A slightly different ‘Chair’ this time, more of a cross between Readers Letters and Points of View.
Basically, no matter what is written on this site, somebody is going to take an opposite view or be offended.
That is the nature of what we do, inform and create debate. Personally, I have no issue with a contrary view – we seldom learn much from people who share our views. My opinion is entirely malleable to new information.
My only two issues are with people who are too insecure to consider that they might be wrong, or those who get personally abusive if you challenge their arguments. They tend to be the same people.
If you don’t like what we do – please do the other thing. You’ll be happier, because it is not about to change.
The future for on-course bookmakers is one subject that has rattled cages.
We reported that a Racing Post spin-off had created software to formulate SPs post Coronavirus. We also reported that some tracks would save a great deal of money by not having to pay hefty sums for bookies to attend BAGS/SIS meetings.
We also reproduced part of a Gambling Commission report into greyhound betting. It was a direct quote from a report that you can read yourself on their website.
These were factual reports. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Among the more reasoned responses was from the hugely respected Belle Vue layer Simon Walmsley whose letter is published here in his role as Chairman of the National Association of Bookmakers:
I have read with considerable interest many of the comments lamenting on-course bookmakers. At this point I would like to clarify that not ALL on-course bookmakers get paid to attend a meeting on BAGS, SIS or RPGTV, speaking as a Belle Vue bookmaker we have never received a payment for any meeting. Many tracks struggle to attract on-course operators because they have foregone their evening fixtures in favour of lucrative media fixtures so the problem arises.
Your article suggests that the Gambling Commission would prefer it if SPs were not derived from on-course operators, however, they are satisfied to receive the license fees they pay and monetary contributions towards problem gambling but in reality I would imagine it would be the SP Regulatory Committee who would have the final say.
Having bet at many BAGS fixtures for a number of years it would be very easy to be insulted at this article as many of my colleagues spend a great deal of time watching re-runs of races and preparing their own tissue before arriving at the track and making final adjustments when the non-runners and reserves are announced, this may also include late withdrawals during the day too. We have to travel to the track, most of us live an hour away at least and makes for a day’s work. Whilst we bet at the track, we may notice any bias in the track if there has been prolonged weather conditions, would an algorithm deal with this. We are also in a position to know the dogs and this is an advantage only the human touch brings to the table.
What is puzzling me the most is that I have never met a punter who has not had their account closed or severely restricted, not always for having the audacity to back a winner but sometimes for backing too many selections that drop in price but don’t necessarily go on to win so I don’t know who is applauding the future of odds being produced by a computer but at this moment in time, prior to COVID-19 that is, if you want a 500/400 on a BAGS meeting at Belle Vue come and have a bet at the track, you will be on. Come racing when we’re back!!
I think the on-course layers have served the industry very well over the past decades, facilitating them to earn millions of pounds and if you are not happy with this then it will be interesting to se an alternative that works better.
Stay well, stay safe.
Simon Walmsley, Chairman National Association of Bookmakers
The piece about a possible timescale involved for the return of racing was not a news story.
It was an editorial opinion piece (hence it was in Editors Chair) that attempted to string together a string of facts and arrive at a conclusion.
Contrary to social media noise, it did not distinguish between big and small tracks (we used Romford as an example since as one of the busiest tracks, and would therefore face the greater challenges). Nor did we suggest that racing should return before it was safe or that any rules should be broken.
We did suggest that by nature of it being isolated with almost 200 greyhounds on site, Towcester (which was only awaiting a final GBGB approval to re-open) would have been a prime example to demonstrate to Government that racing could be kept safe with a minimum of disruption and staff.
Reader Wayne Morris agreed:
“After reading your thoughts on getting back to racing, your workings on tracks is spot on. I hope this will be lobbied to the Government mainly to get people back to work. This could be the flagship that small steps will work when everybody obeys the rules. I know everyone involved is doing there best but so many staff from all walks of life are suffering. We have to start somewhere and the discipline at tracks is next to none so why not start there?
But there were opposing views.
On social media it was suggested that we were jeopardizing lives, suggesting breaking rules and antagonizing Government.
So my thanks to SIS’s Gordon Bissett who reminded me that Australia continues to race and this is how they manage the situation in Victoria.
The massively experienced former racing manager Simon Harris responded to the editorial piece about the value and application of seeding
He wrote “In response to your seeding debate, a small point is that many Racing Managers/local stewards seem very reluctant to include positional comments on form lines
“This makes it very difficult to assess if an open race entry has been seeded correctly when no form lines have anything to tell you where the greyhound has been running on the track.
“Also who remembers the track which would use the comment ‘ROBWOS’ for a greyhound in solo trial, any suggestions”
Our regular columnist Rob Abrey made the same point. Basically, some racing offices are too idle to produce worthwhile race comments.
Understandably the Hove assistant was reluctant to identify offenders, but was prepared to identify one of the best tracks in the business for keeping their colleagues and punters informed, Romford.
Some might accuse Rob of ‘Coral favouritism’, though that would surely be a great disservice to the man who moulded Romford racing procedures in his own impeccable image – Peter O’Dowd.
Returning to the Simon Harris letter, what does ROBWOS mean and which track used it?
“Rails on bends, wide on straights. Often confused by a dog coursing the hare in a solo which most dogs do. Can’t remember which track though.”
For a pushy journo, a text from a former Hall Green/Wimbledon racing manager was too good an opportunity to miss. Surely he must have some great ‘Geoffreyisms’ to recall?
“I think I could fill your website with them. Even thinking about them makes me laugh. I will see that I can do.”
My thanks to the former Senior GRA Racing Manager Bob Rowe for his tribute to the late great George Curtis.
Bob wrote: “I am so sorry to learn of the passing of dear George Curtis – a true master of his trade.
“I had known him from my early days and quickly recognised the enthusiasm and integrity that he abounded with.
“It was always a pleasure to talk to George, I regularly spoke to him on the phone when he was entering runners for races at White City and Wimbledon and he was always very upbeat.
“In the final reckoning of the truly great greyhound trainers, since the sport’s inception, George Curtis will be right up there amongst them.”
I plan to run more sections of the Curtis book but will probably leave the first chapter until Monday.
Sunday is traditionally the day when I like to publish a Remember When feature and since (following the feature about the story of GRA) I have been accused on social media of ‘spending too much time looking back instead of forward’, I will take the advice.
I must say, it isn’t easy looking forward when there has been no racing activity within the last month.
However, as someone always keen to respond to criticism, also on Monday, I will be giving tricast selections for the Romford card on Friday June 26.
