one I think is value. He told me why by beating the starting price punters are not necessarily getting value. He explained about true odds. I vowed to find out more and it changed the way I backed horses completely. From then on have tried to make a 100% book. Or, at least by knowing the “table of odds and chances” off by heart can find true value. The 100% tissue is only an opinion but, over time, if a punter makes a profit he can say he gets true value (most of the time). That bloke at Wincanton I now know as professional gambler Alan Potts, we still have chats, putting the world of racing to rights.
About four years ago I was diagnosed diabetic and no longer had the energy for the hours of manual work I once did. This hastened my decision to go (very) part time and concentrate on trying to make enough to live on by “investing” in racehorses. Had it planned twenty years ago, saved up, done the sensible things like keeping outgoings to an absolute minimum. Don't even have a mortgage to worry about, or a wife come to that. Think they are put off by my “gambling”, either that or they're ginger phobic! (Any women on the PL? For applications, apply within).
In truth, although making make a profit I do not put enough on, or make enough to call myself a professional gambler; yet. Wanted to prove it was possible before going in for the kill. I remember Alan once told me many punters make money to small stakes, but when they put larger sums on it effects the way they look at races. Not getting value anymore, so not making a profit. May be I will be one of those, but it will be fun finding out.
Thats about it, got a bit carried away. If you want to know how I bet then find a thread I started called “How to produce a 100% book” or take a look at Gingers Jumpers.


Ginge

[puntyboy]

Well, im paul from ireland and im 25. been gambling now since my first bet was sinndar in the derby bout 7 years ago. The whole expierience has been about learning lessons for me. I remember i used to get my pocket money in school/college on a sunday, be broke on monday and swear id never do it again.

Used to back every race i could but got so fed up with it just gave up for about a year and came back to it about 3 years ago. Now bet bigger stakes on fewer bets but im still pretty indisciplined and im trying to improve that area of my gambling and have learnt a lot since i came across PL. Another problem of mine is i cant accept anyone putting up a horse for me, i always want to find the winner myself and thats something thats gotta change. I understand now that theres guys like you doing this professionally/ or putting a lot more effort into what your doing.

My main methods of picking horses have came from a book i read on 'instant handicapping' and although it has had some great pay days id still be well down in the long run. Its pretty basic and it always seems like it revolves around horses at the head of the market.

Some of my recent good moments is filling a 5 euro yankee last summer and pocketing a cool 2700. And last year i done a accum in the soccer and newcastle got beat by bolton but PPower made some cock up in the system and when i checked my account I was amazed to see another 2000. (which i hastily withdrew and they llet me keep outta goodwill!

I alwaysseem to do well at major meetings like ascot cheltenham but always return to the monday at ludlow/southwell etc which i hate doing but never resist. Probably my biggest dissapointment was doing the placepot at cheltenham last year on the final day.

I had five up in a E20 placepot al riding on maralan in the last. He led nearly all way round, jumped the last in front and ended up coming 15th. I nevere actually found out what the placepot paid that day so if any of you guys can find out id love to know.

Anyway now you know a little about me and happy punting and heres to a profitable 2008 (with alittle help from you guys )

[adam7982]

I am Adam age 25 and been gambling since the age of 20 i mainly specialise in football trebles & doubles but i am really taking to horse racing and with the help of you guys its great way of learning. I hope you dont mind having an ameteur around.

My favourite horse that i loved to watch has sadly now past away...i used to love detroit city but his life was sadly cut short.

Your all a great help so thanks for the tips and i have provided a few of my own too.

Am going to gold cup tomorrow this will be my 1st live racing event so i am very excited....if you have any advice and tips please private message me.

Adam