A tale of expensive odds-on losers - but at least the memory is a source of comfort now in these trying times
Bad betting tales. It's amazing how many a person can accumulate. I've shared a few of mine in these pages, moments when sporting speculation descended into slapstick, and another one came to mind this week.
It was a dreich afternoon at Newbury in early 2001, the tail end of winter, then known as Tote Gold Trophy day. I fancied a couple at juicy prices in the big race, of course, because it was a 20-runner handicap hurdle; you only had to look at it for five minutes before you started to see possibilities among the less fashionable runners.
But the first three races were small-field contests, trials for the Cheltenham Festival, lacking in depth and complexity. We could all see what was going to happen. It was a shame to have such predictable races on a Saturday card.
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Published on inChris Cook
Last updated
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- Bryan Drew's swipe at British jump racing seems unfair - the sport's leaders should speak loudly and quickly in its defence
- Oh for the days when a bit of short-term snatching was the worst that happened between punters and bookies
- Where are all the Gold Cup contenders? Running and hiding from a champ who can't be beat, that's where
- How upsetting and unnerving that one racecourse seems to have given up on attracting racegoers
- 'If we go under, we're taking your cash with us' - how appalling that some punters' money remains unprotected
- Bryan Drew's swipe at British jump racing seems unfair - the sport's leaders should speak loudly and quickly in its defence
- Oh for the days when a bit of short-term snatching was the worst that happened between punters and bookies
- Where are all the Gold Cup contenders? Running and hiding from a champ who can't be beat, that's where