It's over two years since I stopped writing the blog 3 to 4 times a week. After I made the move back to Melbourne there was simply too much happening as regards family and health to find the time or the inclination to deal with it. Happily things are back on an even keel again. My Daughter has only a few months left before she finishes her VCE and my heart issues seem to be resolved now after having a pacemaker fitted at the end of last year. That was a big decision to make as I am now completely "pacemaker dependent" so it's only the small electronic devise implanted in my chest that is keeping me alive. It's working perfectly and the battery should last 8 to 10 years so until then hopefully there will be no problems.
Despite all the drama's going on last year was my most profitable since I moved to Australia twenty years ago. This year started well but the second quarter was very slow so I have a bit of catching up to do to match last year. The second half of the year is generally more profitably than the first for me so it may happen if I get a charge on over the next few months.
Some very positive changes with the minimum bet rules a real game changer and hopefully the move is followed in SA and WA -Queensland plan to introduce it but haven't yet. Tassmania came on board recently. The credit for this lies with Richard Irvine who has campaigned tirelessly for a better deal for punters and all of us who bet seriously owe him a big thank you. He's proof that if you have a sound argument and are persistent one dedicated person can make things happen. He deserves an AO for the work he's done and I hope he gets one sometime down the line.
Unfortunately there are some serious negatives that threaten to undermine things. Firstly the inevitable decision by Racing NSW to raise it's race fields fee by 33% and more during carnival time makes it very difficult for Betfair to continue operating on NSW racing as their business model simply cannot operate profitably when charged on a turnover basis at these kinds of rates. When Racing NSW need to up the prize money again they will simply raise the fee again. Betfair cannot be making anything on NSW now so why they are persisting baffles me. Only by pulling out do they have any hope of negotiating a fair deal. If they do pull out of NSW then turnover will drop sufficiently for the racing authorities to realize that exchanges aren't bookmakers and shouldn't be charged accordingly. I've virtually sacked NSW racing as I'm not playing on Betfair at these commission rates and the whole thing is going nowhere at the moment. Contrary to what many media pundits said and reported I thought last year's Autumn Carnival was by far the poorest I've experienced since I began following Australian racing 30 years ago.
The SA Government's decision to introduce a "point of consumption" tax which became effective last week threatens to be taken up by other states. Bookmakers are already paying GST and this tax is effectively double dipping. If this becomes widespread punters will be the losers. Bookies have shareholders to answer to and costs will be clawed back by increased margins. The current SA Government must be the worst in living memory and again betting companies need to show some teeth here by simply not betting on SA racing until this idiotic tax is repealed. I heard a rumour that Sportsbet were going to drop SA racing last week but they had listings for yesterday's meeting at Gawler when I looked on Friday night. I may sound like an apologist for Bookmakers and their interests but if you are a punter any charges levied on them are going to be passed on to you.
If you bet on Betfair outside of Australia the commission is a base 5%. Here we are paying bases of between 6 and 10% simply because Racing NSW chooses to charge the way it does. Their prize money is great but the punters are the ones paying for it.
Last Friday the Racing Post in the UK ran a full front page with the headine "Why The Whip Must Be Banned". The article was well written and presented a balanced argument which I totally disagree with. I am not a horseman but all of the ones I have spoken to over the years would be aghast at the idea of racing without whips. Besides the modern whip is not the same as the ones previously used.
My first thought when I saw this front page last week was "talk about the enemy within". I don't know who edit's the Racing Post nowadays but the general consensus from a handful of people I've spoken to over there was that it was an act of treachery and simply gives your enemy ammunition to use against you.
Here in Australia last week's Sandown meeting there was a slight delay to correct weight with jockey Dwayne Dunn viewing the stewards footage due to possible overuse of the whip by the winning rider.
This whip rule is lunacy in it's current form and needs to be got rid of pronto. Nobody wants to see horses flogged but if there are occasions of it the penalty must be against the rider. Clear guidelines are there but breaches should not threaten the result. Fines and suspensions that reflect the prize money and the riders experience is the simple way to administer this.
Horse Racing and it's administrators need to realize that you will never appease the anti-racing minority so why try. Racing is not followed by the majority anymore it's a minority who are interested nowadays but a very sizable minority nevertheless. Like all minorities you've got to show the rest that you are not going to be pushed around and have plenty of bullets to fire if it becomes necessary to do so. Racing generates employment for a considerable number of people. The people who do follow it get a lot of pleasure from it. Money grabs by administrators and governments threaten the currently healthy status quo and need to be vigorously resisted.
Winter racing in Australia is very modest fare so I'll only be putting the blog out generally for the midweek metro meeting and Saturdays until things pick up a bit in a few weeks. Newmarket's July festival runs for three days starting Thursday and I'll be looking at that each day.
Back on Wednesday trying to find a winner or two
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