Before Stradivarius turned the Yorkshire Cup into a procession, why were those numpties on ITV Racing discussing doing away with bookies and having a tote monopoly – the examples they cited being Hong Kong and Australia? The genie got out of the bottle nearly sixty years ago and there is no way to re-cork it. If they scrapped the bookies in this country, horse racing would be finished in less than five years. The bookies put a lot of sponsorship money into racing on top of the Levy (admitted sponsoring a lot of the low quality fixtures). That would be replaced with nothing as a great many people would never bother betting if the tote was the only option. I certainly would not – the last bet I had in France was when Midday won the Vermeille in 2010. I put my bets on with the British bookies before I go. Betting with twenty odd per cent deductions is for the FOBTs.
Quote of the day by Ed Chamberlain Speaking to Francesca Cumani - " ... and Richard Hoilles has done you on the line" Who wouldn't pay to see that?
Just watched the replay and I though Wadilsafa won very nicely at HQ - always in the firing line and the way he pulled clear in the last 100 yards suggests he might yet take up that Derby entry?
Better horse won and was still green as grass mate. I was confident of improvement but he has bumped into one there!
