Nass, I think that BetFred are tight fisted *****. The damage they've done themselves is amazing, maybe they think that there is no such thing as bad publicity. It make you wonder what kind of people run the main office. Why didn't they just balance their books. It is called bookmaking after all. I don't think that BetFred are alone when it comes to sticking it to the punter though. As long as they have a get out clause as an option, there is nothing IBAS can do. In fact IBAS seem to do little more than endorse the actions of the betting houses.
As for Barney Curley, he can't be blamed for doing what has been done for centuries. It is almost impossible to be the only person in the know. So of course others close to the family and stable, are going to want to take a swipe at the bookies. But Mr. Curley doesn't come out of this smelling like a rose. Did he give a damn for the poor bastard who had a few quid on the horses who were going around just to get a price blow out on "hit" day. Sure he could say that they were running on their merit, despite the fact that he'd dropped them into races he knew were not in the horse's best interests. I think that the powers that be, in some cases, are toothless tigers. How many times have we done money, knowing after the event was over, that we might as well have just flushed the money down the toilet?
If the events of most race days are to be used as a guide line, Barney Curley's family deserve to be paid.