I have heard so often from people, usually those not very interested in the sport, that horse racing is all about gambling. The Queen Elizabeth II stakes this weekend however is the greatest argument against this idea I feel. I do like a bet and will look most days and probably find something every other day, whilst i cannot remember the last Saturday that went by without me picking a couple out for investment although this would most likely have been the snowy period at the end of last year when the choice was Southwell or Southwell (can't abide the track). This weekend however Frankel runs again and I already have the anticipation that usually only comes when your team is about to take the field for a cup final or maybe when the better half tells you she is visiting her parents who live the other side of the country at the weekend and taking the children with her. I have not been able to back Frankel on any outing this year because as Jim Mcgrath would say he's not a working mans price but I have enjoyed his races like no other and come this weekend no matter what old handicappers I have had a bet on there is only one horse i want to see win and win well, and that's Frankel. Will he do it? Of course he will and even from our sofa we will cheer Sir Henry into the winners’ enclosure with a lump in our throat that no winnings have ever created. On an end note my good lady wife is taking the children to her parents as well this weekend, so now if I can only find a way for West Ham to play in a cup final.
Ron. Blue, absolutely. I got to a point this summer where I had to admit I was betting needlessly and trying too hard to find winners. I've changed my approach the last two weeks, betting on just the Arc and then waiting to see if a horse comes to me, rather than me actively studying every single race with a view to betting on each of them. Had a small stakes yankee on Saturday and very small bets on the Cesarewitch. I've enjoyed the racing far more this past two weeks than any other point in the season. I've been able to simply appreciate the racing because most of it I have viewed from a completely neutral perspective (i.e not blurred by betting perspective). Especially Frankel, as I have just watched and admired his victories at those short prices. I'm hoping to do the same with the NH season and the spotlight thread has been excellent so far- I've been able to just learn about various horses and I am looking forward to monitoring their progression as opposed to betting on them whenever they run. Hopefully that way it can make Cheltenham much more enjoyable, as its almost the 'final exam' as such.
Top. you don't have to bet on every race,I think your finding out, that your a horse racing fan and not a gambler of horse racing.Keep on enjoying the racing,if something pops up like a good investment so be it.There are more punter friendly betting situations than betting on horses.
I stopped betting on horses (on anything actually) long, long ago. Ok I had small bets on Arc day because I was there (and made a profit, thanks to Elusive Kate). But I've enjoyed horse racing since I was a young lad, when I used to go with my parents for the odd day out (Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, Epsom; and Brighton whilst on holiday). I have never tired of horse racing and still enjoy studying the form. I have to admit though that I am only really interested in good races with class horses and/or horses I have become attached to. Future possible champions I find most exciting and close ups in the paddock I enjoy. I hope Frankel wins but it's not a foregone conclusion, provided the main opposition all turn up. I'm one of the few who doubts he would beat the best beyond a mile and really see him as an unbeatable 7fur horse. Should be a fantastic day's racing and am really looking forward to it.
Yeah Islander it was definitely a lesson learnt and I hope anyone else who reads this with a similar pattern can learn from that mistake I am more attracted to the top-levels of racing now and am more inclined to enjoy watching horses progress from race to race, and towards a long-term target.
I was out on the town with a couple of friends on Friday watching the shower that are the England football team (Rooney’s dad cleaned up on The Chimp seeing red). Knowing that I had been to Arc weekend, one of my friends enquired whether I actually backed anything. The reason for this is that I often go to the races and don’t have a bet at all. Nobody ever asks them if they have filled in a pools coupon when they go to a football match on Saturday, yet horse racing does just seem to be perceived as a betting medium rather than as a sport. On the occasions that I have been to some low quality evening meetings with friends, they have been your typical beer-and-a-bet customers and can’t understand why I might have had only one bet all night because I don’t touch selling plates, claimers and low grade handicaps. The only money I’ll have done all night will be on falling down water.
Racing will forever be associated with gambling, perhaps very few spectators and those who work in the industry can gain any pleasure from a performance/victory. Every now and then a genuine great graces us (Dessie, Red Rum, See the Stars) and they command a huge following from non racing quarters which is great for the sport, but (Ron and Cyc aside) I'd say there are very few others in here who follow racing but do not bet.
I echo everything Ron said other than I reckon Frankel is a forgone conclusion. I enjoy the sport much more than the betting and I prefer to watch a race as a whole than focus on the perfomance of one horse because I've staked a few quid on it. That said I only follow decent horses and watch decent races. You won't find me tuning in to a class 6 handicap at Towcester on ATR unless there's a bloody good reason...
I think this applies to most sports! betting on anything increases the stress of watching the event rather than just enjoying and appreciating the sport! As a football fan i have often been disappointed after watching my team win just because i lost my bet! thats not right!
Horses like Frankel are unbackable to the majority. If Frankel was 5/2 my guess is that everyone in here (even the non punters) would be steaming in, perhaps the reason many say they just want to enjoy to occasion is because either they can't work out who to back or the fav is too short. I only got to back Istabraq once in his Champions Hurdles and genuinely stood there 2/3 years wanting him to win without a financial interest, but had his price been bigger I would have backed him every time.
It's different when you're actually there though. If betting where illegal I'd still be able to follow this sport with the same level of interest. (though betting got me into it in the first place!)
Good point GGWashington, as that is how i got into the sport of horse racing, by having a bet first. Losing, hitting a lucky winner, listening to others in what they are betting on, following the favourite in very open races. But i was working in a pub as a 18 year old and anything i picked up on i had a bet. Never once thinking that there must be a reason or thought process behind parting with my cash... But now im different and can honestly say that i still need to learn and study but the winning of money, or the betting on a race isnt the be all anymore... Its great when it dos but im way past the bet on every race just because i can days... The chase the money if a lose on the first 3 bets days... Ive come to appreciate the races more for what they are, and to be honest im now finding the winners with a bit more regularity, (not enough as i still have to work...) because im not thinking of how much im getting back if a put a £10 win on a horse... I go on what i think and if it wins then im happy... If they lose i may curse my misfortune first, then look back as to why... (usually its becasue it was a bad throw of the dart... ...)
I was introduced to horseracing by my late grandfather doing his ITV Seven on a Saturday afternoon when he was home from sea, so I guess I followed Newsboy’s tips in the Daily Mirror before I followed the actual horses. When I worked in the betting industry, I used to bet virtually every day of the week; however, now I hardly bet at all by comparison as I don’t have time to follow the form. I have been to the races several times this year and not backed anything, so it is definitely not all about betting. As I never knowingly back odds-on (last one was 9/10 Indian Skimmer beating Miesque in the 1987 Prix de Diane), I will not be backing Frankel on Saturday but I expect him to win. Not having a financial interest will not lessen my interest in the race (whoever wins).
I can watch racing all day long without having a bet and not get bored (well, maybe on a snowy Monday in January where the action is from Southwell and Wolverhampton). I love watching the race develop, the jockeying for position, looking to see who is pushing along and who is still on the bit. Even more so the big races with the big names. I certainly won't be having a bet in the QEII but will be glued to the screen during the race
Glad to see that there is more to betting in this forum and that we actually love horse racing for what it is!
Quarter: The good old ITV7 was how my grandad introduced me into racing also!! Selective betting has been the best thing i have done in many years! Like others you actually enjoy the racing far better as well and also have more money for when you have a particularly strong fancy! Glad people like TopC are learning this from an early age as it will make the whole racing life far more fun
I will be going to Ascot on Saturday for 1 reason - to see Frankel run I will probably have a bet on all of the other races but leave the Frankel race alone and just savour the occasion.
