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THE PUNTERS BIBLE 3 PUNTERS.COM.AU INTRODUCTION Beauty, in the eye of the punter

orse racing is a complex beast. that control is forever surrendered Not complex in the manner of as the gates crash back and H nuclear science, but for a sport the hooves start to thunder. that at its barest foundation revolves Anyone who has taken the time around and jockeys haring to explore horse racing soon around racetracks at frightening realises just how captivating speed, it somehow qualifies. the Sport of Kings truly is. But that’s the very curiosity of I fortunate enough to have racing: it can be distilled down horse racing introduced to me by my to just those two things: fit, fast father-in-law, John Goundrey, an on- horses; and the brave riders perched course bookmaker in . precariously on their backs. Horse racing was not then There is something so raw, so an interest of mine—my true utterly unpredictable about passion was technology and this combination that makes I was progressing through a it both thrilling to watch, and Software Engineering major. so entertaining to share and experience with others. I was 18 years old and already had spent five years immersing And that’s just the mechanics of myself in my of programming. the races themselves. The tracks— Just as a racing diehard might some visually stunning, some less pore over a form guide, I would so, but each with their own special write code until all sorts of charm—add enthralling chapters hours, sometimes all night. LUC PETTETT: Punters.com.au CEO & Founder to the dog-eared lore of the turf. Programming involves a great deal The best way I can summarise of logic, a great working memory, tickets and taking bets— horse racing is in two words: an imagination, and an ability to I was fascinated with the data beautifully fascinating. visually conceptualise information and language of the track. It is a sport fuelled by passion, in your mind, all the while tracking I fell in love with the social but it goes far deeper than variables, names, formulas interactions unique to the a flash of excitement and and functions. Programming is on-course experience. often described as an art form. the quick thrill of a win. The trackgoers—all manner of weird And justifiably so: you really Indeed, its complexity seems and wonderful characters united can create objects of beauty. almost endless—the moment by a shared love of the punt—were you think you’ve figured out how Sure enough, the lure of horse racing the true lifeblood of the course. proved irresistible for a brain wired a race will play out, you can be “Late mail” would be passed from in the mould of the programmer. proven spectacularly wrong in a mate to mate via the corners of There were huge similarities manner of minutes, even seconds. conspiratorial mouths; each tip between the two pursuits— Hours of form study, of crunching trusted and backed for no reason in particular when it came to numbers, of monitoring betting other than the fear of missing out. comprehending form. I was hooked. markets, of detecting patterns, A winning bet shared seemed to be leads to the calculated finality of When I started working on-course worth double the spoils; a losing bet placing a bet. Yet in a flash, all as a bookmaker clerk—writing shared halved the pain of defeat.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 4 PUNTERS.COM.AU INTRODUCTION

THE PUNTERS STABLE: 17 strong and growing.

This shared experience in Punters.com.au employee is around asking questions about this most horse racing was the root of the 27: we hire young, enthusiastic and challenging, mesmeric of sports. passionate people who are willing sport, and it was something, I It was this thirst for information to take risks and try new ideas. realised, that was completely that spawned The Punters Bible, missing in the online sphere. It’s undoubtedly a fine line—horse a single book to guide punters Punters needed a place to racing’s history and traditions across everything that we call home, from home. command enormous respect—yet consider to be relevant to—and we continue to reimagine notions of A space to interact with fellow enjoyable about—horse racing. how the sport should be represented. racing tragics, to access cutting- A book that sparks discussion edge information and, ultimately, And it’s this approach that has made and interest, perhaps even some to laugh, let loose and lament. us the single largest horse racing more phone calls. Punters are website in the country. I’m proud to This is the context in which inquisitive types—true thinkers say that our apps and website are our journey at Punters.com.au and students—after all! visited by more than two million began. And here we are today. No matter who you are, I truly hope Australians every year. And given my that reading this book brings you Having sprung the barriers as love of the social aspect of racing, it is to the same firm conclusion as us: “Punters Paradise” in 2009, also a source of great pride that we’ve horse racing really is beautiful, we renamed to the cleaner been able to connect more punters and it’s absolutely fascinating. Punters.com.au in 2014. than any other website ever has. Enjoy! We’re now a team of almost 20 Over the past few years we have highly talented racing experts and had thousands of people phone Luc Pettett, technologists. The average age of a us, email us or write on our forums CEO of Punters.com.au

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 5 PUNTERS.COM.AU CONTENTS The Punters Bible

Introduction 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 1 Betting 65 Bet types 65 The origins of the 7 Where to bet 67 The thoroughbred—the perfect specimen 8 Understanding the basics 69 History of racing in 9

Key events 10 Chapter 5 Professional punting 71 Chapter 2 The diary of a pro punter 71 Legends of the turf 14 Framing markets 73 Horses—the magnificent seven 14 Ratings 74 Trainers—10 of the best 22 Staking plans 75 Great jockeys 34 Arbitrage 78 The money men either side of the ledger 46 Profiling 80 Famous punters 46 Famous bookmakers 48 Chapter 6 The tote and the bookies 50 The horse racing industry 81

Totalisator/Pari-mutuel betting 50 The breeding game 81 The bookies—on-course and corporates 51 Pedigrees 84 SP bookmaking 52 Yearling sales 86 Rags to riches 88 Chapter 3 Expensive flops 91 Horse racing form 53 Racehorse ownership 93

How to read the form guide 53 Basics of racing 54 Chapter 7 Key components form analysis 58 Glossary 95

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 6 PUNTERS.COM.AU The origins of the thoroughbred The origins of the thoroughbred

ake a deep enough look into any The Darley Arabian covered strong in , half-starved and pulling a water racehorse’s pedigree, and the books of English mares between 1706 cart, before being bought for T meandering road of champions and 1719, with feted descendants a song by Englishman Edward Coke. and battlers long gone will eventually such as Flying Childers and Another story implies that the come to a dead end at one of three ( horse and forefather Arabian was afforded signposts: Darley Arabian, Godolphin of ) ensuring his legacy his “big break” at stud only when Arabian or . The blood of into the modern thoroughbred. a mare named Lady Roxana rejected at least one of these three foundation her intended mate Hobgoblin in favour is carried to some distilled Byerley Turk of this most exotic of teaser ponies. degree by every thoroughbred. The Byerley Turk came to as a The union proved a fruitful one, with Horse racing is intoxicating partly direct spoil of war. At the siege of Buda the and Lady because of the remarkable stories in Hungary in 1688, Captain Robert Roxana producing three champion of its participants. In this regard, the Byerley of the Sixth Dragoon Guards racehorses—Lath, Cade and Regulus— foundation stallions set the standard believed a captured Turkish officer’s stamped in their father’s flashy image. early, with their own dramatic journeys cavalry horse to be so fine a specimen The tales don’t end there. A companion to the breeding barns of England. that it was worth keeping for himself. stable cat named Grimalkin, in the Godolphin Arabian’s barn at Gog Darley Arabian The , then about eight years old, served with distinction as Magog, near Cambridge, was so The Darley Arabian was smuggled Captain Byerley’s warhorse at several attached to the horse that it reportedly out of the Syrian desert under cover battles—including the famous Battle died of grief within days of the of darkness after his owner Sheikh of the Boyne at County Meath, mighty stallion’s death in 1753. Mirza II had reneged on a deal to sell Ireland, in 1690—before going to Astonishingly, the Godolphin Arabian the horse for 300 golden sovereigns stud in Yorkshire in the 1690s. features in the pedigrees of the to British Consul Thomas Darley. A dark brown with a distinct Arabian first 76 British Classic winners. Darley was so taken by the bay ’s appearance, the Byerley Turk went impressive looks that he arranged on to become a hugely influential for a group of sailors to steal him and sire of broodmares despite being the pure Arabian eventually his mated with largely inferior stock. way to a stud career in England via the ancient Turkish city of Smyrna. Godolphin Arabian How appropriate that a sport The Godolphin Arabian, foaled in so frequently synonymous with Yemen in 1724, was imported to ‘dodgy dealings’ should have had England from France in 1729 and was as one of its founding fathers the regarded as being one of the most subject of cross-continental theft exquisitely beautiful horses of his time. and international incident! He had a wonderfully arched neck and was as headstrong as he was One of the most handsome. That much is known. The rest of the Godolphin Arabian’s exquisite horses tale loses focus somewhat in a mire of mythology. of his time. GODOLPHIN ARABIAN: Headstrong and handsome, Legend has it that he was found and with a wonderfully arched neck.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 7 PUNTERS.COM.AU THE THOROUGHBRED—THE PERFECT SPECIMEN

The thoroughbred— the perfect specimen

fter hundreds of years of An attractive Strong neck Powerful shoulders, refinement, the thoroughbred head with a wide set correctly on sloping at a as we now know it is nostril, bright eye the shoulder 45 degree angle A characterised by a distinguished and alert outlook fine head, slender neck, deep shoulder, clean powerful legs and a bright intelligent eye. The very best examples of the breed are often high-spirited, courageous Deep, rounded girth and driven by an unerring will to win allowing plenty of that belies their apparent fragility. heart and lung room

Muscular rear end. Good length of hip, correct tail set Strong, short back

Powerful forearms leading from a thick muscular chest

Strong, thick gaskins

Clean, flat knees set squarely in Clean hocks, line with the shoulder, forearm set squarely in and fetlocks, and squarely line with the in line with the front leg rear end

Short, strong cannon bones. Firm, clean tendons Rounded fetlocks, not puffy or enlarged. Sesamoid Firm pasterns, not too long, bones not prominent set at 45 degree angle

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 8 PUNTERS.COM.AU A history of racing in Australia A history of racing in Australia

From Archer to

This history of racing in Australia dates back to 1810. The first Cup was run at Flemington (pictured in 2010) in 1861, and the race has grown significantly in international stature in race years.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 9 PUNTERS.COM.AU A history of racing in Australia A history of racing in Australia

he first known race 1840 meeting in Australia was • March 5-8—The first race meeting T held at Hyde Park in was held at a new course by the in 1810, more than 20 years after Salt Water (Maribyrnong) River. The settlement in . track was known as the Melbourne Melbourne was settled in 1835 Racecourse until the late 1850s, and three years later had its first when it was renamed Flemington race meeting near North Melbourne. Racecourse. Races were run anti- The racing game flourished in clockwise because of the area’s Melbourne, especially after the iconic topography and the winning post was first run in 1861. was on the river side of the course. The first Cup was won by • In Sydney the site for a new course a traveller from New South Wales, on land at Homebush was made Archer, who won it again in 1862. available by W.C. Wentworth. ARCHER: Winner of the first two Melbourne Cups. More than 140 years later, Makybe 1846 Diva, a mare adopted from England, From Archer to Carbine made her mark on the racing world • The first meeting was held at by winning three consecutive Park (then known as 1860 Melbourne Cups (2003-05). Eastern Parklands) in . • The first South The following points detail some of 1851 was run at Thebarton. It was won by Midnight. the most important moments in more • The South Australian than 200 years of racing in Australia. Club was formed. 1861 1857 • November 7—Archer won the first Melbourne Cup, which was run on • 1857-59—Flemington had two clubs, Key events a Thursday. Mormon was second. the Victoria Turf Club and Victoria The early years , each holding a Derby. • On the same day, the first AJC Randwick Derby Stakes was 1859 1810 run. Kyogle was the winner. • August—The wreck of the ‘Admella’ • October 15—The first Australian 1865 and the loss of 89 people and race meeting was held at Hyde four racehorses from Adelaide • The Randwick Derby Stakes was Park, Sydney, continuing on bound for the Australian Champion reconstructed and renamed the AJC October 17 and 19. A right-handed Sweepstakes in Melbourne. Stakes. The new race course was selected because of was considered to be a ‘true Derby’. the topography of the location. • Victoria Turf Club holds its final Derby. • Melbourne Cup day declared a • April 23—The first meeting of the 1838 half-day holiday for the public Caulfield Amateur Turf Club was service and banks. The private • March 6-7—The first Melbourne held on the Caulfield heath. race meeting was held near sector followed a year later. • The layout of Flemington North Melbourne. 1866 racecourse was changed to • Turf Club of bring the winning post from the • The first (winner was formed. Maribyrnong River side to its present Yattendon) and Metropolitan location at the foot of the hill. Handicap (winner Bylong) were run.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 10 PUNTERS.COM.AU A history of racing in Australia

1869 1877 1885 • November—The VRC introduced • The first Tuesday in November, • Australia’s worst racetrack tragedy the four-day Spring Meeting, Melbourne Cup Day, was officially saw 15 horses fall in a with the Derby on Saturday, the gazetted as a full public holiday. field of 41. Jockey Donald Nicholson Melbourne Cup on the following and the horse Aurah were killed, 1879 Thursday, the Oaks on Friday and and many other horses were so the Queen’s Plate on Saturday. • April 5—The first Caulfield Cup badly injured they would not race was run (in the autumn). again. Grace Darling won . 1874 1881 1886 • The opening of the seven-furlong (about 1400-metre) Kensington • October 15—Two Caulfield Cups • Rosehill and Canterbury Park Park circuit in Melbourne by were run in the same year when in Sydney were established Samuel Cox (later of the race was moved to spring. as private tracks. Moonee Valley fame). Cox secured Blue Ribbon won the autumn race, the Saturday before the Victoria Master Avenel the spring event. From Carbine to Derby as one of Kensington’s race • 1890 days, and it remains the day of was established by W.S. Cox • Carbine won the Melbourne Australasia’s greatest weight-for-age as a proprietary club. Cup in record time (3:28.25) and race, Moonee Valley’s 1882 carrying a record weight (65.5 kg) W.S. Cox Plate (first run in 1922). in the biggest field assembled • The Victoria Racing Club introduced 1875 (39) in Australia’s greatest race. a bookmakers’ registration scheme, • The first meeting was held requiring bookmakers to pay 1894 at Morphettville in Adelaide. £25 for a licence. The Australian • A strand barrier was used for the • November 9—For the first time the Jockey Club in Sydney followed suit. first time in Victoria—including Melbourne Cup was run on a Tuesday 1883 the Caulfield and Melbourne (the second Tuesday in the month) as Cups—and in NSW. • The death of Captain part of the four-day Spring Meeting. Charles Standish, 1895 • The Victoria Racing Club Police Commissioner (1858- • The death of William Samuel required the licensing of jockeys, 80) and VRC chairman (1879- Cox, founder of Kensington, trainers and bookmakers. 83). Standish was credited with Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong 1876 setting up the Melbourne Cup. race clubs, at the age of 64. • March 24—The first meeting of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club was held at Dowling Forest, Ballarat. • August 5—The VATC held its first Caulfield meeting. • September—The ‘City of Melbourne’ disaster when nine racehorses were lost in a storm while the ship was sailing from Sydney to Melbourne for the spring racing. • November 7 saw the Melbourne Cup run for the first time on the first Tuesday of the month. The 3YO set a record that is unlikely to be equalled, winning the , Melbourne Cup and the VRC Oaks at the spring meeting. She was ridden in the Cup by Peter St Albans, aged 13. PHAR LAP: Australia’s iconic racehorse of the late 1920s and early ’30s, often referred to as ‘Big Red’.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 11 PUNTERS.COM.AU A history of racing in Australia

1910 • July 10—The Sydney Turf Club a world-record six Group race • The Melbourne Cup was won introduced Australia’s first electronic winners on VRC Derby Day. by Comedy King, the first mobile starting stalls at Canterbury. • became imported horse to win the great (In Melbourne, the Moonee Valley the first Australian horse race. He was foaled in England Racing Club and the Victoria Amateur to win the Cup. Turf Club followed suit in the early and travelled to Australia with 1993 his dam Tragedy Queen. 1950s and the VRC in 1958.) • became the first 1956 1917 foreign-bred, foreign-trained • The first totalisator to operate • VRC once again allowed geldings and foreign-owned horse to at Randwick went into service. to run in the Victoria Derby. win the Melbourne Cup. 1930 1962 1998 • Phar Lap (trained by Harry Telford • Fashions in the Field was first held • January 26—The first and ridden by Jim Pike) won at the VRC’s spring carnival. metropolitan night race meeting the Melbourne Cup as a 4YO. • November 7—Champion jockey was held at Moonee Valley. The great horse won four races Neville Sellwood died after a race • September 1—The death of Tommy in eight days at the Flemington fall at Maison Lafitte in France. Smith, who trained more than carnival—the Melbourne Stakes 7000 winners, including 279 at (2000m), Melbourne Cup (3200m), Group 1 level. Smith won 33 Sydney Linlithgow Stakes (1600m) premierships straight, from 1952-53 and Fisher Plate (2400m). to 1984-85, and another in 1988-89. 1932 1999 • March 20—Phar Lap (trained by • May 21—The death of South Tommy Woodcock and ridden Australian-based trainer , by Billy Elliot) won the world’s FAST FACT a winner of 13 successive Melbourne richest race, the Agua Caliente premierships (1977-78 to 1989- Handicap (2000m) at Agua Caliente The 1985 Melbourne Cup, 90) and 27 in Adelaide, including Racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico. Australia’s first $1 million race, 17 on end (1973-74 to 1989-90). • April 5—Phar Lap died in the was won by What A Nuisance Hayes trained a world-record 10 winners on January 23, 1982. arms of Woodcock in the US, (trainer John Meagher, stricken by what is believed to 2001 jockey Pat Hyland). have been a bacterial infection. • New Zealander Sheila Laxon became 1932 the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner when took • VRC and AJC ban geldings from 1981 the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup running in Classics (Derby, St double. (Her former husband, Leger, Sires’ Produce Stakes) to • September 19— Laurie Laxon, won the Melbourne enhance stud careers of entires. became the first horse to earn Cup with in 1988.) The success of the gelding Phar Lap $1 million when he won the STC over the colt Carradale, owned by Cup at Rosehill. • The Victorian Government VRC chairman Lachlan Mackinnon, 1985 agreed to sell the TAB. in the AJC and Victoria Derbys is • The Melbourne Cup was the • Racing Victoria was established said to have triggered the ban. first race with $1 million in to oversee racing in the state, prizemoney—the previous year the a role previously held by the From Cup prizemoney was $525,000. VRC as the principal club. to 1986 1946 • September 28—The first Sunday race • October 19—A record crowd of meeting was held at Moonee Valley. Phar Lap won 108,123 attended Bernborough’s four races in Caulfield Cup, in which he ran 1990 fifth behind . • November 3—David Hayes trained eight days.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 12 PUNTERS.COM.AU A history of racing in Australia

2012 • June 23—Black Caviar won the Group 1 Stakes at Royal Ascot in England. 2013 • Black Caviar retired after winning the Group 1 TJ Smith at Randwick on April 13. She was unbeaten in 25 starts, including 15 Group 1s, and earned $7.9 million in prizemoney. • August 1— formed a training partnership with his 25-year-old grandson James (son of Anthony Cummings, also a trainer). • November 5— BLACK CAVIAR: the champion sprinter was unbeaten in 25 races. Luke Nolen (pictured) rode her in 22 of them. won her first Melbourne Cup with . She is the first Australian Sydney on August 24. Some Makybe Diva to Black Caviar, woman to achieve the feat. 47,000 horses were infected, and beyond mainly in NSW, on 5943 properties. 2014 2003 In NSW and Queensland, racing • April — the • The mare Makybe Diva won did not resume until December 1. held the first ‘The Championships’ her first Melbourne Cup. 2008 carnival at Randwick over two Saturdays. The $4 million Group 1 2005 • Darley, owned by Shiekh Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum • Makybe Diva became the first horse was won by It’s A . to win three Melbourne Cups, carrying of Dubai, bought Woodlands Stud 2015 a record weight for a mare of 58kg. from the Ingham family, whose racing and breeding empire had • March—Newcastle trainer Darren 2006 been established by ‘Chicken Smith was disqualified for 15 years • The South Australian Jockey Club Kings’ Jack and Bob Ingham. on charges relating to 42 cases announced the impending closure 2009 of positive swabs to cobalt. and sale of Cheltenham Park • March 26—The Pakenham racecourse, and the use of the funds • June 17—The first meeting Racing Club held its first meeting for renovations at Victoria Park. was held on the new, second at the new racetrack at Tynong, However, the last meeting was Morphettville ‘inside’ course, Racing.com Park. held at Victoria Park in December named Morphettville Parks. the next year and Cheltenham • July 1—the Amateur • Sydney trainer Kavanagh continued until February 2009. Turf Club and the Queensland investigated over the use of cobalt and caffeine following a positive • Queensland Racing announced a Turf Club merged to form the swab involving Gosford Cup winner proposal to merge the Queensland Brisbane Racing Club. Midsummer Sun in January. Turf Club and Brisbane Turf Club. 2010 Kavanagh was charged in May. 2007 • November 2—French stayer • Leading Victorian trainers—Peter Americain, trained by Alain de Royer • June 25—Victoria’s first synthetic Moody, Danny O’Brien, Mark Dupre and ridden by Gerald Mosse, racing track (consisting of sand, Kavanagh and father and son pair won the Emirates Melbourne Cup. a wax binder and polymer fibre) Lee and Hope—investigated opened at . 2011 and charged over presenting horses • Meetings across Australia were • February 7—Sydney’s metropolitan at the races with elevated levels of cancelled after an outbreak of clubs, the Australian Jockey Club cobalt from the 2014 spring carnival. equine influenza at the Eastern and the Sydney Turf Club, merged • August 30—Death of Creek Quarantine Station near to form the Australian Turf Club. Bart Cummings, aged 87.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 13 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Legends of the turf

Horses— the magnificent seven

For more than 150 years, Australian racing fans have been fortunate enough to enjoy some wonderful champion . We’ve selected seven of the best.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 14 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Carbine (NZ) BREEDING: BAY HORSE 1885, BY (GB) FROM MERSEY (GB) TRAINERS: DAN O’BRIEN, WALTER HICKENBOTHAM

RECORD: 43: 33-6-1 • PRIZEMONEY: £29,626

MAJOR WINS Melbourne Cup (1890) Sydney Cup (1889, 1890) (1889, 1890) AJC Plate (1889, 1890, 1891) Melbourne Stakes (1890)

CARBINE: The 1890 Melbourne Cup was one of 28 wins in Australia after five as a two-year-old in New Zealand. FAST FACT arbine is considered by some the six-furlong (1200m) Champagne pundits to be the greatest horse Stakes at Riccarton (NZ) as a 2YO Bob Ramage rode Carbine C to have graced the Australian turf. before furnishing into a champion in all the horse’s races stayer capable of beating the best at During Phar Lap’s domination in as a 5YO, winning 10 of 11, distances up to three miles (4800m). 1929 and 1930, the debate raged including the Melbourne Cup. as to whether he was better than He was owned and trained by Dan Carbine. Some of those who saw O’Brien until he was sold to Victorian both were on the side of ‘Old Jack’, Donald Wallace for 3000 guineas after as Carbine was affectionately known. winning the Flying Stakes at Flemington Carbine’s legacy as a stallion in 1888, his sixth win from seven Carbine, a New Zealand-bred son is profound. His son Wallace races. Wallace transferred the 3YO to (named after Carbine’s owner) of English stallion Musket, holds leading trainer Walter Hickenbotham. the weight-carrying record for the was a champion sire in Australia, Carbine was given a hero’s and in England Carbine sired the Melbourne Cup, having lumped dockside farewell by his adoring influential Derby winner a crushing 10st 5lb (65.5kg) to victory fans when shipped to England for , the sire of the granddam in 1890. He was ridden by Bob Ramage a stud career after serving only three of the great stallion , whose and behind him were a record 38 rivals. seasons at Lerderberg Stud, near blood appears in most of the Carbine won Stakes races carrying Bacchus Marsh, in Victoria. The Duke pedigrees of modern thoroughbreds huge weights and over a variety of of Portland bought Carbine to stand through his son and his distances. He had the speed to win alongside his champion sire St. Simon. grandson .

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 15 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Phar Lap (NZ) BREEDING: CHESTNUT GELDING 1926, BY (GB) FROM ENTREATY (NZ) TRAINERS: HARRY TELFORD, TOMMY WOODCOCK

RECORD: 51: 37-3-2 • PRIZEMONEY: £56,425

MAJOR WINS Melbourne Cup (1930) Agua Caliente Handicap (1932) Victoria Derby (1929) AJC Derby (1929) PHAR LAP: The people’s champion and a racing legend of the ‘Great Depression’. Cox Plate (1930, 1931) har Lap transcended being In that year Phar Lap won on the a champion racehorse; he four days of the Flemington carnival, P became a hero to a nation, a feat never equalled. He won the a welcome source of hope and Melbourne Stakes (2000m) on Derby pride in a time when depression Day, the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on loomed large over all else. the Tuesday, the Linlithgow Stakes Phar Lap was bought as a yearling (1600m) on the Thursday and the at Trentham, New Zealand, for CB Fisher Plate (2400m) on the final 190 guineas by Hugh Telford, acting day—four feature wins in eight days. for his brother Harry, who was a Davis decided after Phar Lap finished FAST FACT battling Sydney trainer. Harry Telford eighth in the 1931 Melbourne selected Phar Lap on pedigree. Cup that the gelding was ready to On November 1, 1930, When the ungainly colt arrived by ship take on the world. Accompanied Phar Lap was shot at while in Sydney, Telford’s owner, American by his devoted strapper Tommy returning from trackwork Woodcock as trainer, the chestnut David Davis, was upset by how at Caulfield. The bullet he looked. He took only half of the shocked America when he won the horse and leased it back to Telford. Agua Caliente Handicap (2000m) in missed. Three days later he Tijuana, Mexico, with Billy Elliot in won the Melbourne Cup. Things started out slowly for the saddle. The first prize of £13,698 ‘Big Red’, winning just one of his first was the richest purse in the world. 10 races. That all changed late in his Phar Lap became headline news. 3YO year when the gangling gelding Graze in pasture evergreen really started to emerge as a force It was his last race, but the headlines And steeds of song and story by winning the at continued—16 days after racing Feel the touch of hands unseen long odds. The AJC Derby followed. the big horse died in Woodcock’s There’s a whinny in the distance arms, due to what is now believed And a pawing at the gate Phar Lap, mainly ridden by Jim to be a bacterial infection. Pike, won 37 of his next 41 starts, As the big, stout-hearted Phar Lap often with ridiculous ease. Phar The New York Sun published this Joins the Legions of the Great. Lap remains the shortest-priced tribute to the Australian equine giant Phar Lap’s hide was mounted Melbourne Cup winner in history in the aftermath of his tragic death: and is the most popular exhibit when he scored at 8/11 in 1930. Where the thoroughbred immortal at the Melbourne Museum.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 16 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Tulloch (NZ) BREEDING: BAY OR BROWN HORSE 1954, BY KHORASSAN (IRE) FROM FLORIDA (NZ) TRAINER: TOMMY SMITH

RECORD: 53: 36-12-4 • PRIZEMONEY: £110,121

MAJOR WINS Caulfield Cup (1957) Victoria Derby (1957) AJC Derby (1957) AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1958, 1960, 1961) Cox Plate (1960) Brisbane Cup (1961)

TULLOCH: Tommy Smith’s champion of the 1950s who returned after a long sickness to win big races in the ’60s.

ulloch’s incredible ability overall record to 21 wins from on the track and also his 29 races as a 3YO. extraordinary fighting qualities T However, just when he seemed FAST FACT made the swayback son of at the peak of his powers, Tulloch Khorassan a mighty champion. was struck down by a stomach After the 1957 Caulfield Cup Tulloch was such a good 3YO that ailment as as it was win trainer Tommy Smith he was considered superior to both devastating. For almost two years, Carbine and Phar Lap at the same he suffered the horrific sickness believed Tulloch was ‘past the age—he won the 1957 Caulfield that reduced the galloper to a virtual post’ in the Melbourne Cup, Cup in a canter before winning the skeleton. Thanks to the persistence but owner Ern Haley would Victoria Derby by eight lengths. of a young vet named Percy Sykes, not start the 3YO. By the end of the autumn racing, Tulloch recovered to race again. Tommy Smith’s colt had amassed In March 1960, Tulloch returned 14 wins from 16 starts, bringing his to the racetrack and, almost 13 more Stakes races, including miraculously picked up where he the 1960 Cox Plate, the AJC Queen Those who saw left off, defeating star galloper Lord Elizabeth Stakes (1960 and ’61) by a short head in the Queen’s and the two-mile (3200-metre) him race believe Plate (2000m) at Flemington. Brisbane Cup (1961). there hasn’t been It was surely one of the most popular Tulloch was a failure at stud, but wins in Australian racing history. those who saw him race believe there one better. Tulloch went on to win an incredible hasn’t been one better in Australia.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 17 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Kingston Town BREEDING: BROWN GELDING 1976, BY FROM ADA HUNTER (GER) TRAINER: TOMMY SMITH

RECORD: 41: 30-5-2 • PRIZEMONEY: $1,605,790

MAJOR WINS Cox Plate (1980, 1981, 1982) AJC Derby (1980) Sydney Cup (1980) Tancred Stakes (1980) (1981, 1982) Queensland Derby (1980)

KINGSTON TOWN: ’The King’ won three Cox Plates at Moonee Valley.

ingston Town was one of Cox Plate victory—the only horse the most charismatic horses to have such a feat. to race in Australia. K As most champions have a habit FAST FACT ‘The King’s’ celebrated status is of doing, Kingston Town won just thanks in no small part to the famous as many admirers in gallant defeat Kingston Town words of racecaller Bill Collins in the as he did in imperious victory. became the first Australian 1982 Cox Plate. With Kingston Town Famously, Kingston Town was under heavy riding from Peter Cook thoroughbred to earn narrowly denied Melbourne Cup and seemingly heading backwards $1 million in prizemoney success when Gurner’s Lane pipped approaching the Moonee Valley bend, when he won the Collins voiced a matter-of-fact opinion him in the shadows of the post in the likely shared by most watching the 1982 race, after the champion lumped STC Cup at Rosehill on race, “Kingston Town can’t win”. 59kg and suffered a wide run and September 19, 1981. impatient ride from Malcolm Johnston. However, within 100 metres, Collins was stunned to see the famous yellow Despite his Cox Plate heroics, Kingston Town never really showed and red colours of owner David Hains Despite not meeting his $8000 yearling his best in Melbourne, winning just as the near black Kingston Town sale reserve and not coming good until five from 13 Melbourne runs. emerged from the ruck of the field. he was gelded after a first-start flop as “He might win yet the champ!” He had 22 wins from 25 starts a 2YO, Tommy Smith’s popular gelding roared Collins as Kingston Town in Sydney (including a headline- went on to become the Australian surged to his third consecutive grabbing winning streak of 21). turf’s first million-dollar earner.

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Sunline (NZ) BREEDING: BAY MARE 1995, BY DESERT SUN (GB) FROM SONGLINE (NZ) TRAINER: TREVOR & STEPHEN McKEE

RECORD: 48: 32-9-3 • PRIZEMONEY: $11,351,610

MAJOR WINS Cox Plate (1999, 2000) Handicap (1999, 2002) All Aged Stakes (2000, 2002) (2000) Coolmore Classic (2000, 2002)

FAST FACT became the first horse to top $10 million in

SUNLINE: The great racehorse was a Group 1 winner in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. prizemoney when she won her second at t wasn’t just the string of Group 1 Of her 13 Group 1 wins, without doubt Randwick on March 30, 2002. successes that made Sunline an her most famous was the 2000 Cox I all-time great—it was how she won Plate, when the five-year-old produced them. This powerhouse Kiwi mare with an exhibition of front-running never a voracious appetite for the contest before seen in the famous race to win Horse of the Year, the mighty Sunline’s simply ran her rivals into the ground by by a stunning seven lengths. $11,351,610 prizemoney made her the way of an awesome cruising speed, In the autumn of 2002 Sunline world’s highest-earning racemare of pinging to her customary front-running won four consecutive Group 1 races, her time. role and barely giving the stragglers including a second Doncaster Handicap behind her a chance to draw breath. Greg Childs rode Sunline 33 times for under 58kg (she had won the race as 22 wins, including the Hong Kong Mile a 3YO filly) when she beat multiple at Sha Tin in 2000. He said: “She was Sunline was Group 1 winners and a freak of nature. She lifted my profile a freak of nature, Defier. tenfold and lifted my bank balance. It A four-time New Zealand Horse of was a joy and a privilege to ride such a joy to ride. the Year and three-time Australian a great racehorse.”

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Makybe Diva (GB) BREEDING: BAY MARE 1999, BY (IRE) FROM TUGELA (USA) TRAINERS: DAVID HALL,

RECORD: 36: 15-4-3 • PRIZEMONEY: $14,526,685

MAJOR WINS Melbourne Cup (2003, 2004, 2005) Cox Plate (2005) Sydney Cup (2004) The BMW (2005) (2005)

MAKYBE DIVA: guides the great mare to her (and his) third Melbourne Cup win.

akybe Diva clearly doesn’t Makybe Diva was given time to have as many Stakes wins to mature and set about winning races M her name as some of the other virtually from the get-go. Though champion gallopers described in these unplaced in a Benalla maiden on pages. What she does have, however, is debut in July 2002 as a 3YO, the something that no other horse in history Diva reeled off victories in her next (and likely in the future) can boast: three six starts, culminating in Stakes wins consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. in the Werribee Cup (2000m) at FAST FACT ‘The Diva’ thrilled the nation with her Werribee and the Queen Elizabeth Vin Hall (3 wins), Brett unprecedented run of success as her Stakes (2500m) on the last day of Prebble (1) and Luke Currie (2) the Flemington carnival that year. incredible tale thrust the spotlight all had success on Makybe on her owner, South Australian tuna Makybe Diva, trained by David Diva before Glen Boss won fisherman Tony Santic. Hall at Flemington, returned in the That the mare’s strange name was 2003 spring a more mature mare. In the 2003 Melbourne Cup at derived from the initials of five of a carefully planned campaign to get his second ride on her. Santic’s employees—Maureen, Kylie, her into the Cup, she finished a Belinda, Diane and Vanessa—endeared luckless second behind in her to the public even further. the Caulfield Cup before jockey Glen Along the way she won the 2005 Boss produced a magnificent ride to Makybe Diva was born in England after BMW Stakes and 2005 Cox Plate. win her first Melbourne Cup. Santic’s bloodstock agent had bought Santic retired the great mare her dam Tugela in foal to Her autumn campaign culminated in immediately after her third Cup win, winner Desert King. Santic offered a win in the Sydney Cup, after which Freedman declaring to the crowd at the weanling filly for sale at the 1999 Hall went to Hong Kong to train and Flemington, “Go find the smallest child Tatts Newmarket Bloodstock Sale, but the mare was transferred to Lee on this course, and there will be the she failed to make her reserve, so she Freedman, who trained her to win only example of a person who will live accompanied her dam to Australia. the 2004 and 2005 Melbourne Cups. long enough to see that again.”

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 20 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Black Caviar BREEDING: BROWN MARE 2006, BY BEL ESPRIT FROM HELSINGE TRAINER: PETER MOODY

RECORD: 25: 25-0-0 • PRIZEMONEY: $7,953,936

MAJOR WINS Lightning Stakes (2011, 2012, 2013) (2011) Patinack Farm Classic (2010, 2011) TJ Smith Stakes (2011, 2013) at Royal Ascot (2012)

BLACK CAVIAR: Jockey Luke Nolen combined with the mare for 22 of her 25 wins.

lack Caviar lifted interest in racing gelding could finally bring Black Caviar from the sport pages to the wider her first defeat. He couldn’t, but there’s B world, something none could no shame in running second to a four- have foreseen when the daughter of time World Champion Sprinter (WTRR Bel Esprit and unraced mare Helsinge rankings) and three-time Australian was knocked down to Caulfield trainer Horse of the Year. Peter Moody for $210,000 at the 2008 The only occasion Black Caviar came Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. close to being vanquished was on FAST FACT A hulking sprinter who tipped the foreign soil at Royal Ascot—she was far In a racing career that scales at approximately 570kg, Black from her best in the Diamond Jubilee Caviar proved incredibly fast on the Stakes in June 2012, but seemed spanned five days less than track. So fast in fact that no rival beat set for a narrow win when regular four years, the champion mare her to the line in a career that spanned rider Luke Nolen dropped his hands was unbeaten in 25 starts. 25 starts, 15 of them at Group 1 level. approaching the line. Nolen realised Carbine’s best streak was 15, Most of Australia’s richest sprints that the “swoopers” were closing and fell to Black Caviar, including three managed to get one final urging out of Phar Lap’s 14. the great mare to win in a photo. Lightning Stakes, a Newmarket Handicap, two Patinack Farm Classics, Black Caviar returned to Australia to win all at Flemington, and two TJ Smith a third Lightning Stakes at Flemington Moody called a press conference and Stakes at Randwick. and a second announced the champion mare had at Moonee Valley before thrilling her Some of her battles with top-class “done enough”. Sydney fans with a second win in the sprinter Hay List proved Black Caviar’s She retired unbeaten from 25 starts. TJ Smith Stakes. most memorable races, with crowds Eighteen months later she foaled a filly flocking to see if the powerhouse Soon after that race in April 2013, by .

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The trainers— 10 of the best

Australia has produced some world- class trainers from Etienne de Mestre to the incomparable Bart Cummings.

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Bart Cummings (1927–2015)

Few have imparted a more profound imprint upon the Australian turf than James Bartholomew Cummings.

art Cummings was born Cummings took over training in Adelaide. Racing was the family team when his father B in his blood—his father took an extended overseas trip Jim Cummings, one of South in 1953, and during that time Australia’s leading trainers, won South Australian racing officials the Adelaide trainers’ premiership demanded the young Cummings when Bart was only four. take out his training licence. MAJOR WINS Young Cummings’ introduction to It took another five years before the big time was when the 22-year- Cummings had his first important win, old strapped his father’s champion Stormy Passage in the 1958 South , winner of the 1950 Australian Derby. The legend of Bart Melbourne Cup at Flemington. What Cummings and his ability to train Bart learned and relished that day champion stayers grew from there. would resonate through the racing Cummings had stables in Adelaide world over the next six decades. and Melbourne until 1975, when he 12 MELBOURNE CUPS

closed his Adelaide operation and moved to Randwick in Sydney. He retained his Flemington stable. When he won the 1989-90 Sydney premiership he became the only trainer to have won a premiership in three capital cities—Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Around the same time, when the stock market crashed, Cummings was “left holding the bridle” from a $20 million splurge at the yearling sales. A fire sale resulted and, through a scheme of arrangement, he gradually paid off his debts. Much of Cummings’ legend was forged by an assembly line of immaculately prepared iron-willed stayers who ran the Flemington two miles (3200m) quicker than their rivals on the first Tuesday in November. The first Melbourne Cup win was in 1965—one of 12 times the race unfolded his way. However, Cummings’ contribution to Australian racing far exceeds BART CUMMINGS: The dominant figure in the history of the Melbourne Cup. Australia’s most famous race,

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which is now an international event of the highest magnitude. Whether it was a highly prized scamper for juveniles, a rich Flemington sprint, a famous mile handicap, an Oaks, Guineas or Derby, Cummings has won them all, some by the dozen. As good as he was with a stayer, Cummings could also get them going early—his four Golden Slippers attest to that. His first, the filly Storm Queen, owned by Cummings’ brother Pat, won four Group 1s as a two-year- old, including the 1966 Slipper. She returned as a three-year-old in the 1966-67 season to claim three more. Dayana was the Derby prince for the ‘Cups King’—he won the Australian, Victoria, South Australian and Derbys in one incredible year in 1972. (If the Queensland Derby had been held in 1972 he probably would have won that, too—it was : The stallion emerged as a star for trainer Bart Cummings in 2009. moved from the spring of the 1971-72 season to the of 1972-73.) best horse alongside —that was (still training) and Etienne de Mestre until So You Think burst on the scene in (who prepared Archer, winner of the The star gelding duly earned Australian the twilight of the great trainer’s career. first two Cups, 1861-62), have five— Horse of the Year honours, as did the stable has produced champions the Cummings-trained champions “The finest, most genuine horse that have won four Golden Slippers, Taj Rossi, Leilani and Lord Dudley I have trained,” was Cummings’ 32 Derbys, five Cox Plates, 24 (in the next three seasons), and summation of So You Think. Oaks and seven Caulfield Cups. Melbourne Cup winners Galilee, So You Think won the 2009 Cox Plate Cummings was an inaugural inductee Hyperno, Let’s Elope and , at his fifth start. By his 10th, he had into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He and the star miler Mahal. two of them. Late in 2010, So You was made a legend in 2008 when he Think Big won a couple of Melbourne Think was sold to also was elevated to legend status Cups (1974-75) and nothing in and sent to Aidan O’Brien to train in in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. between, but remains well down Ireland. There, he won another five the pecking order when it comes Group 1s—it could have been more, Cummings died, aged 87, to ranking Cummings’ champions. O’Brien admitting that he should on August 30, 2015. That’s what happens when one have followed more closely the way man trains enough good horses Cummings trained the stallion. to fill a Melbourne Cup field. Illness affected Cummings’ public Cummings rated Saintly, a home-bred life in his final few years, and from by his former top colt Sky Chase, as his from August 1, 2013, he trained in a partnership with his grandson James. The pair added two Group 1s FAST FACT Bart is a legend with Hallowed Crown in the 2014- 15 season on top of Bart’s 266. Bart Cummings in two Halls Cummings trained his horses as was allergic of Fame, racing individuals. Patience was his virtue. to horses! Apart from 12 Melbourne Cup and sport. winners—the nearest, Lee Freedman

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Tommy Smith (1916–1998)

The trainer dominated the Sydney scene to win 33 metropolitan premierships in a row and earn legend status.

ommy ‘TJ’ Smith was born Smith famously told jockey George at Jembaicumbene, near Moore on a train from Wagga to T Braidwood, in the Southern Melbourne that one day soon he’d Tablelands of NSW. The tiny town train the Derby winner and Moore also is famous for being the birthplace would ride it—and he fulfilled his of Archer, who won the first two ambition when Moore rode 100/1 Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862. chance Playboy to win the 1949 MAJOR WINS AJC Derby, the first of Smith’s When he was very young, Smith’s Melbourne Cup (2) family moved to Goolgowi, a hamlet astonishing 35 Derby successes. on the wheat plains of south-western In December 1950, Smith was Caulfield Cup (4) NSW, where he worked from the age of disqualified from training for five years seven alongside his father in the bush. for not taking sufficient precautions Cox Plate (7) Smith left for Melbourne as a teenager to prevent one of his two-year-olds Golden Slipper (6) in 1931 to become a jockey, but a from being doped and giving false serious fall shattered his right hip, evidence at a subsequent hearing. Doncaster (7) leaving him with a lifelong limp. He Smith appealed and won, and accepted was granted a trainer’s licence in a “severe reprimand” from the AJC. Derbys (35) 1941. His first winner was with a In the 1952-53 season, Smith won his cast-off rogue, Bragger, at Rosehill first Sydney training premiership, and autumn 3YO campaign in 1980 won in 1942. Bragger launched Smith’s he went on to win the premiership for the Rosehill Guineas, AJC Derby and career by winning 13 races, including the next 32 years until Brian Mayfield- Sydney Cup. As a 4YO later that year he the Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Smith took over for three seasons won the first of three consecutive Cox before Smith won his 34th title in 1989. Plates. Kingston Town won 30 of his Toparoa gave Smith his first 41 starts and $1.6 million in prizemoney. Melbourne Cup in 1955; he won Other champions trained by Smith again with Just A Dash in 1981. include , Bounding Away He trained the sway-back champion and Redcraze. He is credited with Tulloch to be the dominant horse in training a record 282 Group 1 Australia in the late 1950s and early winners, well ahead of his nearest ’60s. When Tulloch won the 1957 rival Bart Cummings (268). Caulfield Cup, as a 3YO colt, the claim In 1992, Smith’s daughter Gai surfaced that he was better than Phar Waterhouse, who had worked as Lap. Tulloch won 36 of his 53 starts. his assistant, gained her trainer’s Smith, Bart Cummings and Colin licence. Waterhouse has trained Hayes became the superior training more than 130 Group 1 winners. triumvirate in Australia in the 1960s Smith was a pioneer with horse and 1970s. Their rivalry was immense. nutrition and training methods that Even the eternally optimistic Smith produced the necessary “bone doubted he’d train one better than and muscle” for horses trained Tulloch, but conceded he probably had at Tulloch Lodge at Randwick. one as good when Kingston Town burst He was an inaugural inductee to on the scene in the 1979-80 season. the Australian Racing Hall of Fame TOMMY SMITH: Trainer of the champions Tulloch and The outstanding gelding was virtually in 2001 and was named as a legend Kingston Town. unbeatable in Sydney and during his in 2012.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 25 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Gai Waterhouse

The ‘First Lady of Australian Racing’ is the most successful Group 1 trainer of the past 20 years.

ai Waterhouse is the daughter She took over the training at Smith’s of legendary Sydney trainer Tulloch Lodge, Randwick, on January G Tommy Smith, the man who 3, 1992, after a lengthy battle with the dominated Sydney racing for nearly four Australian Jockey Club, which cited decades until retirement in the 1990s. her marriage to disqualified bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse (who had been Waterhouse, rather than follow implicated in the Fine Cotton her father into racing, made a ring-in case) as a reason for continually name for herself as a model and MAJOR WINS rejecting her application for a licence. actor, appearing on local Melbourne Cup show The Young Doctors before Waterhouse’s first winner was moving to England were she had Gifted Poet, at Hawkesbury on Caulfield Cup numerous assignments, including March 15, 1992. She trained her a part on cult TV show ‘Dr. Who’. first Group winner the following Golden Slipper (6) month when Moods won the Group Eventually, the lure of a life in racing 3 Gosford Cup on April 29. Doncaster (7) attracted her back to Sydney to assist her father, a position she The new season saw her train her held for 15 years before seeking first Group 1 winner, Te Akau Nick in the AJC Metropolitan Handicap and Red Hannigan. Waterhouse her own trainer’s licence. on October 5, 1992. That horse achieved a burning ambition when was to give Waterhouse one of her the imported galloper Fiorente early big thrills as a trainer when won the 2013 Melbourne Cup. he finished second to Vintage Crop Her 100th Group 1 winner came when in the 1993 Melbourne Cup. Herculian Prince won the AJC The Her first classic came in 1995 when Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick Nothin’ Leica Dane beat in 2010. The tally has climbed past in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at 130, which puts her third on the Flemington. Three days later the colt all-time list behind Tommy Smith again almost created history when (282) and Bart Cummings (268). he finished second to in Vancouver’s 2015 Golden Slipper the Melbourne Cup—at that time win was her sixth, equalling the no woman had officially trained record of her father. She has seven a Melbourne Cup winner, a feat winners of the Doncaster Handicap, not achieved until Sheila Laxon also the same as her dad. won with Ethereal in 2001. Tommy Smith won 34 Sydney trainers’ Waterhouse dominated Sydney premierships; Waterhouse has seven. racing the following season, 1996- 97, training 104½ winners to become Waterhouse’s best horses include the first woman to win the NSW Juggler, Grand Armee, Dance Hero, Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership. Assertive Lad, Fiorente, , She also dominated Group 1 racing Fashions Afield, Al Maher, , in Australia, training 10 Group Shamekha, Lotteria, Hasna, Pharaoh, 1 winners. She bettered that in Excellerator and , and the 2004-05 when she trained 11. recent star colts and Vancouver. GAI WATERHOUSE: The champion trainer won the 2013 In 2001, she trained the trifecta in the Waterhouse was inducted in to the Melbourne Cup and she has dominated Australian racing. Golden Slipper—Ha Ha, Excellerator Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

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Colin Hayes (1924–1999)

From the time he bought his first thoroughbred, Hayes had the vision to succeed.

olin Hayes was born in Lindsay Park were winning feature Semaphore, Adelaide. His races with monotonous regularity. first job was as a boilermaker, C In a 43-year career, Hayes trained but he always had a love of horses 5333 winners, including 97 in and bought his first thoroughbred Group 1 races and 524 at Group or for only £9. That horse, , Listed level. His wins included two won a number of steeplechases with MAJOR WINS Hayes, an amateur rider, in the saddle. Melbourne Cups, four Victoria Derbys, three Cox Plates, three Australian Melbourne Cup (2) Hayes, who began his training career Cups, three Blue Diamonds, four in 1947, won his first Adelaide Trainers’ Newmarket Handicaps, one Caulfield Caulfield Cup Premiership in 1955-56 from his Cup, one Sydney Cup and the Golden Surefoot Lodge stables at Semaphore. Cox Plate (3) Slipper Stakes. Hayes’ vision saw him establish an Hayes won 40 training premierships, Golden Slipper “English-style” training farm and stud 27 in Adelaide and 13 in Melbourne. at Angaston, in the Barossa Valley. It Victoria Derby (4) wasn’t long before horses trained from He had a strong passion for breeding Newmarket Hcp (4)

and with pioneered the shuttle stallion into Australia. Lindsay Park Stud became home to some of Australia’s most influential stallions, including Without Fear, , Jeune and Rory’s Jester. Colin Hayes retired from training in 1990 and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. Hayes also created his own dynasty, with sons Peter (deceased) and David becoming leading trainers. David Hayes took over the Lindsay Park team in August 1990 and launched his career with a dramatic impact, especially through the deeds of his champion gelding Better Loosen Up, who won the Cox Plate and that year. Hayes, with Robert Sangster, pioneered the COLIN HAYES: The trainer won 40 premierships, 27 in Adelaide, 13 in Melbourne. shuttle stallion.

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Jack Holt (1879–1951)

Jack Holt trained champions and Eurythmic, and won six Cox Plates and 13 trainers’ titles.

ichael ‘Jack’ Holt was born in including the Caulfield Cup, and Berwick, Victoria. After a short trained the exceptional Heroic to M stint as a jockey, he gained win the Newmarket Handicap and his trainer’s licence from the Victoria Cox Plate in 1926. Heroic went on Racing Club in 1902. It was slow to become a champion stallion. progress for Mordialloc-based Holt, His next great horse was the who didn’t train his first metropolitan diminutive colt Hall Mark, who won MAJOR WINS winner until 1911. However, it wasn’t the 1933 Victoria Derby and backed long before the wins started to flow up three days later to win Holt’s only Melbourne Cup and in 17 seasons from 1918-19 until Melbourne Cup. The great horseman Caulfield Cup (2) 1934-35, Holt headed the Melbourne won six Cox Plates, two Caulfield Trainers’ Premiership 13 times. Cups and two Victoria Derbys. He Cox Plate (6) Holt had a long association with trained a record 11 winners of the two of the best jockeys of that era— at Caulfield. Victoria Derby (2) Bill Duncan and Frank Dempsey. Holt’s other top horses include In 1920, he won 10 consecutive races Maple, High Syce, Nuffield, Royal with the former star Eurythmic, Charter, Easingwold and Young Idea.

FAST FACT Holt was know as the ‘ of Mordialloc’

Holt was given the nickname of the ‘Wizard of Mordialloc’. He retired after a heart attack in 1948, and died three years later. He bequeathed a large portion of his estate to founding a school of medical research at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, which was renamed the St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in 1984. Holt was an inaugural inductee of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. Holt won 13 Melbourne JACK HOLT (LEFT): Dominated Victorian racing, including training 11 winners of the Memsie Stakes. premierships.

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James Scobie (1860–1940)

James Scobie was the dominant trainer of his time, particularly adept with stayers.

ames Scobie was born at Kiora, Scobie formed a successful near Ararat, in Victoria. In his partnership with leading jockey J teens he was an apprentice jockey Bobby Lewis, which lasted nearly to Hamilton trainer George Rex, but 40 years. They were not afraid to travel made a name for himself as a jumps and combined to win most of the rider until increasing weight saw him feature races in Melbourne, Adelaide retire from riding to take up training. and Sydney. He also had a long MAJOR WINS Scobie’s natural horsemanship came association with the Clarke family— to the fore and after a short stint at Sir Rupert and his brother Ernest. Melbourne Cup (4) Hamilton he moved to bigger stables Scobie moved to Ascot Vale in at Ballarat, from where he trained Clean Melbourne in 1912. He won his second Victoria Derby (8) Sweep to win the 1900 Melbourne Melbourne Cup with King Ingoda in Australian Cup (4) Cup. He also trained the star mare La 1922 and again a year later with Bitalli, Carabine (a daughter of Carbine) to win who was first-up from a three-month (5) the in 1901 and 1902, spell. Scobie’s fourth Cup winner was and another champion filly, Sweet the colt Trivalve in 1927. Trivalve also Ascot Vale Stakes (12) Nell, to win the 1903 Caulfield Cup. won the AJC Derby and Victoria Derby.

FAST FACT 1927 Melbourne Cup winner Trivalve died of a snakebite on a remote Northern Territory station.

The master trainer won 12 Ascot Vale Stakes (now ), eight Victoria Derbys, four Australian Cups, four AJC Derbys and five Adelaide Cups. His last big winner was Hua’s Victoria Derby in 1937. Scobie was an inaugural inductee into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2001. Scobie won 12 JAMES SCOBIE (LEFT): The great trainer won four Melbourne Cups and trained 74 Group 1 winners. Ascot Vale Stakes.

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Etienne de Mestre (1832-1916)

Etienne de Mestre is recognised as Australia’s first great racehorse trainer.

tienne de Mestre was born in and he Sydney, the son of merchant returned in 1861 with the tough stayer E trader Prosper de Mestre. Archer for the first Melbourne Cup. The family’s move to a property, Archer, who de Mestre raced on named Terara, on the Shoalhaven lease, won the race and returned River, near Nowra, saw the young the following year to win a second. de Mestre develop his skill as a horseman, particularly as an amateur It is often written that de Mestre MAJOR WINS rider at picnic meetings. His first walked Archer to Melbourne from good horse as a trainer was Veno, Nowra for that first Cup win, but the Melbourne Cup (5) Victoria Racing Club historian Andrew the champion of the colony in 1859. AJC Derby (2) His travels to Victoria with Veno Lemon has proved it is a myth, saw him develop a love affair with because official shipping records Victoria Derby (2) show that Archer arrived by boat. De Mestre trained five Melbourne Cup winners—his others were Tim Whiffler (1867), Chester (1877) and Calamia (1878)—and the winners of many of the feature races in Sydney and Melbourne. He remains equal second, with Lee Freedman, on the list of Melbourne Cup winning trainers—behind FAST FACT the great Bart Cummings (12). De Mestre attempted De Mestre raced in all-black colours. Two of his assistant trainers Tom to enter Archer for a third Lamond (Zulu, 1881) and Mick Melbourne Cup in 1863, but Fennelly (Martini-Henry, 1883) also his entry was rejected when trained Melbourne Cup winners. the telegram arrived late. One of de Mestre’s best horses, Melbourne Cup winner Chester, went on to become Australia’s first the Bong Bong meeting where great stallion. Chester, owned by he often would watch the races Sydney businessman James White, with his good friend, Tom Roberts. was a third-generation Australian thoroughbred and became champion One of his sons, Etienne stallion four times from 1888 to George de Mestre, became 1893. He sired the brilliant Abercorn, a leading trainer in England. who beat Carbine several times. De Mestre was inducted into Financial difficulty saw de Mestre racing’s Hall of Fame in 2002. sell up from Terara in 1883. He retired to Bong Bong in the southern De Mestre raced highlands of New South Wales in the all-black ETIENNE DE MESTRE: The master trainer of the early days where he was a regular fixture at of Australian racing. the local picnic meetings, particularly colours.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 30 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Lee Freedman

Lee Freedman’s dominance in the 1990s is unprecedented in Australian racing.

ee Freedman was born to be to learn more about the racing game, involved in racing. His father Tony spending a season at the famed L was a property developer, owner Claiborne Stud as a veterinary assistant. and part-time trainer, while his great- In 1983, Freedman, who was training grandfather, on his father’s maternal a small team on the Gold Coast, side, William ‘Midge’ McLachlan, gained his full licence, which allowed was a champion international jockey him to move to Warwick Farm. MAJOR WINS who won three Melbourne Cups— Attempts to get boxes at Randwick Prince Foote (1909), Comedy King failed, resulting in Freedman and Melbourne Cup (5) (1910) and Westcourt (1917). his younger brothers, Richard and Lee’s serious involvement with Anthony, on the advice of his father, Caulfield Cup (4) horses came in 1970, at the age moving to stables in Ascot Vale in of 14, when his father, on medical Victoria, opposite the Flemington Golden Slipper (4) advice after a heart attack, opted racecourse. Unfortunately, Tony Cox Plate (2) for a healthier lifestyle away Freedman died shortly after the move. from Sydney by purchasing the In 1986, Miss Clipper won Victoria Derby (3) Yass farm, Hardwicke Stud. the Australasian Oaks at Freedman, after failing to complete a Morphettville, giving Freedman In 1989, Freedman’s Tawrrific beat university course, ventured overseas his first Group 1 winner. stablemate in the Melbourne Cup. It was the first of five Melbourne Cup winners for the trainer—he won with Subzero (1992), Doriemus (1995) and Makybe Diva (2004, 2005). Freedman also has trained four winners of the Caulfield Cup and Golden Slipper, three Victoria Derbys and two Cox Plates. His outstanding sprinting mare won the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot in 2007. Freedman was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003 at the age of 46. He retired from training at the end of the 2010-11 season but returned for a short stint in a partnership with Graeme Rogerson in Sydney before taking a position with leading owner Lloyd Williams as racing manager. He returned to full-time training in partnership with brother Anthony in November 2014. Freedman has trained LEE FREEDMAN: He reached 100 Group 1 winners faster than any other Australian trainer. 124 Group 1 winners.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 31 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf John Hawkes

John Hawkes has been a dominant trainer in three states over five decades.

ohn Hawkes had a unique start dominant Colin Hayes in the South to his training career—he trained Australian Trainers’ Premiership. J and rode his first winner King Hawkes moved to Melbourne in 1989 Of Shadows at Strathalbyn in 1970. It to train for a high-profile partnership was a time when the South Australian that included Bob and Jack Ingham, Jockey Club allowed dual licences. Norm Carlyon, Ananda Krishnan and Hawkes, who gave up riding in Ray Orloff. They built lavish stables MAJOR WINS the next 12 months, won his first at Epsom named Carbine Lodge. The BMW (5) Group 1 race as a trainer in 1972 In 1993, Hawkes was installed as with the outstanding filly Toltrice private trainer for the Inghams in Victoria Derby (2) in the VRC Oaks at Flemington. Sydney. He won his first Sydney Toltrice was a springboard for the Trainers’ Premiership that season Golden Slipper (2) Morphettville-based Hawkes. In with a tally of 85 winners. He won 1975, he was back at Flemington the title again the next two seasons. Caulfield Cup winning the Group 1 Victoria He won the Cox Plate in 1995 with Cox Plate Derby with Galena Boy. outstanding colt Octagonal, who During the next 15 years, Hawkes was to develop a cult following and Australian Derby (3) often finished second to the launch Hawkes’ career to a new

level. Octagonal went on to win 10 Group 1 races. Octagonal’s son , also trained by Hawkes, eclipsed his sire’s tally, winning 11 between 2001 and 2004. Hawkes broke David Hayes’ Australian record of 306½ winners in a season when he trained 315½ winners in 2000-01. He broke his own record the following season with 334 winners. Hawkes left the Ingham’s Woodland Stud team in 2008 and set up a training partnership with his sons Wayne (based at Flemington) and Michael (based with his father at Warwick Farm). Their most recent stars include Black Caviar’s half-brother and sprinter . In 2004, Hawkes was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Inducted into the Hall of Fame JOHN HAWKES: Winner of nine Sydney Metropolitan Trainers’ Premierships. in 2004.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 32 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Jim Houlahan (1913–2007)

Jim Houlahan is regarded as the of Australia’s jumps trainers.

im Houlahan was born in His first big win came seven years later . He was a successful when Strasbourg won the 1977 Grand J building contractor who National Steeplechase at Flemington. dabbled in thoroughbred and Houlahan dominated the jumps racing harness racing as an owner with scene in the next 30 years. When Fidel a penchant for a big punt. won a hurdle at Werribee in 2004, In 1970, Houlahan, after offering Houlahan, 91, became Australia’s MAJOR WINS advice to a trainer about the training oldest trainer to prepare a winner. Grand National Hurdle (7) of one of Houlahan’s moderately Houlahan’s record includes eight performed jumpers, took the Australian Hurdles, seven Grand Australian Hurdle (8) trainer’s suggestion to “take the National Hurdles, four A.V. Hisken horse and train him yourself”. Steeplechases, four Warrnambool AV Hiskens Steeplechase (4) At 57, when many are considering Grand Annual Steeplechases and retirement, Houlahan got his trainer’s three Great Eastern Steeplechases. Grand Annual Steeplechase (4) licence and developed a private His best horses include Strasbourg, training complex at Rosebud, where Marlborough, Moon Chase, he concentrated on jumpers. Commission Red and Sharp As.

FAST FACT Jim Houlahan didn’t take out a trainer’s licence until he was 57.

He retired from training in 2005. His daughter Fran Houlahan and granddaughter Amy Johnston are successful trainers. Racing Victoria honoured Houlahan when it launched the JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship in 2006. He was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2004. Told ‘take the horse and train JIM HOULAHAN: The owner and punter who become a champion trainer. him yourself’.

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Great jockeys

Australia’s list of world-class jockeys is long, but here are 10 of the best.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 34 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Arthur ‘Scobie’ Breasley (1913–2007)

Scobie Breasley left Australia to become the darling of English racing.

cobie Breasley was born in Breasley went to England in the late Wagga, NSW. It is believed 1940s to ride. His first important S he was named after the famous success was the 2000 Guineas at Australian trainer James Scobie. Newmarket on in 1951. He won Breasley was a more than capable his first English premiership in 1957, apprentice, who got better as and three more from 1961 to 1963. he got older. He made his name Breasley won the Prix de l’Arc de MAJOR WINS as a jockey in Melbourne in the Triomphe on in 1958 and 1940s when he won four Caulfield the in 1964 (Santa Caulfield Cup (5) Cups— Star (1942), Skipton Claus) and 1966 (), but Epsom Derby (2) (1943), Counsel (1945) and St Fairy a Melbourne Cup win eluded him. (1946). He won a fifth (a record he He retired from riding in 1968 and took Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe still holds) in 1952 on Peshawar. up training, first in England and then in the Bahamas where he was leading Victoria Derby (2) The Melbourne Cup trainer and won four Barbados Cups. 2000 Guineas His most important success as a eluded the Legend trainer was the 1972 Irish Derby 1000 Guineas with the grey colt Steel Pulse, Breasley. ridden by his great Australian mate

FAST FACT The famous Australian jockey rode five winners of the Caulfield Cup and twice won the Epsom Derby, but a win in the Melbourne Cup eluded him.

Bill Williamson, who rode against Breasley in Australia and Europe. Breasley was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 and made a Legend in 2009. Racing Victoria’s Medal, awarded annually on a point- score basis, is the most-sought SCOBIE BREASLEY: Each season Victoria presents the Scobie Breasley Medal to the top jockey. award for Victorian jockeys.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 35 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

George Moore (1923–2008)

George Moore is regarded as the greatest jockey to ride in Sydney.

eorge Moore was born in important Australian wins include Mackay, Queensland. He five AJC Derbys, two VRC Derbys, G won the Brisbane Jockeys’ two Cox Plates, three Sydney Premiership in the 1941-42 season. Cups and two Golden Slippers. He moved to Sydney soon after and His great skill and soft hands earned formed a formidable partnership with up- him the nickname ‘Cotton Fingers’. and-coming trainer Tommy Smith. Over Moore rode in England late in his MAJOR WINS the next 20 years, the pair combined to career and made an immediate AJC Derby (5) dominate Sydney racing. Moore won 10 impact, winning the 1959 Prix de jockeys’ premierships between 1957 and l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Victoria Derby (2) 1969, and that period was part of Smith’s Saint Crespin and the 1967 Epsom 33 consecutive trainers’ premierships. Derby at Epsom on . Cox Plate (2) Moore’s 119 Group 1 wins in He said the best horse he rode was the Doncaster Handicap (3) Australia is a record. His most Smith-trained champion Tulloch. His last ride was a win on Classic Mission Epsom Derby Moore’s 119 in the 1971 VRC Derby at Flemington. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Moore was the leading trainer 11 times Group 1 wins in Hong Kong between 1973 and 1985. is a record. His two sons John (champion Hong

FAST FACT Cotton Fingers: George Moore couldn’t have retired in a better way—his last ride was a win in the Victoria Derby on Classic Mission in 1971.

Kong trainer) and Gary (former top jockey in France and prominent trainer in Hong Kong, Macau and Australia) have continued the family tradition. His grandson, George, is a leading bloodstock agent. Moore was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in GEORGE MOORE: Dominated Sydney racing and then took on the world. 2001 and made a Legend in 2015.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 36 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Neville Sellwood (1922–1962)

Neville Sellwood was an international star before his untimely death.

eville Sellwood began his 1957 Caulfield Cup in a performance apprenticeship with trainer that ranked the colt as world class. N Jim Shean in Brisbane in the Sellwood won the Sydney Jockeys’ early 1940s. After a stint in Townsville Premiership six times. He also rode (where he won the premiership with great success in England, France three times) during World War II, and the USA. When riding in France Sellwood moved to Sydney where he he had a rewarding association linked with champion trainer with legendary trainer Alec Head, MAJOR WINS McCarten. He rode more than 200 who claimed that Sellwood was Melbourne Cup (2) winners for McCarten, including the the best jockey he had seen. champion sprinter , who won Caulfield Cup (3) the first Golden Slipper in 1957. Sellwood was killed in a race fall in November 1962 at Maison Lafitte in Cox Plate (2) Sellwood also won many races for France. He was leading the French great trainer Tommy Smith and was on Jockeys’ Premiership at the time and Victoria Derby (3) Tulloch when the champion won the had bypassed the Melbourne spring carnival to concentrate on winning Epsom Derby Sellwood won six the title. Yves St. Martin, who won the premiership, presented the Sydney jockeys’ championship trophy to Sellwood’s widow Alwyn, claiming that morally premierships. Sellwood was the champion.

FAST FACT Sellwood, riding for the Aga Khan, was leading the French premiership when he was killed in a race fall in November 1962.

He was only 39 when he died but had ridden about 1500 winners, including 84 Group 1s. Sellwood won the 1962 Epsom Derby on , two Melbourne Cups (Delta in 1951, Toparoa in 1955), three Caulfield Cups and two Cox Plates. He was inducted into the Australian NEVILLE SELLWOOD: A champion in both hemispheres, Sellwood rode the stars Tulloch and Todman. Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 37 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Roy Higgins (1938–2014)

Roy Higgins is generally regarded as Victoria’s greatest jockey.

oy Higgins was born in Despite being hindered by Koondrook, Victoria. He began increasing weight, Higgins won R his apprenticeship in the NSW 108 Group 1 races, second only country town of Deniliquin in 1953. to George Moore (119). He had success in Melbourne in the Melbourne journalist Rollo Roylance late 1950s and won his first of 11 nicknamed Higgins ‘The Professor’, Victorian Jockeys’ Premierships (equal after the leading man, Professor record with Bill Duncan) in 1964-65. Henry Higgins, in the play Pygmalion MAJOR WINS Higgins formed an association with (and the movie My Fair Lady). Melbourne Cup (2) up-and-coming trainer Bart Cummings Higgins also won a Caulfield Cup, in 1964 and they won the 1965 Cox Plate, four Victoria Derbys, Caulfield Cup Melbourne Cup with Light Fingers five VRC Oaks, six AJC Oaks Cox Plate (2) and the 1967 race with Red Handed. and two Golden Slippers. Cummings holds the record for VRC Oaks (5) training 12 Melbourne Cup winners. He tried his luck riding in France in the 1960s, but had little joy and returned home in 1964, when he picked up the Victoria Derby (4) Higgins won 108 ride on three-year-old filly Light Fingers. Group 1 races. After he retired from riding in 1984,

FAST FACT Roy Higgins won 11 Melbourne Jockeys’ Premierships, a record he shares with Billy Duncan.

he became a media commentator and bloodstock agent. He helped form Northern Lodge, the TAFE equine education college, ran a successful syndication business and was patron for the Doxa Foundation. He was an inaugural inductee into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2007 he succeeded Scobie ROY HIGGINS: The boy from Deniliquin became a legendary jockey with few peers. Breasley as the hall’s patron.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 38 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Damien Oliver was a star apprentice in Perth, but he made his mark in Melbourne.

amien Oliver was born in Perth, ride in the Melbourne Cup in 1989 . His father and listened to the finish on a radio D Ray Oliver, a leading jockey, in an ambulance—Freedman trained died in a race fall at Kalgoorlie in the quinella with Tawrrific and Super 1975, when Oliver was only three. Impose. Oliver regrouped quickly to Oliver followed in his father’s win 18 Group 1 races and two senior jockeys’ premierships as an apprentice. footsteps to become the leading MAJOR WINS apprentice in Perth in the 1987-88 He eventually won the Cup on the season when only 16. He accepted Freedman-trained Doriemus in 1995, Melbourne Cup (3) a three-month trial the following and has won it twice more, on Media season with up-and-coming Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013). Caulfield Cup (4) Melbourne trainer Lee Freedman The win on was and quickly made an impact. Cox Plate (2) one of racing’s most emotional Oliver fell from Salisopra in his first moments as Oliver was riding Victoria Derby (5) with the burden of the death of Golden Slipper Oliver has won his brother Jason in a fall in a trial 10 Melbourne in Perth only five days earlier. Oliver also has won four Caulfield premierships. Cups and two Cox Plates and is one

FAST FACT Damien Oliver rode a record 18 Group 1 winners as an apprentice.

of only four jockeys to ride more than 100 Group 1 winners in Australia. In November 2012, he was suspended for 10 months after admitting to backing an opposition horse—the winner— in a race at Moonee Valley in 2010. In 2014-15, Oliver won his 10th Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership, placing him one behind record holders Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan. He was inducted into the DAMIEN OLIVER: His 2001 Cox Plate win on . Hall of Fame in 2008.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 39 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Len ‘Mick’ Dittman

Mick Dittman was the leading jockey in Brisbane, but he became a star after he moved to Sydney.

ick Dittman was born in at Eagle Farm on Melbourne Cup day, Rockhampton, Queensland. November 1, 1977. He would have taken MHe was apprenticed to Bill Kraft out the entire card if not for apprentice on the Gold Coast in the mid-1960s. Dan McLeod winning that seventh An outstanding apprentice, he rode race by a head on No Hassle at 11/2 his first feature winner on Red Shah over Dittman on Strong James at 1/3. in the 1968 Gold Coast Newmarket. A regular at the big southern MAJOR WINS His first Group win was in the 1969 carnivals in the 1970s and early Ipswich Cup on Makata. Dittman 1980s, Dittman moved to Sydney Melbourne Cup finished his apprenticeship with Pat in the mid-1980s where he became Duff in Brisbane and rode the first leading rider for Tommy Smith. Caulfield Cup of his 88 Group 1 winners in the Dittman’s first important association Golden Slipper (3) 1972 Doomben Cup on Knee High. with Smith involved the champion He dominated Brisbane racing in the colt Red Anchor in 1984. He won the Cox Plate (2) 1970s, winning five premierships. Sydney premiership three times. Dittman also rode a record six winners Dittman was renowned for his powerful and one second on a seven-race program style and was nicknamed ‘The Enforcer’.

FAST FACT Despite his late move to Sydney from Queensland, Dittman won 88 Group 1 races and three Sydney Jockeys’ Premierships.

He won the 1982 Melbourne Cup on Gurner’s Lane in what was a master-class ride. He saved a lot of ground before bursting through along the inside to beat the luckless champion Kingston Town. Dittman also won two Cox Plates, three Golden Slippers and a Caulfield Cup. He was inducted into the MICK DITTMAN: They called him “The Enforcer” because of his aggressive style. Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Darren Beadman was a star apprentice who went on to ride such champions as Saintly and Lonhro.

arren Beadman was raised on apprentice. He won his first Sydney a farm in the Yass district, near Jockeys’ Premiership in the 1994- D Canberra. His family moved 95 season, when he had a record to Moss Vale, south of Sydney, 128 winners. He had 115 wins in his when he was 12. He signed on as an repeat success the following season. apprentice with trainer Theo Green at Beadman had a strong association Rosehill in 1980—Green also fostered with Bart Cummings and rode the MAJOR WINS the careers of champion jockeys Cummings-trained Malcolm Johnston and Ron Quinton. to win the 1990 Melbourne Cup in Melbourne Cup (2) Beadman’s first winner was on record time. In 1996, he won the Flagette at Wyong in 1982. Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double Golden Slipper (2) Two years later he had a glorious start on Cummings’ champion Saintly. Cox Plate to his Group 1 career when he won Beadman shocked the racing world the Golden Slipper on Inspired as an when he retired on Boxing Day 1997 Hong Kong to study to become a minister of International Bowl (2) religion. When told of Beadman’s Beadman won “calling to God”, Cummings famously seven Sydney said: “He should get a second opinion.” However, Beadman returned to He had ridden 1160 winners, riding on January 8, 2000, and jockeys’ titles. 50 at Group 1 level. immediately linked with leading trainer John Hawkes at Warwick Farm. Hawkes was training for the powerful Woodlands Stud operation of brothers Jack and Bob Ingham. Beadman rode the champion Lonhro for Hawkes during a stellar few seasons. In 2006-07, he won the NSW Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership for the seventh time. In 2007, he moved to Hong Kong where he rode more than 250 winners and helped leading trainer win his first Hong Kong training title in almost 20 years. Beadman’s career was cut short in 2012 following a serious fall that left him with a brain injury. In 2014, he took a position as racing manager for Godolphin’s Australian operation. Beadman was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2007, when at 41 he was the youngest DARREN BEADMAN: The jockey with big owner Bob Ingham after Lonhro won the 2004 Australian Cup. jockey to receive the honour.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 41 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Glen Boss

Glen Boss remains the only jockey to win three consecutive Melbourne Cups—on Makybe Diva (2003-05).

len Boss grew up on the family Boss moved to Sydney in 1994. cattle farm at Caboolture His first Group 1 win came on Telesto G in Queensland. As a kid in the at his bedroom wall was covered in Warwick Farm on February 26 that pony club ribbons. He left school year, but his big break came when Lee at 15 for an apprenticeship with Freedman needed a late replacement Terry Chinner at Gympie. for on Flying Spur on MAJOR WINS Boss’ first winner was Basiteka the eve of the 1995 Golden Slipper. at Gympie in November 1986. In Boss steered Flying Spur along Melbourne Cup (3) 10 months, he rode 60 winners. the rails to snatch a shock win. Golden Slipper (2) At 17, he transferred to the Gold Coast He broke his neck in a fall in Macau in 2002, but recovered to under Kaye Tinsley, who once said Cox Plate (3) about his famous pupil: “Unfortunately, become the only jockey to have some of the horses he rode didn’t won three consecutive Melbourne Doncaster Handicap (6) have the same ability as Glen.” Cups—2003-04-05—all on the great mare Makybe Diva. Gold Cup In what became one of the great Boss broke his partnerships of the Australian turf, neck in a fall in Boss and Makybe Diva also combined to win a Cox Plate, BMW Stakes, Macau in 2002. Australian Cup and Sydney Cup.

FAST FACT Glen Boss defied instructions from trainer Bart Cummings when he led on So You Think to win the 2009 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Boss accepted a contract to ride in Hong Kong In 2007-08. He returned in the 2008 autumn to win the Golden Slipper on Sebring. Boss won the 2010 Scobie Breasley Medal and the 2012-13 Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership. He was inducted into racing’s GLEN BOSS: Few can doubt Boss’ dedication and skill as one of our best big-race riders. Hall of Fame in 2015.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 42 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf Jim Cassidy

Jim Cassidy, ‘The Pumper’, is one of Australia’s best and most enduring jockeys.

im Cassidy believes he is a from Hastings when he won unique New Zealander. He the 1983 Melbourne Cup on the J grew up in a family that had barnstorming Kiwi, who was near no interest in horses, joking that his last on the turn before producing a career path came because “I was withering finishing burst that has too small to be an All Black and not become Melbourne Cup folklore. smart enough to be a brain surgeon”. In 1984, Cassidy became stable MAJOR WINS Cassidy is a natural lightweight rider for Brian Mayfield-Smith at the jockey. He started his career in 1979 redeveloped Nebo Lodge in Sydney. Melbourne Cup (2) apprenticed to trainer Pat Campbell The following season Mayfield- Caulfield Cup at Hastings. He quickly established Smith won the Sydney Trainers’ himself as the boom young rider in Premiership, ending Tommy Cox Plate New Zealand, winning the jockeys’ Smith’s run of 33 consecutive titles. premiership as an apprentice. Mayfield-Smith trained 99 winners Australian Derby (3) Cassidy believes winning the and Cassidy won his only Sydney 1981 Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Jockeys’ Premiership with 82 wins. Eagle Farm on Four Crowns was Cassidy has had his troubles with 1995, he spent 21 months out over a turning point in his career. officialdom. In 1988 he had 12 months the ‘Jockey Tapes Scandal’ in Sydney. Two years later, all of Australia had on the sidelines over his handling Cassidy returned to ride the champion heard of the chirpy little jockey of the horse Cruising at Rosehill. In to win the 1997 Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double and the 1998 Cox Plate. Cassidy regards Might And Power as the best horse he has ridden. The former Kiwi had his 100th Australasian Group 1 winner when Zoustar won the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November 2013. Cassidy, aged 52, won the 2015 Sydney Cup on Grand Marshal and declared himself the ‘Magic Man’, a jibe at Brazilian Joao Moreira, regarded by many as the world’s best and nicknamed ‘Magic Man’. Moreira, 30, was unplaced on Hong Kong horse Dominant. Cassidy was inducted into the racing Hall of Fame in 2012. Cassidy regards Might And Power as the best he JIM CASSIDY: The jockey has had his troubles with officialdom, but few are regarded as better riders. has ridden.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 43 PUNTERS.COM.AU Legends of the turf

Darby Munro (1913–1966)

Darby Munro is a member of a famous family and some people believe he is our greatest jockey.

avid Hugh (Darby) Munro was Easter carnival, including the Doncaster- born in Melbourne, the son Sydney Cup double. Perhaps his best D of famous horse trainer Hugh ride was on Shannon, carrying 9st 9lb Munro. Darby followed his successful (61kg), in the 1946 Epsom at Randwick brother Jim into racing as a jockey when the horse was accidentally left at and made an immediate impact the post after swinging sideways during by winning the 1930 Doncaster a strand start, but pursued the field. Handicap at the age of 17. Munro took inside runs to make up the MAJOR WINS In 1934, he won his first Melbourne ground, only to be beaten in a photo. Melbourne Cup (3) Cup on Peter . He won the great He always looked good on a horse. race again in 1944 on Sirius and in He was a great judge of pace, and Victoria Derby (5) 1946 on Russia. He also won five AJC dominated many weight-for-age races AJC Derby (5) Derbys and five Victoria Derbys. in Sydney and Melbourne in the 1930s Munro, who based himself in and 1940s with his clever tactics. Sydney Cup (3) Sydney, was nicknamed ‘Demon Munro retired in 1955 and was Darb’ for his dashing riding. granted a trainer’s licence, but he He rode nine winners at the 1940 AJC had only moderate success.

FAST FACT Darby Munro was disqualified for two years in October 1948 because of his ride on Vagabond, who finished second in a race at Caulfield.

Munro’s father Hugh was the trainer of one of Australia’s greatest mares, . Darby Munro was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. Jim Munro, who rode the champions Phar Lap, and Windbag and won two Melbourne Cups (Windbag, 1925; Statesman, DARBY MUNRO: The great jockey had a love-hate relationship with the public, but he could ride like a demon. 1928), was inducted in 2014.

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THE PUNTERS BIBLE 45 PUNTERS.COM.AU The money men either side of the ledger The money men either side of the ledger

$400,000 when his colt Red Diver won Famous punters his first start at Moonee Valley. A few months later, his colt Always There won ustralian racing has unearthed the Victoria Derby. His filly Romantic many big punters, some Miss won eight of her first 12 starts. A lasting the distance and making a fortune, others coming The love affair with Australian racing and going like comets. Here are didn’t last. Ysmael, Waymouth seven of the most famous: and jockey George Hope were disqualified for two years for not Felipe Ysmael (1940–84) allowing Follow Me to run on its merits in a race at Moonee Valley The flamboyant and flashy Felipe Ysmael was the biggest punter in December 1968. Ysmael sold in Australia of his time. up his team of horses in disgust. Nicknamed the ‘Filipino Fireball’, Ossie Porter (1894–1961) he headed what was known as the Asian syndicate that began betting Ossie Porter was a wealthy on Australian races in the late 1960s. shoemaker in Melbourne who FELIPE YSMAEL: Flamboyant and flashy. loved a gamble. In the 1940s and He came to Australia as head of ’50s he averaged a turnover of Ysmael Steel, one of the biggest a string of colts and to be trained £250,000 a year at a time when the companies in the Philippines, and by Charlie Waymouth in Victoria and average weekly wage was £5. quickly made his presence felt. Grahame Heagney in South Australia. He enjoyed his racing and bought Ysmael was known to bet massively Like many of Australia’s biggest on short-priced favourites and he gamblers, Porter also was a major loved to back his own horses. owner of racehorses. He bought his first in 1943 and within two years Leviathan bookmaker Bill Waterhouse had a string of 40. His best horse, and Ysmael had many trackside St Fairy, won 30 races including the clashes, with the bookie happy to set Ysmael because he knew he would 1945 Caulfield Cup—Porter is believed eventually win. Waterhouse claimed to have won £50,000 and gave the to have held one bet of $1 million. £5000 winning purse to trainer Theo FAST FACT Lewis and jockey Scobie Breasley. In 1967, Ysmael had intended to back Filipino Felipe Ysmael Red Handed in the Melbourne Cup, He also liked to back champion abandoned Australian but was tricked when Waterhouse horses—at Flemington on October 1, 1949, he had £7000 on star racing when he was offered “overs” (better odds than other bookmakers). Ysmael was filly Chicquita at 4/7 and £4000 disqualified for two years suspicious that Waterhouse had the on Comic Court at 1/4. She won after his horse Follow Me “mail” that Red Handed couldn’t the Edward Manifold Stakes, finished unplaced at Moonee win, so backed General Command he won the . instead. Red Handed won and Valley in December 1968. Porter withdrew from racing General Command finished sixth. in 1954 after the government In 1968, Ysmael won a reported introduced a tax on winning bets.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 46 PUNTERS.COM.AU The money men either side of the ledger

John Wren (1871–1953) It was reported that Birchley had so own horses. He died in 1944 much money and so many bets on with an estate of only £5741. John Wren got his first taste of Lord Dudley to win the 1974 VRC Sires’ gambling running bets at a Collingwood Produce Stakes that the bookies ran Kerry Packer (1937–2005) SP operation. It wasn’t long before he out of “price” on their betting boards— Kerry Packer inherited his fortune owned a string of SP betting shops. they only went to 1/10. The horse and love of punting from his father, Wren became heavily involved in officially started at 1/15 and trotted in. Sir Frank Packer, publisher and the all sports, but particularly loved the Birchley claimed to have bet $1 million owner of TV station GTV9 and a Collingwood Football Club, horse in 1975 to win $200,000, but the flame member of committee of the Australian racing and boxing. He built his own went out quickly for ‘The Fireman’ and Jockey Club. Sir Frank died in 1978. thoroughbred and trotting tracks to a string of big losses saw him disappear Kerry Packer, through a close compete against the establishment. He from the racing scene. In 1980, he relationship with big-time owner Lloyd also owned the land that now houses was fined $225 in Tweed Heads court Williams, part-owned a number of the Sandown racetrack in Springvale. after being caught for shoplifting. outstanding horses, including the 1996 Wren is reported to have won a Golden Slipper winner Merlene and Eric Connolly (1880–1944) fortune when his horse Murmur won 1987 Sydney Cup winner Major Drive. the 1904 Caulfield Cup at 10/1. Eric Connolly was one of the biggest When Packer decided to bet, Australia’s punters in the history of the turf. bookmakers had to brace themselves. Eddie Birchley At one stage he had so much money It was reported that Packer lost $8 and pull in the game that Tweed Heads-based Birchley was a million to bookmaker Bruce McHugh he owned 100 horses, and he lived spectacular punter in the 1970s. He in a day in early 1987. A few weeks a life of extravagance to the full. earned the nickname ‘The Fireman’ later he lost $7 million, including $2 after working for 17 years in the He won the present-day equivalent million on his own horse, the colt fire brigade. of $5 million when Christmas Tree (fourth) in the Golden won the and the Slipper. Bookmaker Dominic Beirne He backed odds-on favourites and Melbourne Cup in 1929. Everyone is reported to have held $10 million always bet in cash. At Moonee Valley expected Phar Lap to win the Cup, at the meeting. Another report has in 1973 he won $77,000 on the filly but Connolly backed Nightmarch Packer turning over $55 million at Elle. The following year he launched relentlessly from 20/1 to 6/1. the 1991 Sydney autumn carnival. on Tony Lopes’ star colt Caboul to win Packer, who also was regarded as $208,000—Caboul firmed from 2/7 The following year he won a fortune the world’s biggest casino gambler, to 1/6 at Flemington on Derby day. on the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double (Amounis and Phar Lap). It was died in 2005. His only son James suspected he was in cahoots with Phar doesn’t have the same family Lap’s trainer Harry Telford and owner interest in racing and prefers to own David Davis, who pulled Phar Lap out casinos rather than play the tables. of the Caulfield Cup after declaring he would run. The claim wasn’t proved. Perc Galea (1910–1977) It wasn’t uncommon for Connolly, Percival Galea, ‘The Prince’, was who was a great judge of form, born in Broken Hill and moved to give pre-race advice to some to Sydney at the age of four. leading riders. One of his great The story goes that he was driving friends was 11-times champion Billy a delivery truck in 1934 when one Duncan, who rode many winners for of his customers, Rodney Dangar, Connolly. Duncan and another great suggested Galea have a bet on his rider Bobby Lewis, winner of four horse Peter Pan in the Melbourne Melbourne Cups, openly admitted to Cup. Peter Pan won (his second Cup) receiving slings from Connolly, but and a cashed-up Galea started an SP denied ever pulling one up for him. betting operation at Sydney’s wharfs. The gravy train ran out of steam It wasn’t long before Galea was for Connolly, mainly because running Sydney’s biggest illegal ERIC CONNOLLY: A big-time owner and punter. of his relentless backing of his casinos. He became one of the

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 47 PUNTERS.COM.AU The money men either side of the ledger

city’s most prominent racehorse thinking the colt was a “hack”, only The Waterhouse clan owners and he had the habit of to soon discover that Don Juan Charles Waterhouse is recorded betting big on his own horses. was starting to show good ability. as the first Australian bookmaker In 1962, he was reported to have Thompson and Wilson devised a plan to issue tickets to punters. won £50,000 on Kilsherry in the to back Don Juan to win the 1873 His sons William (Bill), Jack and Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane. Melbourne Cup and entered the horse Charles became successful He was a huge fan of champion under an owner’s nom-de-plume. bookmakers, but it is Bill who became jockey George Moore and often They landed £25,000 in bets when known as a fearless “gambling” backed his mounts in all-up bets. Don Juan won by six lengths in record bookmaker happy to take on the In 1963, Galea had £11,000 on his colt time. With the winnings, Thompson biggest punters of the time. Eskimo Prince in the Breeders’ Plate at built a home in East Melbourne In 1984, Bill Waterhouse and his Randwick. The colt won and went on and named it Don Juan House. son Robbie were stripped of their to win the Golden Slipper at Rosehill Five-time Cup-winning trainer licences for being involved in the Fine in 1964 when Galea famously threw Etienne de Mestre and owner Cotton ring-in in Brisbane. Stewards £10 notes to the crowd. Unfortunately, James White landed a plunge on found that although the Waterhouses the excitement of the big bets and Chester to win the Cup in 1877 and were not responsible for the ring- owning a star colt wasn’t good for almost cleaned Thompson out. He in, they had prior knowledge. Galea’s weak heart. Ill health forced him to a quieter lifestyle soon after. bounced back in 1881 when Zulu Two famous families joined together won at long odds and Thompson’s when Robbie Waterhouse married Gai bag showed a £30,000 profit. Smith, daughter of champion trainer Famous bookmakers Tommy Smith. Gai Waterhouse had Sol Green (1868–1948) her application to train rejected by the AJC because of her relationship ookmaking and thoroughbred Sol Green was a contemporary racing go hand in hand. Some with a bookmaker. Waterhouse of Joe Thompson, and like him, a of Australia’s biggest bookies won through in 1992 and has won B London-born Jew, a flamboyant were flamboyant and influential. We more than 130 Group 1 races. bookmaker and big-time racehorse profile five famous satchel swingers: owner in Melbourne. Robbie’s son Tom has carried on the family’s bookmaking tradition. Joe Thompson (1838–1909) Green was an apprentice upholsterer when he bought a ticket to Australia. London-born Joe Thompson’s list of Mark Read After making some money from friends and acquaintances included Melbourne-born Mark Read came “buying and selling” on the wharfs, legendary outlaw Ned Kelly, as well from a betting family. His grandfather he took up bookmaking. It wasn’t long as judges, lawyers and politicians. Sid Hill, father Jack Hill and uncle Sid until he was colliding with John Wren Thompson (original named Solomons) Hill were bookmakers, his stepfather in the betting shop business. Green came to Australia in 1854 as a cabin Lal Read was a noted Flemington became the biggest bookmaker in boy and made his money on the feature doubles and often bet back with goldfields before setting up as a fellow bookies to offset any losses. bookmaker in Melbourne where he was “the king” of the betting ring. In 1907, it is reported he took a bet of £100,000 to £10,000 on Thompson was flamboyant and confident. He held up to £20,000 and Apologue winning the Caulfield on the major races, which Cup-Melbourne Cup double. When was a fortune at the time. both horses won, Green paid out in cash. Such was the size of his hold, He also became a big-time owner—he that even with that massive outlay, owned Nimblefoot but sold the horse he lost only £20,000 on the race. before he won the 1870 Melbourne Cup—and had , of the Green is associated with some famous St Albans Stud, Geelong, as great horses, but none more so than his trainer. Thompson also owned Comedy King, the first imported horse Don Juan before selling him to Wilson to win the Melbourne Cup (1910). MARK READ: Changed the of bookmaking.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 48 PUNTERS.COM.AU The money men either side of the ledger

clocker and his mother Mabel Australia’s first corporate bookmaking During one of their battles, McHugh Read was a very astute punter. operation, International All Sports told Packer that it would be best At 28, Read became one of the (IAS), in Darwin in 1997. He listed the to restrict each bet to a maximum youngest rails bookmakers in Australia. company in 1999. Irish bookmaker “to lose $2 million” otherwise His flamboyant style and smart form Paddy Power bought IASbet in 2009. he would go broke or Packer study made him the talk of the media. would have a heart attack. In 1978, he took more money in Bruce McHugh McHugh said Packer soon tired bets than the on-course tote at the Bruce McHugh famously gave up of the restriction and declared he Melbourne Cup carnival when he also bookmaking rather than continue to wanted an even $8 million on the became the first bookmaker to hold $1 hold multi-million dollar bets from favourite in Melbourne because million on the four days. The following leviathan punter and billionaire Kerry it was “no fun any more”. year he became the first bookie to hold Packer. McHugh said it was best Apart from bookmaking, McHugh had $1 million on a day, at the Newmarket to stop while he was in front. a passion for breeding racehorses— Handicap meeting at Flemington. McHugh has refused to confirm he was a major shareholder in Read also landed many plunges on the rumour that he held $55 million champion stallion Bletchingly—and horses he owned, including the colt worth of bets from Packer in the 1991 he also spent some time on the Getting Closer, who was backed Sydney autumn carnival because of committee of the Sydney Turf Club. from 50/1 to 7/1 in a “sting” that a “gentleman’s agreement” with In 2011, McHugh challenged the netted Read a reported $350,000 Packer, who died in 2005. However, Australian Stud Book in the Federal from the Canterbury betting ring in turnover tax paid by McHugh in Court to allow the introduction of 1982. It was probably a lot more. that six weeks was the equivalent artificial insemination into thoroughbred Read was an innovator. He opened of holding $88 million in bets. breeding in Australia. He lost.

THE BOOKIES: The hub of any racetrack, especially in area, is the betting ring.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 49 PUNTERS.COM.AU The tote and the bookies The tote and the bookies

statutory body—was established and on-course pools were kept Totalisator or in Victoria in March 1961. It bet on separate and this resulted in two pari-mutuel betting thoroughbred and harness racing. dividends being declared. Victoria Racing Club chairman Sir The Victorian and NSW TABs are Chester Manifold is credited for otalisator or as the French call it, owned and run by Tabcorp (the merger being the architect of the move. pari-mutuel betting, is a system in took place in 2004), but operate from T which all bets of a particular type Western Australia opened its TAB separate pools. Tatts.com holds are placed together in a pool; taxes or soon after—all other states and the licence in Queensland, South the “house take” are removed, and territories were operational by 1964. Australia, Tasmania (Tote Tasmania) and the Northern Territory; RWWA dividends are calculated by sharing In 1966, the Victorian TAB began (TABtouch) in Western Australia; the pool among all winning bets. operation on greyhound racing. and the ACTTAB in Canberra. In most totalisator agencies in Australia, the “house” retains Same-day payouts were introduced 15 per cent on win and place bets. in 1971, and fixed-odds betting started in Victoria in 1990. The dividend is not determined until the Other states soon followed. betting closes and the pool is finalised. A relationship between the TAB and For example, an eight-horse race the liquor industry resulted in the first has a total pool of $1000. Horse No. PubTAB being opened in 1985—and 4 is the winner and $100 has been in doing so fulfilled the Australian wagered on that horse to win. FAST FACT axiom of enjoying a bet and a beer. First the commission of 15 per cent is An international study This development received a huge removed from the $1000 pool = $850. reported in September that boost in 1988 when racing’s new Divide the $100 bet on the winner Australians, per capita, broadcaster, the Sydney-based Sky into $850 = 8.5, which equates to Racing, began telecasting into PubTABs, $8.50 to every $1 wagered = profit are the biggest gamblers TABs and clubs throughout Australia. $7.50 (or an outcome of 7.5/1). in the world—they spend A phone betting account was , The same process is used to produce $1000 per head. but required the punter to attend dividends for other bet types such a TAB to collect any winnings or as quadrella, trifecta and quinella add extra funds to the account, but (see page 62 for details)—with mobile phone and internet betting different percentage takeouts. In 1994, the Victorian Government has seen a dramatic change in the privatised its TAB—Tabcorp was listed way Australians bet and the switch A brief history on the Victorian stock exchange in in philosophy has seen many stand- The first on-course totalisator August of that year. The NSW TAB alone suburban TABs closing. was established at Randwick in wasn’t privatised until 1997. Only the The TABs expanded into sports betting Sydney in 1917 to offer punters an West Australian TAB remains owned in 1977, but this phenomenon has only alternative to on-course bookmakers by the state government, although really taken off in a big way since 2000 (off-course bookmaking, or at the time of writing it was listed after the Northern Territory offered SP bookmaking, was illegal). to be sold to private . licences to corporate bookmakers. Australia’s first Totalisator Agency When the off-course totalisator Sports betting is the fastest growth Board (TAB)—a government-owned began in Australia, the off-course area in wagering in Australia (from

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 50 PUNTERS.COM.AU The tote and the bookies

$200 million in 2008-09 to $4.5 billion in 2013-14), whereas betting on racing ($22 billion in 2013-14) has averaged in that time an increase of only 1.2 per cent per year. Wherever vision is available and through joint partnerships, Australian TABs operate on international races in Asia, Europe, the USA, South Africa and New Zealand. Most of Australian racing’s funding is from a return to the industry from TAB turnover. (For example: Tabcorp, which has 218,000 active customers and 2800 TAB retail outlets, returned $750 million to the three codes of the racing industry in the 2014 financial year.)

ON THE BAG: At racing’s peak in the 1960s, there were 200 bookmakers at Flemington and Randwick.

On-course Newmarket, England, where the rich Bookmakers also have lost their bookmakers and famous gambled against the house. “edge” as punters, thanks to race He became a bookmaker in 1829. replays and technology, have ookmaking has its origins In Australia, bookmaking as a become more knowledgeable. in England where the first business began in the 1860s. In B known bookies were Richard 1882, the Victoria Racing Club Tattersall and William Crockford. charged bookmakers £25 a year for Corporate Tattersall (1724-1895) set up the right to “stand” at the races. bookmakers premises in London where he also Until 1931, when an on-course conducted an auction business. totalisator was introduced to Australian orporate bookmaking Tattersalls is the leading equine racing, betting with a bookmaker has been the mainstay of auction house in England to this day. at the track was the only legal Cbetting on horse racing in Crockford (1775-1844) founded way of betting on horse racing. England for nearly 140 years. Crockford’s gambling saloon in The first showman bookmaker was Two of the oldest, Ladbrokes, which flamboyant Englishman Robert was founded in 1886, and William Standish Sievier, who arrived, aged Hill (1934) are still operating today 22, in Australia in 1882. Australia has and have branches in Australia. had a long list of famous, flamboyant Corporate bookmaking in Australia bookmakers ever since, including emerged after the Northern Territory Joe Thompson, Sol Green, the relaxed its rules and “invited” Waterhouse family, Mark Read, Bruce bookmakers to set up in the territory McHugh, Terry Page and Colin Tidy. FAST FACT under favourable tax conditions in the At its peak in the 1960s, more 1990s. Those first corporates offered In January 2015, than 200 bookmakers bet at extensive wagering by phone. the Centrebet, Sportingbet Flemington and Randwick. The first to make the move was and Tom Waterhouse However, that figure has dropped flamboyant bookmaker Mark Read, to around 20 due to rising costs and corporate bookmaking brands the advent of corporate bookmakers. amalgamated under one Some country meetings have only There are 14 brand, William Hill. one or two bookmakers and it is not corporate (online) uncommon for harness and greyhound meetings to be run bookmaker free. bookmakers.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 51 PUNTERS.COM.AU The tote and the bookies

who established Darwin All Sports in 1996. The business was renamed International All Sports in 1999 when Read began betting on international sporting events. That name morphed into IASbet before Irish corporate bookmaker Paddy Power bought it under its Sportsbet banner in 2009. The development of the internet and sophisticated betting engines, along with the growth of sports betting, has seen corporate bookmaking flourish to the point that the smaller, on-course bookmaking is barely relevant. In 2011-12 corporate bookmakers in the Northern Territory turned over $5.7 billion. They made a profit of $469 million, and they paid $2.35 million to the NT Government in tax. The turnover by corporates on racing and sport rose to $8 billion in 2013-14. In 2015 there are 14 corporate (online) bookmakers, including many international companies, vying for the Australian betting dollar. These include SP BOOKIES: Part of the culture of Australian racing until the off-course tote was introduced in 1961. Sportsbet, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Unibet, Crownbet, Betstar off that a raid was coming—and However, corporate bookmakers have and the TAB-owned Luxbet. scouts were placed on corners of continued to offer punters access local streets to spot the police. to starting-price odds. The starting The only online betting exchange price is now officially supplied by the is Betfair, where punters can One SP bookmaker famously wrote state controlling body through the play bookmaker by offering odds down all his bets with a pen dipped bookmakers’ supervisor’s office. on the exchange, which can be in lemon juice. Invisible to the eye, matched by punters looking for a the bets became legible when the bet. Betfair, the “house”, takes a paper was held over a flame. percentage of each bet matched. It wasn’t long ago that every corner pub had an SP bookmaker plying his trade. Usually the prices SP bookmaking from a particular newspaper—in Sydney it was the Sydney Morning tarting price (SP) off-course Herald, in Melbourne The Sun— FAST FACT betting is illegal in Australia. provided the odds for settling. The most famous Australian S The practice goes back to the The advent of the off-course Totalisator early days of Australian racing before Board (TAB) in the 1960s took a lot of SP bookmaker was known the advent of totalisator betting, and business from the SP bookie. A study as ‘Melbourne Mick’. flourished in the time of John Wren, in NSW found that at the time the TAB who famously in the early part of the was introduced there were 6000 SP His real name was Mick 20th century made a small fortune bookmakers with an annual turnover Bartley, and he was an out of his Collingwood “tote” in the of £275 million operating in the state. electrician by trade before back streets of suburban Melbourne. Eventually, as the TAB grew and he moved to Sydney in 1946. Police raids were common—as government regulations became stricter, was slinging the cops for a tip- the SP bookmaker has disappeared.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 52 PUNTERS.COM.AU Horse Racing Form Horse Racing Form

How to read Horse Details Last 10 Career W% P% AVE $ WGT Bar Court Connection a form guide 1 J Blake Shinn 03s59s3600 43 9-4-5 21% 42% $7,804 61 8 T Kurt Goldman or those new to racing, trying to Hathras understand information within a 2 J s00s00s671 12 3-1-2 25% 50% $10,799 59 10 F form guide can be confusing. T Kris Lees A chart with numbers, abbreviations, Best of the Rest statistics and names can be quite 3 J Jason Collett 0412421336 20 3-3-4 15% 50% $4,807 55.5 4 T Anthony Cummings overwhelming. To make the process less daunting, this chapter will help Another Charger guide punters to get the most out of 4 J Grant Buckley 6w143s44199 19 6-1-1 32% 42% $3,292 54 5 T Tas Morton form guides in the quest to find winners. Nissile While each form guide you read will 5 J James Innes Jnr (a3) 154327804s 32 5-4-3 16% 38% $2,871 54 9 be slightly different, there is general T Damien Lane information that is found in most form Palasport guides or pre-race overviews. Below 6 J Brenton Avdulla 9253164609 64 8-11-6 13% 39% $4,058 54 6 is a brief summation of the key form T Gregory Hickman analysis pointers—with a more detailed Under the Lights explanation later in this chapter. 7 J Kerrin McEvoy 01438s6721 14 3-1-1 21% 36% $3,097 54 7 T Gerald Ryan

Number Albana 8 J Kathy O’Hara 918178s956 52 7-5-2 13% 27% $2,269 54 2 In most cases, horses appear in weight T Terry Robinson order with the heaviest weighted horses at the top. Horses on the same THE FORM GUIDE: The standard form guide can be confusing for the uninitiated. weight are placed in alphabetical order. start of the horse in percentage terms. earned by the horse per start, The number is displayed on the For example, a horse that has won which is achieved by dividing saddlecloth and that number, which two of 10 starts has a winning strike the total prizemoney earned is universally used in form guides, is rate of one in five or 20 per cent. by the number of starts. often referred to as the TAB number. P% (place percentage) Wgt (weight) Last 10 (sometimes last 5) Refers to the horse’s strike rate to Each horse is handicapped according The “last 10” is the finishing position run a placing per start—first, second to its ability and/or rating, and of the past 10 starts. An “s” or “—” and third. For example, a horse depending on the class of the race is in the sequence indicates a horse that has a win and three placings allocated a weight by the . has gone for a spell (usually 30 from 10 starts (four times in the days or longer) and a 0 indicates the first three) has a placing strike rate Bar (barrier) horse has finished 10th or worse. of four in 10, or 40 per cent. Horses start from barrier stalls and barriers are selected by W% (win percentage) Avg $ (average earnings) computer. Inside barriers are Refers to the winning strike rate per Indicates the average prizemoney generally regarded as favourable.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 53 PUNTERS.COM.AU Horse Racing Form

(anti-clockwise); New South with softer tops, which allow the The basics of racing Wales and Queensland race horse to brush through the jump. right-handed (clockwise). Despite the decline of jumps knowledge of some of the Flat races are held over a variety of racing in Australia, the Oakbank basic elements of racing distances from 800 metres (often carnival and Victoria’s Warrnambool will help readers to analyse A for juveniles) to the 3200 metres carnival in May continue to attract form guides in more depth. of the Melbourne Cup. The longest big and enthusiastic crowds. flat race in Australia is the Victorian Flat racing Jumps racing is held in Victoria Marathon Series Final (4000m), run (65 races) and South Australia The term “flat” refers to the fact in Melbourne at Sandown in May. (19 races) and it remains a contentious the race has no obstacles to jump. issue with an anti-jumps lobby strongly Jumps racing Almost all in voicing its disapproval. Massive Australia is flat racing—according to There are two types of jumps races: improvements have been made to the the Australian Racing Board, in the hurdles and steeplechases. jumps for the safety of horse and rider. 2013-14 season there were 19,427 Hurdles are smaller, rigid brush This type of racing suits horses flat races and only 84 jumps races. obstacles that are erected in with good endurance, with races Australia’s courses are circular panels and are usually the starting usually held at distances of 3200 and relatively flat compared point for any budding jumper. metres and beyond. The Grand to the English version. A steeplechase is named for the Annual Steeplechase (5500m), run historic racing between the church at Warrnambool in May, is Australia’s There are only two straight courses: steeples or spires from one town longest race, and its 33 fences is the Flemington (Vic) has the only straight to another. The obstacles in a most of any jumps race in the world. 1200-metre track; Pinjarra (WA) has steeplechase are called fences Whereas in Europe horses are specifically a 1000-metre straight course. and not steeples. They are much bred for jumping (National Hunt), Victoria, South Australia, Western higher and broader than hurdles, and Australia’s jumpers are usually staying- Australia, Northern Territory some are live hedges (Casterton in bred geldings and mares that have lost and Tasmania race left-handed Victoria features hedges as fences) their competitive edge on the flat.

OVER THE JUMPS: Jumps racing is held in Victoria and South Australia.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 54 PUNTERS.COM.AU Horse Racing Form

The horse The sex and colour of each horse is always displayed on a form guide, often shown by abbreviation, e.g. br (brown) g (gelding) 4 years. Races can be restricted by age (two- three- or four-year-olds) and gender (fillies, mares, colts and geldings; fillies and mares; geldings and entires). Below is a quick guide to understand the abbreviations in a form guide: Sex C = Colt—a male horse no older than three. PIERRO IN FULL : Pierro was a champion 2YO who was sold for about $30 million as stallion. F = Filly—a female horse no older than three. The racing age It’s not uncommon for aged horses (older than six) to win major races. G = Gelding—a male horse that In the southern hemisphere, all horses Makybe Diva was seven when she won has been castrated. celebrate their birthday on August 1 (for her third Melbourne Cup in 2005. Super M = Mare—a female horse harness horses it is September 1) at the Impose was eight when he won the aged four or older. start of the spring breeding season. For 1992 Cox Plate. The oldest Melbourne H = Horse—also known as an northern hemisphere thoroughbreds Cup winners are eight-year-olds entire or stallion, a horse is a the birthday is January 1. Catalogue (1938) and Toryboy (1865). male aged four or older that Horses can begin racing from The John McNair-trained Mustard has not been castrated. the age of two—the juvenile began his career as a two-year-old in Colours race season starts from October. 2000. His first win came in January The richest race in the world for 2001. His final win came more than B = Bay—reddish to dark brown two-year-olds is the $3.5 million nine years later as a 13-year-old coat with black points (mane, Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill and had his final start aged 14. tail and lower legs). Gardens in Sydney in late March. In June 2015, the Australian Racing Br = Brown—also referred to as dark The major races for two-year-olds offer Board (ARB) introduced a rule that bays. The brown coat is usually lucrative prizemoney and are important near black with tinges of brown. a horse cannot race beyond the for enhancing the value of prospective age of 12. Horses aged 12 require stallions and broodmares. Recent Ch = Chestnut—lighter more reddish veterinary clearance to race. coat, mane and tail. No black. Golden Slipper winning colts Pierro (2012) and Vancouver (2015) sold to Gr = Grey—the shades of grey horses Handicapping Coolmore Stud soon after their wins for vary greatly from light to a very between $30 million and $40 million. The set weight scale of a ratings- dark grey that looks close to black. based system has taken the Not all horses will begin their racing Grey horses are born black. “opinion” out of handicapping career aged two—many are given Rn = Roan—sometimes confused horses in restricted company. more time to grow and mature. with grey. Roans are often an There are only a handful of juvenile However, handicappers continue intermixed colour of chestnut races for staying-breds—the longest to use the ratings, which have and grey, called red roan. race is 1800m because two-year- international basis, to set the Blk = Black—pure blacks are rare and olds are not allowed to start in weights for open handicap races: often referred to as dark browns. a race that exceeds 2000m. Australia’s most famous handicap Black coats often fade in sunlight. races are the Melbourne Cup, A horse can also run in races Caulfield Cup, Newmarket Handicap Wh = White—extremely rare. restricted to three-year-olds. The The horses have white hair feature races for this age are the and the Doncaster Handicap. over pink or spotted skin. Classics—Derby, Oaks and Guineas. Once a horse has broken its maiden

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status, it receives a handicap rating highest classification Group 1, Victoria Derby and , from the performance to help indicate followed by Group 2, Group 3 and are run at set weights—irrespective which class it can enter next start. Listed. There are 582 Group and of their ratings or class, colts and geldings carry the same weight Every horse is assessed after each Listed races—72 Group 1 races— (56.5kg in Classic races); fillies are run. A good run will see a horse held each year in Australia. allotted 2kg less than the males. have its rating increase, especially The reference to “black type” racing for a win, while a bad run may see refers to how the performance of the Set weights and penalties a horse’s handicap rating drop. winner or placegetter in a Stakes race The better class age-restricted races In a handicap race, the highest-rated will appear in a pedigree page and is are often run under “Set Weights and runner will have the most weight with particularly important for breeders. Penalties” (SW+P) conditions with a the top-weighted horses determining base weight (e.g. 55kg) and weight the spread of the weight scale—in Quality handicap penalties for wins in Group or Listed most states there is a minimum top A handicap race has a maximum races. The sex or age of the horse weight; it varies from 58kg to 59kg. and minimum weight, different determines the weight carried—entires, in each state but usually around Ratings and classes of races colts and geldings usually carry around 60-61kg maximum and 53-54kg 2kg more than the fillies or mares. The purpose for grading horses minimum. More than often a Quality into classes is to provide Handicap is a Stakes-class race. Weight for age for competitive racing. Set weights Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the Competitiveness, such as in an open English Jockey Club, is credited for handicap like the Melbourne Cup, These races are often restricted to the principle of weight for age (WFA). can be achieved by handicapping to age or sex. For example, the Classic Rous experimented with weights a weight scale based on ratings. races for three-year-olds, such as the until he arrived at a relationship Understanding the class of races can be confusing to those new to horse racing. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE WEIGHT-FOR-AGE SCALE Month Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Each state in Australia conducts Distance Age racing under a ratings system that 2 - - - - - 45.0 46.0 47.0 48.0 49.0 50.0 51.0 replaced the win-based system Over 3 51.5 52.0 53.0 53.5 54.5 55.0 55.5 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0 of Class 1 to Class 6 (e.g. a Class 1000m 4 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 6 horse has won six races). -1200m 5+ 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 Maidens are restricted to horses 2 - - - - - 44.0 45.0 46.0 47.0 48.0 49.0 50.0 that have not won a race at Over 3 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0 1200m a registered meeting. -1400m 4 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 Within that ratings system, Racing 5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 NSW and Racing Victoria operate under 2 - - - - - 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5 49.5 Over 3 50.0 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 55.0 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0 a benchmark system that allows horses 1400m to drop back a grade, but carry extra -1600m 4 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 weight. For example, in a Benchmark 2 - - - - - 42.5 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5 64 event, any horse rated on 64 will Over 3 49.0 49.5 50.0 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.5 57.0 57.5 carry 60kg—for every two rating points 1600m 4 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 lower or higher than 64, the weight - 2000m 5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 will rise or drop by 1kg. A 66 rating 3 48.5 49.0 49.5 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.0 57.0 horse can run in a Benchmark 64, but Over 2000m 4 57.5 57.5 57.5 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 will carry a “penalty” of 1kg—61kg. - 2400m 5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 Restricted metropolitan open-age Over 3 48.0 48.5 49.0 50.0 50.5 51.5 52.5 53.5 54.0 55.0 55.5 56.0 races range from ratings of 0-82 to 2400m 4 57.5 57.5 57.5 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 0-95; horses rated higher compete in - 3200m 5+ 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 open handicaps and Stakes races. Fillies and mares to be allowed 2.0kg from 1 August to 31 July The highest quality races are Stakes races (black-type racing) with the WFA: The standard weight-for-age scale was devised by Admiral Rous and has stood the test of time.

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between age and maturity, expressed in terms of weight. His original scale has had only minor alterations since his work in the 1860s. This weight varies depending on the horse’s age, sex, race distance, and month of the year. These races are usually Stakes races for high- class gallopers. The W.S. Cox Plate (2040m, run at Moonee Valley in October) is Australia’s most famous weight-for-age race. Male horses five and over carry 59kg, four-year- olds 57.5kg and three-year-olds 49.5kg (mares and fillies 2kg less). OUTBACK RACING: The famous Birdsville racetrack in far west Queensland. In Europe, all Stakes races are run at set weights or weight-for-age. and Mornington) and Moonee Valley as circumference, the length of the Racing Club (Moonee Valley). straight and the number and shape of turns. The track surface can also be Tracks New South Wales has one metropolitan different—grass (turf) tracks are the club, the Australian Turf Club (following A feature of Australian racing is the most common, as well as synthetic the merger of the Australian Jockey number of tracks in each state and (Polytrack, ProRide and Tapeta) all- Club and Sydney Turf Club in February territory—there are 368 registered weather surfaces and dirt tracks. racetracks representing 386 clubs 2011). It races at Randwick, Rosehill, An important tool when doing the (some clubs share tracks). NSW Canterbury and Warwick Farm. form is to understand a horse’s has the most with 121, followed by It is not only the major city tracks that ability to handle different tracks, Queensland 107 and Victoria 68. host famous races. Birdsville in Central firm or wet surfaces and turf or Race meetings—2725 held West Queensland has a population all-weather or dirt tracks. in Australia in 2013-14—are of just over 100, but the Birdsville The racing style of a horse can be classified as metropolitan, Cup meeting, held on the dirt track in suited to different types of tracks— provincial, country and picnic. September, sees crowds of more than the introduction of moveable running 6000 converge on the outback town. Metropolitan meetings can be rails can result in track bias that held at provincial tracks with Other well-known meetings on may suit leaders, or “swoopers” approval of the controlling body. Australian “bucket lists” include (strong finishers) and horses the Hanging Rock races in Victoria has three metropolitan clubs drawn near the inside or wide. Victoria and the Bong Bong Picnic controlling five racetracks—Victoria It also is worth noting that some horses Cup in New South Wales. Racing Club (Flemington), Melbourne perform best on their “home” track; Racing Club (Caulfield, Sandown Each track has its own nuances, such i.e. the track on which they are trained.

NEW TRACK: Racing Victoria opened a new course at Tyrnong in 2015—the Pakenham Racing Club’s Racing.com Park with turf and synthetic tracks.

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0-78 or 0-80, to achieve weight relief old or over will carry 59kg in WFA Key components (see ratings and class, page 54). races, regardless of their rating. of form analysis In weight-for-age races, the weight Therefore, a horse with a rating of 110 a horse will carry is in accordance could be carrying the same weight nderstanding all the with the WFA scale, with weight as a horse with a rating of 85. Logic components that can influence allocated primarily on a horse’s age says the 110 horse will beat the 85 U the performance of a horse and sex in relation to the time of horse at level weights every time. or how a race can be run is the key the year (e.g. three-year-olds get to being a successful punter. more weight advantage early in the Track conditions season, in the spring, compared Here are some of the most important The condition of a turf track is to what they carry in the autumn factors in analysing the form. broken into four categories: firm, and winter). Weight-for-age races good, soft and heavy. The Australian are generally Stakes races (see Weight Racing Board has adopted the weight for age on page 54). following national track rating The weight a horse will carry in a race The physical weight of a mature system for all tracks. Bear in mind is determined by the conditions of the thoroughbred is normally between the synthetic all-weather surfaces race and/or the rating of the horse, and 450kg and 600kg. The ability of generally have a Good 3 rating. in some cases, such as the Melbourne a horse to carry a heavy weight Cup, the opinion of the handicapper. Firm 1: Dry, hard track in races varies—obviously a big, The most common is handicap strong horse is more likely to cope Firm 2: Firm track with racing. Under handicap conditions, with a heavy weight than a horse reasonable grass coverage the handicap rating assigned that is small and lightly framed. Good 3: Track with good grass to each runner determines the coverage and cushion weight to be carried. A horse Using handicapping Good 4: Track with some give in it with the highest handicap rating in form analysis will be assigned the most weight Soft 5: Track with a reasonable (see handicapping, page 53) Handicap ratings can be used amount of give in it in a couple of simple ways Handicapping is designed to even to help in form study. Soft 6: Moist but not a the playing field by giving the class badly affected track horses more weight to carry. One way is trying to which horses are likely to have Soft 7: More rain-affected When addressing weight in a race, reached, or are close to reaching, track that will chop out there are a few questions to consider: their peak rating and which have Heavy 8: Rain-affected track • How is the horse weighted in more scope for improvement. that horses will get into comparison to the rest of the For example, a horse with Heavy 9: Wet track getting field, particularly its main rivals? 30 starts is a lot more exposed into a squelchy area • If the horse has raced against than a runner with only seven starts. Heavy 10: Heaviest category track, some of its rivals in the past, is The lightly raced runner may still be very wet, towards saturation he/she meeting that rival better progressing and capable of rising in or worse at the weights? grade (rating) fairly quickly, whereas At acceptance time the surface is the more experienced horse has less given its rating by the track manager. • How has the horse performed However, the official race-day when carrying a heavy or scope for improvement after racing in a similar class for some time. rating is often determined following similar weight in the past? a consultation between the track Horses that compete in restricted Ratings can also be a handy form manager and the stewards in charge class races, e.g. 0-72, retain their tool in weight-for-age (WFA) races. of the meeting. In Victoria, full-time weight as set by their rating. A win In this type of race, weights are “trackwalkers” are employed to will result in an increase in rating determined by the age and sex offer assistance. It’s not uncommon and rise in weight (up to five rating of a horse and not by rating. for a track rating to be changed points and 2.5kg). The trainer has High-rated horses are seemingly from between the 7am inspection the option of staying in that class well off at level weights in comparison and a pre-race inspection by the with extra weight, or moving to the with others who are poorly rated. stewards. Often track ratings are next benchmark level, in this case For example, male horses four years altered (usually upgraded) after a race

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or two following consultation with Remember, the greater the sample 3200m, but she also had the speed to jockeys and a study of the times. data, the better the reliability. win over distances as short as 1400m, Track managers are encouraged to It’s also common for some horses and she won a Cox Plate and Australian produce a Good 4 (the old “dead” to develop the ability to handle Cup at 2000m. The great Black Caviar, rating) rating in the morning—a different surfaces as they get older. a powerhouse sprinter, was undefeated firmish track with some give in it. in her 25 starts from 1000m to 1400m. Some breeds, particularly sire lines, also A lot of horses have a distance (or The rating is aided by the use of an are worth following because of their range) that they are more suited to. instrument called a penetrometer, ability to handle wet or dry tracks. For The form guide provides the best which will produce a rating that example, the progeny of Commands indication to a horse’s preferred can be historically compared to and Dane Shadow are noted for their distance range. Watching replays past meetings at the track. ability to handle wet tracks. A search on is also an important tool to assess A horse’s performance on each punters.com.au will find an interesting how strongly a horse is finishing its track condition is shown on a story, written in April 2014 by Costa race and if extra distance will suit. form guide, with starts, wins and Rolfe, on the best wet-track sires. placings under each category. It is quite common in Australia for Distances trainers to begin a horse’s campaign The penetrometer is not used for over distances shorter than their synthetic all-weather racing. Synthetic Racing in Australia caters for all types preferred distances. Stayers usually tracks—Victoria has synthetic tracks of thoroughbreds—from the speedy build on distances in their campaign, at Geelong and Pakenham (Racing. sprinters to the dour stayers. Races often not reaching their preferred com Park)— allow clubs to continue are run over distances from as short distance until the fourth or fifth racing during the wet winter months. as 800m to the 5500m jumps races, start. It’s common to see Melbourne Due to the unique nature of the although the majority of races are over Cup contenders start their spring surface, form guides will show a distances between 1000m and 2000m. campaigns in the Memsie Stakes horse’s record on synthetic tracks. Horses are often classified into (1400m, Caulfield) or the Makybe There are also a number of dirt tracks broad categories according to Diva Stakes (1600m, Flemington) in South Australia, Western Australia, their preferred racing distance. in August and September. Queensland and the Northern Territory. Sprinter: 800m to 1200m This is in contrast to racing in the Darwin’s Fannie Bay Racecourse is United Kingdom where fitness the most famous dirt track. The track Sprinter-miler: 1200m to 1600m is gained in training and horses surface is a combination of dirt and oil, Miler-middle distance: often compete at their optimum ideal for the humid, tropical weather. 1600m to 2200m distance without a lead-up race. Using track conditions Stayer: 2200m+ in form study Sprinters are well-built, heavily muscled athletes who rely on Track conditions are a vital part of form anaerobic (meaning living without study as horses are quite often suited air) capacity in that they burn to a particular surface. Past races stored in their muscle fibres for and trials will give a guide to what speed. It’s not uncommon for a track conditions a particular horse sprinter to breathe only once or FAST FACT has the ability to handle—bearing in twice in a 1000-metre race. mind that most turf surfaces have Malua (1879-96) was one different profiles; e.g. Moonee Valley Stayers are more lightly framed and of Australia’s most versatile which has a StrathAyr turf track with angular. Stayers source their oxygen a base of sand and plastic fibres. aerobically through air intake into racehorses. He won an their lungs. The art of training a (1100m), It can be tricky, particularly early good stayer is to teach it to breathe in a horse’s career, to establish Newmarket Handicap rhythmically and consistently. an ability to handle particular (1200m), Melbourne Cup track conditions—taking note of Some unique athletes can be effective (3200m) and Grand National trainers’ and jockeys’ comments in over a variety of distances. Makybe stewards’ reports and interviews Diva was a champion, staying mare Hurdle (5200m). in the media can be very helpful. who won three Melbourne Cups over

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DRAWN WIDE: Out of the straight in the 2014 Caulfield Cup—it’s hard to get near the rail if drawn wide.

Barriers straight course and the famous and even a horse’s preference to not 3200m start for the Melbourne Cup. having horses racing on its outside. The starting gates are often referred As a general rule the closer a horse to as starting stalls or barrier stalls. Using barriers is drawn to the inside rail the better In the 19th century races had walk- in form analysis chance the horse will have of getting up starts with the wave of the There are advantages and the most suitable run to either lead flag, until an Australian invention of disadvantages with being drawn or sit behind the pace with cover strand or rope starts was developed close to the inside rail and being (or in the slipstream of another runner). in 1894. Under those conditions drawn wide. A lot depends on it wasn’t uncommon for horses Noted fast beginners drawn wide the horse and the prevailing track to swing sideways or turn around in sprint races usually ensure a conditions, including track bias. just as the strand would lift. quick tempo as they have to be A horse’s suitability to a barrier can pushed by their jockeys to cross Electronic barrier stalls were be determined by many different the fields. This often favours horses developed in America in the factors, including the track that prefer to settle off the speed 1940s and first used in Australia circumference, the surface, the race and require a solid tempo to give at Randwick in March 1947. distance, the horse’s running style them the best chance of winning. Horses are allocated a barrier (these days drawn by computer), with barrier BARRIER STRIKE RATES - 2014 1 being the closest to the inside rail. 1800 For some feature races, the barrier draw is conducted as an event leading 1600 up to the race. In the case of the 1400 Melbourne Cup, a connection of 1200 a horse chooses from 24 miniature 1000 versions of the cup, each with a 800 barrier number hidden underneath. 600 The size of the track will determine 400 the field-size limits. Melbourne’s 200 famous Flemington track has the 0 largest barrier stalls to cater for a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 field of 24 to be started in 1000m and 1200m races at the top of the BARRIER BIAS: This graph represents the barrier strikes rates on all tracks over all distances.

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THEY’RE OFF: The barrier draw is a key component to form study, especially doing pre-race speed maps.

An inside barrier gives a horse the forward to hold an inside position. barrier draw and the predicted best chance to race on the speed— Pushing a horse too vigorously early tempo (fast or slow) of the race. can result in that horse over-racing. figures show that 65 per cent of Knowing and understanding a winners on Sydney metropolitan tracks Horses that prefer to sit at the back horse’s racing style is the key to the are in the first five on the home turn. of the field and save their energy successful use of a speed map. You The table on this page shows the for one last finishing burst can develop your own speed map average strike rates of horses jumping can be hampered by an inside with a detailed study of a form guide. barrier—settling behind a wall from each barrier at Flemington Some horses like to lead and some of horses, with some tiring, can in races over the 1600-metre horses like to sit at or near the back of result in jockeys finding a clear course from August 2008. the field. The jockey needs to take this path difficult in the straight. On average the horses drawn closer to into consideration when getting the the inside rail have a better strike rate. A horse with good gate speed and horse into a suitable settling position. jumping from an inside barrier gives On tracks of small circumferences Understanding the pressure that the jockey the best options in a race. and tight turning corners, it is usually might exist in a race is important Settling behind the leader—“the an advantage to be drawn closer box seat”— is the plum position, to predicting the outcome. For to the rail. A horse covers less especially in sprint races. Read more example, in a field of 10 there distance racing closer to the rail. about how settling positions affect may be three horses that prefer to Being drawn out wider on the a horse’s chances in a race in the lead. This scenario could mean the smaller, tighter tracks makes it tough “Speed map” section that follows. three will seek the lead position, for jockeys to find a position with resulting in a fast early tempo cover close to the rail. The choice Speed maps and suiting that finish strongly. is to go forward or back because a A speed map is used to predict Many things can affect and influence neutral approach can result in a horse the positioning of horses in a the horse’s settling position in being trapped wide throughout. field at varying stages of a race relation to the rest of the field. On larger tracks such as Flemington leading to the home turn. The position a jockey might like to settle a horse is not always possible and Randwick, a wide barrier is This is known as a horse’s settling as others battle for similar prized less of an issue. Also most modern position or place in transit. Jockeys positions after the gates open. metropolitan tracks are cambered employ analysts to supply them on the turns, which means that with speed maps to understand Two of the main influences on horses racing wide have less of a how a race might evolve. Some where the horse is most likely to disadvantage—Flemington’s cambered jockeys do their own mapping. settle are the barrier and the horse’s home turn is a prime example of this. ability to muster speed to settle in A speed map is used to predict the perfect “box-seat” position. High-speed horses have the ability to which horses will have the best lead from any draw, and it could be position and which may be negatively In the speed map graphics on this that a wider draw can allow a rider to affected by settling in unfavourable page, we show a horse with above- ease across the field rather than push positions—influenced by their average gate speed—Hay List—and

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the different scenarios facing the jockey from a good barrier and a wide barrier. Foxwedge (13) In Graphic A, Hay List draws barrier five and has no trouble using his speed to settle behind a hot speed, Northerly Smart Missile Beneteau (3) Hay List (5) Sepoy (9) set by Black Caviar (barrier 4) and Sepoy, who crosses from a wide Lonhro Pierro Grand Armee Crystal Lily (1) Sepoy (2) Black Caviar (4) barrier to be outside the leader. Hay List’s jockey, because of his INSIDE RAIL good barrier, has the choice of being GRAPHIC A: Hay List, from barrier five, can allow Black Caviar (9) to pass him early, and box seat. in the speed battle or take a sit. The choice for Hay List’s jockey is much more limited in Graphic B, in Hay List (13) which Hay List has barrier 13. As Hay List is a natural go-forward horse, the rider is forced to attempt to cross the Northerly Smart Missile More Joyous Beneteau (6) Foxwedge (3) (4) field, but the speedsters, Vain and

Black Caviar – both drawn inside Hay Lonhro Pierro Grand Armee Crystal Lily (5) Sepoy (1) Black Caviar (2) List – are able to hold him out, and the result is that Hay List is caught INSIDE RAIL wide, on the pace, and on a limb. GRAPHIC B: Hay List has drawn 13 and attempts to get in, but finds the speed inside him leaves him on a limb. This is an entirely predictable scenario for any form student with need to be looked at beyond just the available, clubs conduct “jump-out” a knowledge of the speed capabilities finishing positions. There are times trials, which are held on training tracks and racing pattern of most horses. when only limited information can and with little knowledge of which be taken from a trial as it can be run horse is which. However, in Victoria, However, some professional punters, quite differently to a genuine race. clubs such as the VRC and MRC however, prefer on-speed horses make available the runners’ names, Within a trial there can be horses that are drawn outside, as they are trainers, colours worn with the video given a serious hit-out, while others able to dictate the early pace better of jump-out trials on their websites. than the horses on their inside who are given an easy time and perform are pushed to hold their position. with something in reserve. First up For a horse that prefers to race Key elements for studying a trial The term “first up” relates to a from the back, an outside barrier is are the time in comparison to other horse having its first run after a not usually an issue especially in a trials on the day and how well horses spell (naturally including its first race with a predicted fast tempo. are travelling in the trial. Some trainers, start). It is an important part of form such as Gai Waterhouse, like their Trials as some horses race well fresh, horses to perform strongly in trials, while others need a few runs in a Barrier “race” trials—simulated whereas others, including Peter and preparation to find their best form. races in training—are a tool used by Paul Snowden and John, Wayne and The term “fresh” is used to describe a trainers to educate younger horses. Michael Hawkes, prefer to trial their horse early in its preparation, normally horses softly, with “a bit up the sleeve”. However, trials have become in its first start for a campaign. an invaluable way for trainers In NSW, a horse must have an A spell is when a horse has a to get a horse fit. official trial before it can race; break from racing of 60 days. this is not so in Victoria. For juveniles a trial is important as it Some horses spell in a stable and simulates race conditions, helping the Previous trial form is also important might do some light work, while horses get used to all the elements of to consider, as horses can star others leave the stable to rest and racing, from jumping from the barriers in trials, but are not be able to put on condition in a paddock. to racing close to other horses. translate it to race conditions. A break of 30 days or more, but Watching trials (live or replays) is Apart from official trials, which are less than 60 days will appear as another factor of form study. Trials televised and the full results are “freshened” in the form guide.

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Some horses will trial before they meeting and can be a a combination The TABs take out around 15 per cent return to racing, which will give punters of on-course and off-course prices. of their win/place pools—betting to a an indication of their fitness level. The price is an indication of how percentage of 115 per cent—before Staying horses in Australia often the market assessed the chances declaring a dividend from the balance. start over shorter distances, in of each runner. A horse offered at a races they are unlikely to win, and price of $2.00 (even money or 1/1) Example of SP profiling build their distances and fitness. means the market sees it as a 50 per Horse (1) is heavily backed to start cent chance of winning the race. at a price of $3.00 (2/1), but due to Second up The SP can be used in future races circumstances fails to perform to its Most form guides will the for form study and is shown in almost market support, which results in the record of a horse’s form “second every form guide for every past horse being $6.00—in the same class up”—this refers to its second start run. An important factor in using SP race—at its next start. If you regard in a preparation. There is definitely profiling is to compare races of similar this horse as having genuine excuses a trend for some horses to run quality or conditions. A dramatic rise for its initial failure, taking the $6.00 bet at their best second up—often or fall in class can be the trigger for (double the price) is a positive SP profile. still fresh but with a greater level a dramatic swing in price range. At the other end of the , of fitness after a first-up run. Most bookmakers open their betting Horse (2) is unwanted in the market at A term that is often used in horse around 140 per cent (by adding the $51, but produces a surprisingly strong racing is “second-up syndrome”, percentage price of each runner). If performance indicating that a repeat which refers to a poor, sometimes a punter had $1 on each runner, the of that effort will result in a winning inexplicable run by horse at its bookie would win 40 per cent of the chance at its next start, which will be second run from a spell. The total take. By the time a race starts, at the reduced odds of, say, $15. We syndrome is not easily explained, the bookmaker usually has firmed regard this as a negative SP profile. but some trainers believe a horse the market to around 115 per cent to It is important to note that this doesn’t may perform above expectations be fairly similar to the totalisator. mean the horse can’t win or that first up and be flat at its second start. Some professional punters narrow the the $15 represents bad value. The winning chances down to, say, five in a market may have got it completely Starting price (SP) profile field of 10—if by adding the percentages wrong the previous start and/or the The starting price (SP) of a runner is of their five horses the figure is less horse may have made significant the price being offered by bookmakers that 100 per cent (say 85 per cent), improvement. It is simply another at the close of betting—it is a price the percentages are in the favour of factor than can be used in analysing declared by the club conducting the the punter if one of the five wins. form and can help find value.

IN THE RING: Punters have many options to bet, although on-course bookmakers have stiff opposition from the online corporate bookies.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 63 PUNTERS.COM.AU Horse Racing Form

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 64 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting Betting

Punters also have the option of The dividend declared for exotics Bet types placing an each-way bet, which bet types is based on a $1 stake. means wagering an equal amount However, the combination in most etting is the lifeblood of the for a win and a place—and, if the cases can be to a unit of 50 cents Australian horse racing industry horse wins, collecting on both the (so half the declared dividend). If B and a popular pastime for many win and place dividends. A second you bet $5 on the quinella (first and people in this country. Wagering or third placing means they will second in any order), you’ll receive goes beyond just finding the winner collect on the place odds only. five times (x 5) of the declared and, over the years, many different It is generally advantageous to bet dividend if your bet is successful. betting types have been developed. eachway when the horse is paying Quinella It’s valuable to understand them: at least $2 to ensure a break-even This bet type involves selecting the Win & place position (at the $2 dividend) or a first and second horses in any order. profit if more than $2. This means You have the option of selecting Backing a horse to win or finish that for a $5 each-way bet (outlay of just two horses or any number in the placings is the most basic $5 x 2 = $10) on a horse paying $5 of multiple (boxed) combinations form of betting. A win bet requires a win and $2 a place that finishes (see trifecta for a more detailed you to select the horse that is first second or third, the dividend will be explanation of boxed betting). past the winning post. The pre- $10. If the horse wins, the return race price or post-race (SP) price is $35—$25 win and $10 place. Exacta references the win-only price. Similar bet to a quinella, but in this Place betting involves picking a horse Exotic bet types case selecting first and second in a to finish in the first three across the Over the years a wide range of exotic particular order. Again, you can box line. Place dividends are generally bet types have been developed, two or more runners or stagger your calculated as approximately a quarter particularly by the TAB because of its selections. For instance, you may of the win dividend. This means that advantageous position of being able choose to take a particular horse to if a horse is paying $6 for the win, the to declare dividends from a net-pool. win— a ‘standout’ selection—and place dividend should be approximately multiple horses to finish second. Exotic betting often revolves around $2.25. (Odds and market percentages The exacta can to twice selecting multiple combinations will be explored in greater detail later.) the dividend of the quinella. in a particular race (e.g. quinella and The following rule can be used trifecta) or over two or more races Duet to calculate the approximate on a program (double, quadrella The duet hasn’t really taken off place dividend: win odds minus and Pick 6). with Australian punters, but it is 1, multiplied by 0.25, plus 1. The dividend declared for exotic the hot item for punters in Hong There must be at least eight runners bet types varies from state to state, Kong and is called ‘quinella place’. in the field for dividends to be based on the particular TAB pool that The duet involves selecting two declared on all three placegetters. you are betting into. Victorian TAB runners to finish anywhere in the first If there are five to seven runners, customers are paid based on the three. Your selections may finish first place dividends are declared on only dividends displayed under ‘S-TAB’. and second, first and third or second the first and second runners—and Customers in New South Wales fall and third for you to be paid out. This this place dividend is calculated under the NSW TAB model. Tattsbet/ type of bet is only available when to one-third of the win value. No Uni-TAB controls the pools on racing there are at least eight starters. In place dividends are declared when in Queensland, South Australia, Australia, the duet generally returns there are four or fewer runners. Tasmania and the Northern Territory. the lowest dividends of all the exotics,

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 65 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting

but this is mainly due to the smaller combinations translates to a greater Exotic betting in pools, and the higher probability. cost, although by taking a smaller multiple races Trifecta percentage of the dividend, you can add more combinations for less cost. Running Double This is a very popular bet type Example: boxing five horses for $1 with Australian punters due to This bet type requires selecting unit will cost (5 x 4 x 3) $60, but by the fact you can outlay a small the winner of two consecutive taking the same combination for amount of money and potentially races at the same meeting. 20 per cent—flexi betting—of the get a large return, especially if dividend, the outlay is only $12. Taking one horse in each race will cost the favourites miss the place. you just $1 to receive 100 per cent of First 4 This type of bet requires the punter the dividend, but the more runners you to select the first three placegetters Similar to the trifecta but instead of include in each leg the higher the cost. in order. You can box three or more picking the first three, you have to Multiply the number of horses you runners or stagger your selections select the first four (see example select in each leg. For example, four using a standout pick. Picking first, below right). This bet type can produce horses in race 4 into three horses second and third in exact order for huge dividends, but is not easy to in race 5 will cost (4 x 3) $12. $1 will return you 100 per cent of the get, especially with big fields. Boxing declared dividend, but combinations four runners will cost $24 (4 x3 x 2 The running double dividend is can be taken with a 50 cent unit. x 1) for 100 per cent of the dividend. decided by the amount of money in the pool, divided by the number of Boxing up three runners to finish in any Adding more horses increases the winning punters, less the takeout of order will cost you $6 (3 x 2 x 1) with number of combinations significantly, the TAB. Therefore, if a short-priced the number of possible combinations which in turn has a huge effect on horse wins each leg, the dividend rising from one to six (example below). the cost of the bet. Many punters choose to lower their percentage— will generally be quite low because In the example below (left), it doesn’t flexi betting—to lower the cost. of the popularity of the result. matter what order Bold Circle, Daily Double Lockroy, and Dupe ’em finish as long Some punters prefer to take their as they fill the top three placings. best two chances to finish first In this case the legs of the double This is the advantage of ‘boxing’ your and second and load up on other are nominated by the TAB and are exotics—but an increased amount of combinations to finish third and fourth. rarely consecutive. For example,

1ST/ 1ST/ FORM FIXED BOXED 2ND 3RD FORM FIXED BOXED 2ND 3RD WIN WIN

Bold Circle (2) Bold Circle (2) 1 T: David Payne 1x874x 9.00 1 T: David Payne 1x874x 9.00 J: B Shinn W: 58 kg J: B Shinn W: 58 kg

Lockroy (2) Lockroy (2) 2 T: M, W & J Hawkes 8x2314 4.80 2 T: M, W & J Hawkes 8x2314 4.80 J: J B Mo Donald W: 57 kg J: J B Mo Donald W: 57 kg

Dupe ‘em (6) Dupe ‘em (6) 3 T: C J Waller 148x2 6.00 3 T: C J Waller 148x2 6.00 J: G Schofield W: 56 kg J: G Schofield W: 56 kg

I Am Zelady (5) I Am Zelady (5) 4 T: Sam Kavanagh 13 3.80 4 T: Sam Kavanagh 13 3.80 J: J Bowman W: 55.5 kg J: J Bowman W: 55.5 kg

Felines (3) BET SUMMARY Felines (3) BET SUMMARY 5 T: K A Lees 1122x2 4.20 5 T: K A Lees 1122x2 4.20 J: T Angland W: 55 kg Tote: NSW J: T Angland W: 55 kg Tote: NSW Total Stake: $6.00 Total Stake: $24.00 Minnesota (1) Minnesota (1) T: Ms G Markwell 2x11 7.50 % Flexi: 100% T: Ms G Markwell 2x11 7.50 % Flexi: 100% 6 J: Taylor Marshall (a3) Combos 6 6 J: Taylor Marshall (a3) Combos 24 W: 55 kg Stake/Combo $1.00 W: 55 kg Stake/Combo $1.00 Va Va Veni (4) Va Va Veni (4) 7 T: Michael Costa 18x 11.00 Place Trifecta 7 T: Michael Costa 18x 11.00 Place First 4 J: W: 54.5 kg J: Tim Clark W: 54.5 kg

BOX TRIFECTA: Selecting three horses to couple in a trifecta bet—3 x 2 x 1 = 6. BOX FIRST FOUR: Selecting four horses to couple in a First 4 bet—4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 66 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting

the daily double may operate on jackpot, and if it does the pools can When a bookie and punter agree on races 5 and 7 or 6 and 8, on a stretch beyond $1 million, and attract a price and the size of the stake, the selected meeting. In some states syndicates to play. Some states offer a bet stands irrespective of subsequent there are two daily doubles—one supplementary dividend that rewards changes to the price. (Note: early in the meeting and one late. punters who select the first five deductions from a late scratching can result in a reduced dividend for The daily double has lost some winners but stumble in the final leg. bets placed before the withdrawal of its impact in recent years due Unfortunately, the Big 6 is out of depending on the price of the horse.) to competition from the quadrella favour with the TABs because it (selecting four winners), which can ties up the punter’s bank on one On-course bookmakers are produce much bigger dividends. pool over six races, rather than located in clusters at designated areas at racetracks. At country Treble encouraging consistent turnover into multiple races and exotic meetings it is possible that only This bet type requires the punter pools. Punters love it because of one or two bookmakers will to select the winner of three the lure of the massive dividend. be operating at the track. races nominated by the TAB. The However, during the Melbourne spring treble is only available for punters carnival bookie numbers can grow to betting with Tattsbet/Uni-TAB, or Where to bet more than 100 to cater for crowds of selected corporate bookmakers. 100,000 or more—some bookmakers Quadrella (Quaddie) he traditional method of placing have two or more stands situated in a bet—off-course at a TAB outlet To collect on this bet type, punters different positions around the track. or PubTAB, or on-course with need to pick the winner of four T With multiple bookmakers the TAB and bookmaker (ignoring races (at the same meeting) working, it is in each operator’s the SP bookie!)—hasn’t changed, nominated by the TAB—usually the best interests to offer the most but the advent of the internet and final four races on the program. competitive price to the punters. new phone/tablet technology has The quadrella works the same way changed the betting landscape Placing a bet with an on-course as the daily double: punters betting dramatically both on-course and bookmaker is a simple verbal process into a pool and the money being off-course in the past 15 years. involving stating which runner, or divided up between the winning runners, you want to bet on and Corporate bookmakers have flourished punters after the TAB has taken out for how much. The bookie or the as punters take the advantage its commission. Professionals, who bookie’s assistant will take your cash of being able to bet anytime and bet the percentages, love this bet type wager and give you a betting ticket anywhere, either directly by phone because there is only one “take” by displaying the details of the bet. If or by placing an online wager. the TAB from one pool, whereas in a you’re lucky enough to be holding a four-horse all-up win bet the TAB will winning ticket, you simply return to On-course bookmakers remove its win commission four times. Placing a wager with an on-course Quadrellas can deliver some astronomical dividends. Again, bookmaker is betting in its simplest flexi betting is very popular when it form—win, place and each-way comes to this bet type, with punters betting on a fixed-odds basis. looking to keep their outlay down by The bookie sets the market by taking a smaller percentage of the posting a price for each horse and declared dividend so that they can alters the odds according to the FAST FACT load up on chances in the four legs. level of interest from punters. In November 2007, Big 6 (also Pick 6 and Straight Six) Bookmakers set their initial markets around 140 per cent with the aim to the NSW TAB paid a This bet type asks a lot of the reduce that percentage to around record quadrella dividend punter—select the winners of 115 per cent in the last minutes six nominated races, usually at a of betting. This is comparative of $1.391 million on meeting. Occasionally, the six legs to the TAB percentage of a win Emirates Stakes day have been spread out over two and place pool—the TAB takes at Flemington. meetings in different states. around 15 per cent of every dollar It’s not uncommon for the Big 6 to bet into a win and place pool.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 67 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting

the bookmaker you placed the bet corporate ownership. However, race sign-ups is so fierce, corporates with and collect your winnings. clubs receive a greater percentage often offer bonuses and Punters are unable to collect on “take” from on-course betting than incentives for punters to join and bet. winning tickets until correct weight they do with off-course turnover. In such a competitive market place it has been declared. Correct weight is TAB outlets began as suburban shops, is advantageous for punters to hold declared when the stewards in charge but in recent times have expanded into multiple betting accounts and take of the meeting are satisfied that the hotels (PubTAB) and other lavish off- up the best offers available, whether first five jockeys rode at the correct course facilities in clubs and casinos. this is an inflated fixed-odds price weight or that there is no objection or a bonus on exotic winnings. To place a bet with a TAB, the (protest) against another runner. person must be 18 or older. Generally, corporate bookmaker account The jockey, the owners and trainer holders withdraw funds electronically The TAB also offers extensive and the stewards have the option of either back to the credit card used to phone and online betting. submitting a protest or holding an fund the account or a nominated bank inquiry if they believe a horse has been The TAB has expanded to cover racing account. However, some companies deprived of its rightful finishing position, worldwide; there is extensive coverage have introduced a betting cashcard that either because of interference from of races in New Zealand, Hong Kong, allows customers to withdraw money another horse or an incident at the start Singapore, Japan, Great Britain, from conventional ATM machines. of the race. (See more about protests France, USA and South America. and stewards’ inquiries page 67). Betting exchanges Online corporate bookmakers A betting exchange is an online TAB (Totalisator) Betting with a corporate bookmaker marketplace that allows people TAB is an acronym of Totalisator is all about convenience, and having to match bets with each other. Agency Board (see page 48). access to a greater range of betting One player can offer a price (laying) The TAB was authorised for off- products than available from the about a horse winning based on how course wagering, which allowed TAB or an on-course bookie. much that player is willing to risk— people to place bets on thoroughbred, Corporate bookies offer both fixed- his “price” is available for another harness and greyhound racing in odds betting and tote betting player to accept (backing) the bet. Victoria. There are three TAB pools (replicating the TAB dividend), but Opponents of betting exchanges claim in Australia—Victoria, NSW and Tatts also many other bet types including there are integrity issues because (representing Queensland, South head-to-head betting (between they allow people to “back” a horse Australia and the Northern Territory). two horses in a race), jockeys’ to lose. But that is not the case and A totalisator system operates by challenges and multiple and all-up over-simplifies exchange betting. pooling all the money bet on a particular betting across codes and sports. In real terms, exchanges allow race and/or bet type. The TAB takes The majority of corporate bookmakers the “Average Joe” punter to play out a commission (ranging from 15-20 in this country pay the highest dividend bookmaker by offering a price about a per cent) on that pool of money, after of the three TABs (Vic, NSW and Tatts) horse winning the race, not to lose. which the net pool is shared among or the starting price (SP) on Australian Importantly for punters, there is good people holding winning tickets. racing. Exotics are often paid based value betting with exchanges because Before 1961, punters bet into on- on the middle dividend of the three the varied opinion of biased players course totalisator pools—for a time TABs, meaning the second best price means that some outrageous odds can there were on-course and off-course available across the three pools. be offered for the quick and the needy. totalisators declaring separate As long as you’re 18 and hold the Exchanges also are a good way of dividends, but they now operate appropriate identification documents, laying horses that punters might from the same pool under the same you can sign up for an account with a have going as winning chances in corporate bookmaker. Unlike the TAB, exotic bets to reduce their risk. where you must bet with cash in an  In-play or in-the-run betting—while the Betting with outlet, corporate bookmakers offer race is in progress—also is a feature credit betting to select punters. For a corporate of exchange betting. In-play betting others, accounts must be topped up bookmaker is all can see wide swings in prices offered through bank accounts or credit cards. on horses. The smart video watcher about convenience. Because the competition for customer with quick fingers can make a killing.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 68 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting

The house takes a percentage of each bet—usually 1.5 per cent. THE COURTING CONTROVERSY CUP The only registered betting Horse Odds % of book exchange in Australia is Betfair. Bold Personality $2.50 (6/4) 40%

Big Philou $3 (2/1) 33.33% Understanding More Joyous $5 (4/1) 20% the basics $6 (5/1) 16.67%

Market percentages Rocket Racer $11 (10/1) 9.09% Every fixed-odds market is framed Strike Softly $21 (20/1) 4.67% to a total percentage. A 100 per Smoking Aces $21 (20/1) 4.67% cent market basically means that you could back each runner in the Fine Cotton $51 (50/1) 2% field in a way that the result will TOTAL PERCENTAGE: 130.43% be square—no win, no lose.

This is not sustainable from the UNDERSTANDING PERCENTAGES: When the percentages add up to under 100, the advantage is to the punter. bookmakers’ point of view—they need to ensure that they have a Scratchings/deductions • The horse might have injured big enough margin on their framed itself in the float on the way to the A runner that is withdrawn from a markets to make a profit in the long racecourse or at the track (in its race after the final field has been term, so they will adjust the odds to stall, the mounting yard, on the way declared is known as a scratching. shift the percentages in their favour. to the barriers or in the starting Every race has an initial “field” of gates—most late scratchings A market framed at 130 per cent nominations that is then cut down occur from barrier mishaps). means that a bookie theoretically to a final list of acceptances. For a cuts a 30 per cent profit on that race, • Trainers have been known to Saturday metropolitan race, the final no matter which horse wins runners because of a change in fields (acceptances) are generally (if each horse is staked accordingly). track conditions. Some horses fail to declared by midday on Wednesday. produce their best on rain-affected Calculating the total percentage for Any runner taken out of the field after ground while others need a bit of a race is achieved by simply dividing this time until about 8am (official give in the surface to be effective. each horse’s decimal odds into 100. scratching time) on the day of the Generally the market percentage will A scratched runner can have a race is known as a scratching. A get smaller as start time approaches substantial effect on the market horse that is withdrawn after 8am with the bookmaker rolling out the odds from a punting perspective. If the $2 is regarded as a late scratching and of certain runners to balance the book favourite is withdrawn from the field carries a different set of rules to a and be competitive against the TAB that the day before the race, the whole scratching in regards to deductions is offering a fixed percentage of around market needs to be reframed and 115-118 per cent on win/place pools. and other betting-related matters. deductions will apply to any fixed- odds bets placed on other runners Bookies largely calculate their markets Some races have the final field and before the scratching. Basically, according to “percentage per runner” up to four emergency runners. If since bookies have to refund money to arrive at their “overround”. As a a horse from the original final field to punters who bet on a scratched general rule, the bagmen will usually is scratched, the first emergency horse, the odds on all other runners aim to get down to around one (1) per takes its place. This does not occur have to be reduced. TAB prices in this cent per runner towards the close in the case of a late scratching case are automatically recalculated of betting (for example, 112 per cent because emergencies that don’t get when the scratched horse is in a 12-horse field by the time they a start are officially withdrawn at removed from the betting pool. jump) for strong Saturday metropolitan scratching time on race morning. meetings. For country and provincial There are many reasons why a In August 2011 a new method was racing, this figure is more likely to be horse can be a late withdrawal. introduced for calculating betting between 2 to 3 per cent per runner. A couple of examples: deductions. The old method was

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 69 PUNTERS.COM.AU Betting

seen to be in favour of the bookies Protests There is no protest available to in that deductions were the same connections in greyhound racing. Protests are an integral part of racing, regardless of the sum percentage Bookmakers are no longer allowed to and have been since the rich folk of of the bookmakers’ market at bet of the outcome of a protest hearing. the time of withdrawal(s), and the 18th century in England challenged deductions were the same regardless each other to prove who had the Biggest punting payouts of the price of the winner. quickest horse. In 2001, the Victorian TAB paid out The new system uses an The rules are straight forward in Australia: $323 for every $1 invested on shock algorithm that enables the market anyone connected to a horse—owner, winner Princess Abassi, who was to be re-framed to the pre- trainer or jockey—can lodge a protest ridden by Luke Nolen (who would come scratching market percentage, against another runner within the time to forge a famous association with rather than a universal scale. frame from the finish of the race until champion racehorse Black Caviar). Scratchings also have a significant the stewards declare “correct weight”. In 2007, the NSW TAB paid out a effect on exotic bet types. If the The stewards also can opt to “protest” record quaddie dividend of $1,391,000 scratching of a runner means that or query a result if they deem that after several blowout results on your bet is no longer valid, your stake there was interference in a race that the final day of the Melbourne will be refunded in full. For example may have altered the result. In fact, it’s Cup carnival at Flemington. if you’ve boxed three runners in a common for the stewards to dismiss trifecta and one of them is withdrawn, their own protest after a careful study In 2009, the Victorian TAB paid out it is no longer possible for you to win of the evidence. a major dividend of $1,738,957.80 on this bet. If you box four runners (per $1 investment) for the It also is possible for a jockey to ask to in the trifecta and one of them is winners of the Big 6, an all-time see the vision of a particular incident— scratched the bet still stands but you Australian record TAB dividend. delaying correct weight—before will be refunded the cost of adding deciding whether to protest or not. In 2010, an exacta bet (first and a fourth runner, e.g. for a bet that second in order) in a race at Caulfield cost $24 for one unit, the refund At the hearing, the stewards’ film returned a dividend of $3863.60. will be $18 with the number of is watched from all angles; the Miller’s Guide lists some of combinations dropping from 24 to six. jockeys have their say and can ask each other questions; and Australia’s other big dividends: The rules are different when the trainer and representative Trifecta it comes to exotic bet types owner can also make a case or ask based on multiple races. $348,849 for $1—Oakleigh Plate questions. The stewards judge the at Caulfield, February 26, 1983. If you’ve placed a running double, result on whether the interference The placings were: Sans Rival 20/1, daily double, treble or quadrella, you was enough to alter the result. Count Ajax 50/1 and Galleon 9/2. do not receive any refund if one of A jockey also can lodge an objection your selections is scratched. Instead, $175,155.30 for $1—Welter as to whether he or she was given a you receive a substitute selection Handicap at Randwick, June 28, fair start, ie., the barrier stall was slow (known as the ‘sub’). The ‘sub’ is 1986. The placings were: Voli Row the horse with the most money to open. If successful, the horse is 40/1, Hussar’s Command 50/1 wagered on it, otherwise known usually regarded as a non-runner and and Bold Endeavour 100/1. all bets are refunded. as the favourite. Often the ‘sub’ is Quadrella not declared until after the race has In Australia, the protest system is been completed due to the fact that one of relegation, not promotion. In a $460,244.40 for 50c—at Flemington, vast volumes of money are invested situation where a horse that finished March 6, 1999. The winners were: in the seconds before the start. third protests against the winner, and Bountiful Son 100/1, Isca 9/4 fav, Tinikadu 9/4 fav, True And Easy 16/1 The ‘sub’ rule is a contentious one the protest is upheld; the winner is because the punter has no say in relegated to behind the protest horse. Big 6 (Straight Six) which runner replaces their scratched In this case, second becomes first, $541,920.65 for 50c—at Flemington, selection. It can be particularly third moves to second and the winner November 6, 1991. The winners frustrating if you have selected just is relegated to third. were: Brosberg 7/1, Power Of one horse in a leg, only to see that In Europe and the USA, horses can be 10/1, Kingston Rule 7/1, runner come out and be replaced by disqualified for causing interference. Zephyr Alco Bay 8/1, Natural Wonder a horse you originally overlooked. Not so in Australia. 8/1 and Quiet Queen 13/4.

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The diary of a pro punter

ome small-time punters harbor a dream of taking the big step to S becoming a professional gambler. However, the discipline, long hours and life commitment required to make a success of professional punting means that only a few make the transition from casual (sometimes habitual) punter to pro. A professional is one who makes most of his/her income from gambling. It’s a job (or business) like any other and, importantly, a bona fide professional punter is required to pay income tax. Don’t confuse professional punting with the whirlwind gambling lifestyles of headline grabbers such as Felipe Ysmael and Eddie Birchley, who come and go quicker than Black Caviar down the Flemington straight, usually seen off by a cavalry of MODERN PUNTING: It can take a pro punter 10 hours to do the form and videos for one racemeeting. smiling, cashed-up bagmen. punters. He was reluctant to Some pro punters do their own Tuesday: publicly reveal his identity, but he form study, while some of the more was more than happy to provide The working week almost always successful employ a team of analysts— our readers with an exclusive commences on a Tuesday, when bear in mind that it can take 10 hours insight into what constitutes the I’m generally in the office by 8am. of solid form and video study for one reality of professional punting. Tuesdays are largely set aside for meeting. Time limits mean that few His two-week diary sheds light on the working on what I call “processes”. pros operate each day and most stick lifestyle and day-to-day challenges that Today I have a session with my mental to two metropolitan meetings a week. characterise the job, and it articulates conditioning coach to work on mental This is why a number of Australian his views on some of professional processes for each betting session. professional punters have moved to punting’s most critical issues, Hong Kong, where they work on only including ‘getting on’ with corporate Wednesday: two meetings a week from a limited bookmakers, dealing with losses and Wednesday, as a race day, obviously pool of horses, jockeys and trainers. varying approaches to form study. is a busier working day. I’m in the Punters.com.au has maintained a This is an abbreviated version office by 7am. There is an hour relationship with one of Australia’s of part of his diary that appeared on and a half of form completed biggest professional horse racing punters.com.au— before heading off for a personal

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training session. Keeping the with a two-hour review to work on horses the professionals are playing, mind and body fit is important. anything that can be improved and and how hard they’re playing them. Back in the office at 10am, I get to see where mistakes were made. It is deeply concerning that practices stuck into another two hours of form such as account restrictions and before the betting session kicks off. closures have infiltrated Australian The pro punter’s wagering. For me the most pressing Friday: ramifications for racing coming out of opinion on … these practices are the inevitable integrity I like to take it easy during the issues that are just around the corner. day on Fridays to help freshen Bookies: up for the intensity of Saturdays— As punters can’t get bets on with a personal training session, One of the problems with quiet days corporates, they will turn to SP lunch with friends; pretty much is that even if you find a winner and bookmakers or overseas operators. anything non-racing related! make a profit, it generally results in an Of course, down the track, there is also a real threat to racing funding, but Friday nights are for serious form study. account closure or restriction. It is a catch-22 situation. Therefore, that is an argument for another day. Saturday: wagering options are few. Form: I am up at 5.30am to get to my office For most professionals, the I use a range of models combined at 6am. From then until 6pm backbone of their ‘outs’ are Betfair, with manual form, which is how I am I literally plan every second. It is the totes, on-track bookies, able to knock over the form reasonably high pressure for 12 hours, with six topsport.com.au and Tatts. quickly. Many of my handicapping hours of intense form analysis before As a tip, topsport.com.au takes all processes are automated. the betting session kicks off. Every the professional action in Australia, I am one of the few punters who second counts. I maintain pre- and so it is definitely worth paying careful don’t start crunching the Saturday post-session checklists to ensure attention to the movement in its form until very late in the week. I keep to a regimented process. prices against the market. That can My reasoning is twofold. I always finish off a busy week give you valuable insight into which Firstly, I am generally too focused on the races on the day throughout the week to concentrate on the Saturday races. Secondly, I really just can’t get on. If I take early overs, it inevitably results in my accounts being banned or restricted, so it is altogether counterproductive. I figure I am better off leaving the prices, hoping they hold until Saturday when limits are greater so I can get a larger bet spread among bookies.

Dealing with losses: Putting a loss into perspective is very much contingent on how you view your money. I mentally segregate funds into “personal money” and “business money”. In this business, money is inventory. If I lose $100k, the thought doesn’t enter my mind as to what I could have done with that money. It is inventory for the business to DEALING WITH LOSSES: Always segregate your personal money from your business money. The two don’t mix. use; it isn’t there to be spent.

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Risk: Essentially, a perfectly framed market into 100 and adding them all together would ensure that every horse is to calculate the total percentage. Contrary to what most would believe, in fact running in the interests of the Most professional punters, and some the wagering business for me is bookmaker. A gallops market framed casual players, also frame their own incredibly safe. Naturally my bet sizes at 130 per cent, for example, means markets. It’s an advantageous way are tiny against bankroll. Variance can that a bookie theoretically cuts of knowing if and when to play. be calculated and planned for. This a 30 per cent profit on that race, business is insulated from external no matter which horse wins For example, some punters frame a economic factors; I have full control. (if each horse is staked accordingly). market to 100 per cent and only bet On the other hand, the lower the when the price of a runner is equal Staying ahead of the game: market percentage the more the market to or better than that offered by a I always have a range of handicapping is in the punters’ favour, although bookmaker who might be betting projects on the go, all with the view you won’t find bookmakers offering between 115 and130 per cent. This of achieving constant improvement. markets to less than 100 per cent. is called backing the overlays. The greatest predictor of long-term A market percentage is calculated by Getting in early with a market can success in this business is the level dividing each horse’s decimal odds put this type of punter at terrific of effort put towards getting better. Anyone can win over a short period BOOKMAKER’S PERCENTAGES of time—one or two years. Winning over 10-plus years is the challenge, Decimal Fraction Percentage Decimal Fraction Percentage as the markets are constantly $1.10 1/10 91% $6.50 11/2 15% changing, with edges disappearing $1.20 1/5 83% $7.00 6/1 14% and reappearing elsewhere. You $1.25 1/4 80% $7.50 13/2 13% have to be constantly working to stay one step ahead of the market. $1.29 2/7 78% $8.00 7/1 13% $1.33 1/3 75% $8.50 15/2 12% Jockeys: $1.36 4/11 73% $9.00 8/1 11% $1.40 2/5 71% $10.00 9/1 10% I think when assessing jockeys, too $1.44 4/9 69% $11.00 10/1 9% many punters place jockey tactics ahead of balance and . Damian $1.50 1/2 67% $12.00 11/1 8% Browne is a good example of the $1.53 8/15 65% $13.00 12/1 8% importance of balance and rhythm. $1.57 4/7 64% $14.00 13/1 7% $1.67 4/6 60% $15.00 14/1 7% Trainers: $1.80 4/5 56% $16.00 15/1 6% Analysing trainers throughout Australia $1.90 9/10 53% $17.00 16/1 6% by betting patterns is something a $2.00 1/1 50% $18.00 17/1 6% professional punter must do. Some $2.11 10/9 47% $19.00 18/1 5% are very predictable; others, such as $2.25 5/4 44% $20.00 19/1 5% Darren Weir, took me a while to work $2.50 6/4 40% $21.00 20/1 5% out. For instance, with Weir, I have $2.75 7/4 36% $26.00 25/1 4% found that if his horse is coming off a $3.00 2/1 33% $31.00 30/1 3% flat run and has been given a 22-36 day $3.25 9/4 31% $34.00 33/1 3% freshen, expect a positive performance. $3.50 5/2 29% $41.00 40/1 2% $3.75 11/4 27% $51.00 50/1 2% Framing markets $4.00 3/1 25% $60.00 60/1 2% $4.50 7/2 22% $67.00 66/1 2% ookmakers set their $5.00 4/1 20% $81.00 80/1 1% markets for a particular $5.50 9/2 18% $101.00 100/1 1% B race or sporting event to $6.00 5/1 17% theoretically lock in profit regardless of which competitor wins. MARKETS: Most pro punters develop their own markets using percentages to give them an edge.

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advantage when pre-race markets What is important is that you are placing punters, as you probably started betting open two or three days before a value bet. Just because a horse wins for fun, not to become systematic. meeting. The eyes can light up when nine out of 10 times, it doesn’t mean Ratings can take the fun out doing your a horse rated by you as a $3.50 you will profit—the odds available form, but they are critical if you are chance is being offered at $7.50! must always dictate your bottom line. serious about becoming a professional. Another method used successfully This leads us to the best ways of The ultimate goal when calculating by one well-known punter is to identifying value and we believe a rated price is to identify a horse narrow down the winning chances in ratings are the first place to start. that you favour more than the a race—he sets a market to as low Ratings are by far the most critical bookmakers (i.e. you think the odds 85 per cent (giving him a 15 per cent part of every professional punting should be $2.50, but the bookmaker advantage) and no higher than 100 per system. If you can accurately rate a has priced it at $3.50). This gives cent, calculated using those horses horse, you can systematically tweak, you an “edge”—assuming your he has earmarked as having a winning test and monitor your betting system knowledge is better than theirs and chance; the others are disregarded. with very little emotional input. It’s also if you do this over and over again, The punter bets according to his one of the most difficult transitions for you are statistically likely to win. market, but loads up big on any horse that he can play at close to Step 1: Calculate your ratings or better than his market price. There are endless possibilities about how you formulate a price for a race Another method is to give a point but the simplest place to start is by looking at basic form and input a value score for each horse as to its winning between 0 and 10 on how important you consider the respective piece of chance—10 being a standout or information – for example Blake Shinn we have rated 10, because we believe top winning chance and one point this particular jockey is performing very well on the respective track. being an extreme outside chance. Place your “field” in point order Horse Details Jockey Trainer Last 10 Rating and set a market in which the Kimberley Star Blake Shinn 10 Gai Waterhouse 10 211134s23 25 45 first four selections (in a standard 12-horse field) total 80 per cent. Voilier Tye Angland 5 Gary Nickson 2 224s52s1 10 17 You can use the points to set the Amanda Turner & market—calculate the total points Intrepid Way Tommy Berry 5 Mauro Poletti 2 521413 15 22 for the top-four horses (let’s say Metallic Crown Jim Cassidy 5 Chris Waller 10 123 15 30 22) and divide by the point scored by the horse, multiplied by 0.80. Gold Ambition Christian Reith 2 Bjorn Baker 4 6s13 10 16 Horse name is Bloggs: point score 9 — 9/22 x 0.80 = 32.73%. Land's End Brenton Avdulla 6 Gerald Ryan 4 651 10 20 The market value for this horse is about $3 (33.33%) or 2/1. Tatoosh Kerrin McEvoy 5 Paul Perry 4 452311s5 10 19

Betfair is an ideal outlet for Tap This Jason Collett 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 10 2s31 10 23 punters wanting to play “bookie” and set their own market. Cannyescent Kathy O'Hara 4 Gabrielle Englebrecht 4 51 20 28 There are plenty of online “calculators” TOTAL: 220 available for punters to use to frame a TABLE A: Rating jockey, trainer and horse in a race field can allow the punter to devise a betting market. market, and software can be bought. Now that you have calculated an individual rating for a horse, and a collective total of all rated horses, you can easily turn this rating Ratings into your believed chance of winning with a simple formula:

ou may have gathered by now that there are some form criteria (Rating / Total Ratings) x 100 = Chance of Winning Y you may come across in guides, For example: (45 / 220 ) x 100 = 20.45% such as horse strike rate or number of wins, that don’t necessarily matter.

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A computer or a spreadsheet can Step 2: Convert your rating to a price also learn in much the same way and After you have calculated a chance of winning, another simple apply the same learning techniques to formula will convert this percentage into a rated price: horse racing data. You take in a packet of form-guide data, you tell a system what the winners were in a race and 100 / Chance of winning = Rated Price it will “learn” which inputs influence For example: ‘Kimberly Star’ was rated 45, so (45 / 220 ) x 100 = 20.45% a race. This is predictive modelling, which is an entire career in itself.

Horse Details Chance of Winning Rated Price Best Odds Overs/Unders Staking plans Kimberley Star 20.45% $4.89 $3.20 -1.69 good punter will operate Voilier 7.73% $12.94 $5.50 -7.44 using funds from a punting A bank—not many punters Intrepid Way 10.00% $10.00 $13 3.00 have access to unlimited funds.

Metallic Crown 13.64% $7.33 $8 0.67 There should always be a distinction between the money in your Gold Ambition 7.27% $13.75 $35 21.25 “punting bank” and your money for everyday living. Mixing the Land's End 9.09% $11.00 $23 12.00 two is a recipe for disaster.

Tatoosh 8.64% $11.58 $12 0.42 By having a bank, the punter needs to bet within the confines of the total Tap This 10.45% $9.57 $21 11.43 funds that are available. If you are in for the long haul, then you must plan Cannyescent 12.73% $7.86 $3.80 -4.06 your betting to allow for your funds to survive through a lean patch. TABLE B: Comparing your rated price against the market reveals the opportunities. There’s an old axiom that a punting By comparing each respective horse to the odds on offer against your rated price bank should be $5000 for every $1 you can easily find opportunities to bet, revealing that a bookmaker has offered you are chasing. For example, if you a price that you consider to be wrong. In this case, the best opportunity is Gold are aiming to win $2000 a week Ambition as your ratings favour it significantly over the bookmaker price. from an average 200 individual bets, that is an average profit of $10 per bet—the bank needs to be $50,000. Are you wondering how to know which input in a race matters, a professional piece of form-guide information really will apply machine learning A staking plan can be a simple as each matters when calculating a rating? algorithms—a computer-based learning bet being a percentage (e.g. 5 per cent) model, inspired by the biological of the bank. That can be a maximum for Professionals will explore ratings far horses at $3 or under, but progressively further than what we have detailed system inside the human brain! smaller for horses at longer odds. here. A professional will look back For example, if you accidentally stub at all of their form criteria over many your toe, your brain takes an input— The right course for a punter is years and determine what piece of your foot strikes an object, your brain to operate your own markets— information has influence on a race. For receives the output and delivers a based on opinion and ratings— and staking plans in unison. example, they might determine that, on painful response. The brain will take average, jockey performance attributes this signal and apply a “weight” Fixed (flat) betting to 16 per cent of the outcome of a onto a neuron. This weight teaches race; or horse performance on a certain your brain that if you move your Many punters like the idea of fixed track might be 1 per cent of influence foot into the wrong spot, it is likely betting—bet the same amount (stake) in a race, but if the rail is out wide that the response you are expecting in each play. It’s the most common that might increase to 2 per cent. will be a sore toe, so you quickly approach to betting and most punters In order to calculate which particular learn not to repeat that activity. don’t know they are already doing

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it. That is, bet the same amount for each bet, e.g. $100 for the win on FLAT BETTING each horse you favour. In this case, 18000 managing your bank couldn’t be 16000 easier—your losses are predictable and your wins are not (although more 14000 exciting). The formula is simple: 12000 10000 Investment x (Decimal Odds – 1) 8000 = Profit 6000 4000 Invariably betting with this approach, 2000 as simple as it seems, can lead quickly 0 to disaster. Chasing, or increasing your bet size, to regain losses from bet to bet is very likely. Eventually, Backing this horse with $100 for the properly is to move on to proportionate a bad streak will occur and the bank chance of profiting $5000 seems betting. It will shift your thinking will run out. You also will lose focus enticing, but it’s only likely you’ll see toward profits and ensure you take of odds movements and the value of that result one in every 50 times. your time to appropriately rate horses, which is critical when doing your form. finding an edge, because you’ll be Consider you are also backing a too distracted by a volatile bank. horse that is a $2.60 chance. The This staking plan is often considered There are problems with betting equation is 100/2 = a 38 per cent the benchmark of all staking plans and a flat stake as outlined here: chance of winning, resulting in a it’s often said among professionals profit of $160 for a bet of $100. You that if your form analysis is not Assuming you have backed a horse may well see a winning result in making a profit when using level at odds of $51 and for a moment about one in every three races. stakes you should not be using not considering the edge to a that approach to form study. bookmaker, your horse has 100/51 It’s for this most basic reason that chance of winning = 1.96 per cent. a fixed investment isn’t a sensible A proportionate staking plan, unlike choice. Your bank will quickly become fixed betting, places emphasis on profitable if you find horses that vary adjusting your investment to suit FIXED WIN ODDS in any way in price. The winning the likelihood of an outcome. The chance of a horse at $3 and another upside is that you are controlling Fame Game at $6 in a race differs by about 16 your expenditure and can easily per cent, so varying your investment manage your bank. The formula 9 is the only way you’ll manage the is simpler than you may think: volatility of your wins and losses.

9 No doubt this is one of the major How much you wish to win reasons (along with a fair few other / (Decimal Odds – 1) 10 psychological reasons) why the = Investment average punter favours the shorter priced horses in a race—they will get Who Shot Thebarman rewarded more often and experience For example; you want to win less waiting time on their returns. $100 and the horse is at $2.60: 26 It’s worth noting at this point that 100 / (2.60 ¬– 1). Place a $38.45 bet. the average price of all winning 51 horses over the past three years of For example; you want to win racing in Australia has been $6.81. $100 and the odds are $51.00 41 100 / (51 ¬– 1). Place a $2.00 bet. Proportionate Staking By managing the likelihood of an SHOP AROUND: The online corporate bookmakers can The most natural progression for outcome you have reduced the offer a variety of fixed odds. Be quick and alert. punters wishing to manage their bank volatility of your bank balance.

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Chance of Winning: 52% PROPORTIONATE STAKING ((.52*(2.00 ¬– 1)) – (1-.52))/(2.00 – 1)= .04

20000 The Kelly Criterion calculates a suggested bank percentage which will 18000 be used to calculate your investment, 16000 therefore if your starting bank was 14000 $10,000, 4 per cent of that will 12000 come to a suggested bet of $400. 10000 The Kelly Criterion aims to increase your 8000 betting bank at the optimal or maximum 6000 rate possible, which is a relatively 4000 aggressive approach. Most professional bettors would not risk anywhere 2000 near 10 per cent of their bank on a 0 single bet, whereas the Kelly formula rarely suggests low single digits. However, we haven’t yet factored in The Kelly Criterion: your form study and confidence about In an attempt to offset this , a horse. This staking plan levels your many supporters of the principle ((Chance of Winning investment while it also levels your use a to the system called x (Decimal Odds – 1)) winnings, so it may seem unexciting “Proportional Kelly”, which divides – (1 – Chance of Winning)) as an alternative approach to fixed the percentage by (e.g.) 2 or 4, and / (Decimal Odds – 1) betting, but it is still a very important which helps minimise the risk. = Bank Percentage progression toward a professional approach to managing your bank. Advantage betting and rebates The Kelly Criterion Starting Bank No discussion about advantage betting The Kelly staking plan, developed x Bank Percentage and rebates (corporate kickbacks by American John L. Kelly in 1956, = Investment to big punters) is worth its salt continues to stand the test of time. It is without mentioning the Tasmanian claimed that billionaire investor Warren betting tycoon Zeljko Ranogajec. For example: you have selected Buffett uses Kelly’s staking strategy. Ranogajec, or John Wilson (the a horse at odds of $2.00 and you name he often uses in gambling Kelly was no fool. He died young at 41, have calculated that this horse circles), is reported to be the but crammed a lot into his 20 working has a 52 per cent chance of world’s biggest punter, wagering years as a scientist at Bell Labs, winning using a rating system. more than $1 billion each year where he is famed for developing Odds: $2.00 from his sophisticated network of synthesised speech on a computer. Kelly’s staking plan, called the Kelly Criterion, was designed to KELLY CRITERION maximise the growth of your bankroll 18000 over the long term by determining the optimal stake on a bet. 14000 As with most punting strategies, 12000 the Kelly Criterion requires that your 10000 percentage-estimations (probabilities) 8000 are better than the bookmaker’s 6000 estimations. If you are confident that you can determine value to be on your 4000 side as opposed to that of the bookie, 2000 the following Kelly formula will tell you 0 the optimal amount of your bank to bet.

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offices, fine-tuned computers and turn over, the more money that comes system to their advantage—rather reportedly hundreds of employees. back to you in rebates. So it becomes than hold the bet, they lay it off Ranogajec, also better known in a matter of ensuring that any losses for the advantage of the rebate. punting circles as ‘Z’, unwittingly are less than the amount rebated. Wagering brokers are now emerged from his secretive Tasmanian The syndicate employs about 300 available to deal on behalf of a bunker in 2008 to expose his vast people at its offices in Hobart and punter on wagering rebates. wealth and incredible influence over Sydney and it runs a global gambling Corporate bookmakers and TABs the world’s gambling markets. operation that places bets on races in Australia still offer rebates to in Japan, Hong Kong, England, Ranogajec sued an American big-turnover punters, but they Australia and the US. (Ranogajec is bookmaker, Karl O’Farrell, over unpaid are nowhere near as extravagant reported to be living in London.) “rebates” to his gambling operation. and under stricter control. In the court case, Ranogajec was The betting system relies on computer forced to open up about how he and models driven by complex algorithms his partners—including David Walsh, that place thousands of bets, Arbitrage the man who established the Museum worth millions of dollars, in the final of Old and New Art (MONA), in minutes before the horses jump. n its simplest form, arbitrage betting involves backing multiple outcomes Hobart—were able to convince totes In Australia, the syndicate is known in an event and securing a profit and bookmakers around the world to to win in its own right, while in the I regardless of the result. This is achieved provide them with huge rebates—in the US the operation relied on rebates. USA up to 13 per cent—on turnover. by comparing betting odds among The rebate idea hit Ranogajec and bookmakers and reacting to the top The US federal magistrate was his mates when the publican in their odds when they reach a certain point. astonished by what he heard. local drinking hole in Tasmania alerted Any individual bookmaker always “Surprisingly, the syndicate apparently them to the fact that he received a has a statistical advantage over you makes most of its money by placing percentage of every bet laid through (on average it’s about a 113 per cent losing bets,” he declared. his PubTab. Ranogajec’s team set up return to the bookmaker) but when you a betting operation in a room in the All the syndicate needed to do was compare them against one another, hotel and split the turnover rebate turn over within the confines of the you can often find a scenario where with the publican—before long they rebate to make a profit. For example, the numbers are in your favour (e.g. were turning over millions and the in the US, if it lost 8 per cent on 99 per cent return to the bookmaker). turnover, thanks to the rebate it publican was driving a flash car. Betting early can often give the returned a profit of 5 per cent. It is believed Ranogajec and his punter a good arbitrage position group also won a Keno first prize of Most of the rebates in Australia, as the market can fluctuate $7.5 million—they almost spent that including from the TABs, significantly in the following days. were around 10 per cent. money to secure the win but their profit was in the huge return on the Here is a basic arbitrage From an initial outlay of only smaller dividends that came with it. scenario: a bookmaker is $US200,000, Ranogajec confirmed offering the following odds. to the court that his syndicate had It didn’t take long for TOTE Tasmania earned $US44 million from betting on (TT) to cotton on that by offering Team Odds US races over a three-year period. lucrative rebates (more than 10 per cent when it only retained 14.8 per cent on Manly $1.92 The court documents show that just win/place bets) it could snare a major 15 per cent of what the syndicate Cronulla $1.92 share of the professional wagering earned from US racing over that three- market. In 2011, TT turned over an Return to the bookmaker 104% year period was profit from selecting impressive $937 million, nearly three winners— $US8 million, which is times more than NSW and Victoria. However, a search of other dwarfed by the $44 million earned from However, the gravy train didn’t last bookmakers show a considerable losing bets with rebates attached. long because after it paid out all the variance. (see Table A, page 76) “If you bet $100 and lost $5, but you rebates, TT made a profit of only $1.5 By bringing together the best get a 10 per cent rebate, you still make million on that nearly $1 billion turnover. price on offer across the four 5 per cent,” Ranogajec told the court. Some trading bookmakers or bookmakers we can play at these That means the more money you can betting agents use the rebate odds: (see Table B, page 76)

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This result is perfect—a two per Team Bookmaker A Bookmaker B Bookmaker C cent advantage for the punter and a no-lose position. Manly $1.85 $2.00 $1.95 Our suggested bet would be as follows: Cronulla $2.05 $1.90 $1.75 • $506 on Manly at odds of $2.00 with Bookmaker B = Return to the bookmaker 103% 103% 108% collect $1012 if Manly wins. TABLE A: Shows the variance in prices between bookmakers. • $494 on Cronulla at odds of $2.05 with Bookmaker A = Team Best Odds collect $1012 if Cronulla wins. Manly $2.00 (Bookmaker B) You have effectively outlaid $1000 for a profit of $12, regardless of the result. Cronulla $2.05 (Bookmaker A) That profit may seem small, but put it into perspective: you’ve invested $1000 Return to the bookmaker 98% that resulted in a risk-free return of TABLE B: Clever punters can search for the best odds and put themselves in a “no lose” position. 1.2 per cent in a couple of hours. The highest interest rate on offer right now race after race (there is a race every liability in this situation though is with the banks is roughly 4 per cent in few minutes) as it keeps increasing pretty low, so if a system is built an entire year. That’s a time difference your stake, it adds up quicker than correctly, the risk is negligible. well worth exploiting, especially when you would believe—especially when you consider the accumulative nature Some of the situations that might you are putting virtually zero labour of arbitrage betting as opposed to result in increased risk are: and time into the entire process. fixed interest on cash with a bank. 1 The bookmakers do have the Interestingly, by arbitraging across a right (according to their terms and Using a BOT network of bookmakers, the risk of conditions) to cancel your bet due getting barred is dramatically reduced— Punters.com.au CEO Luc to ‘incorrect odds’ being published. there is a consistency of win/loss Pettett was one of the biggest This can cause havoc (leaving you bets that result in some bookmakers “arbitrage” punters in Australia. over-exposed on one team only). being owed money at one stage, 2 When a gun player is a late withdrawal Pettett built an automated betting while other bookies are in the black. system—BOT—that sourced in a footy game or a key runner is “Therefore, with one bookmaker I profitable combinations and scratched at the barriers, it forces might be identified as a professional placed the bets accordingly. serious change in the betting punter (and would have trouble keeping markets. Some bookmakers get At his peak, Pettett’s BOT was my account open as a consequence); this information sooner than others, operating 24/7 and placing around yet with another, I was identified resulting in a very complex and 700 bets a day—all profitable. as a must-keep resource that bet confusing situation for you or your “My BOT wouldn’t get drunk big, but lost often,” Pettett said. BOT to digest and safely negotiate. and reckless, bet with its heart “On the other hand, other bookmakers 3 You haven’t prepared for your betting or start chasing losses. It would saw me as a ‘valuable’ client and I’d balance to hit zero, meaning you simply do what it was told—all day end up receiving a barrage of VIP can’t get one side of your bet on. every day—by honing in on any offerings: free flights, grand final This is the worst situation you could betting market it considered to be tickets and an array of other incentives be in because you are just gambling potentially profitable,” Pettett said. in order to retain my business. It on one side of an outcome. was a strange time because I was “This is the beauty of a BOT: entirely 4 You are out of action for a few making a very solid living out of automated, largely risk-free and days while you shuffle money gambling, yet to some I was treated capable of placing bets with any of between accounts (payment like the proverbial ‘golden goose’!” the major Australian bookmakers or processing via POLi really helps TABs in less than 1.2 seconds.” in this situation). Don’t even think The risks So winning a few dollars each bet about using your credit card— isn’t worth worrying about. The BOT Nothing is entirely risk-free you lose your edge completely if grows your profits game after game, when it comes to punting. The the bookie charges you fees!

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5 You get detected by a bookmaker as A lot can be learned from knowing punter’s strike rate with a particular being an “arber” and it permanently how a particular punter bets, especially trainer or jockey was too coincidental closes your betting account. when he/she deviates from the norm. to ignore. The price quoted to the Bookmakers are getting more and A sudden increase in a punter’s punter would be below what is more advanced at watching their books stake (bet size) can alert a bookie to available to Read’s on-course footmen, for this sort of automated activity. a new-found source of information. who, even as the bet is taken, are sent Bookmakers’ profiling of clients scampering to lay-off the bet to give On the other hand, individual took on a new level in the late 1990s IAS a percentage advantage—e.g. arbitrage opportunities actually arise when Australia’s first corporate best on-course price is $4; price more often in the current punting bookie, Mark Read, employed staff offered to the punter is $3.50, which landscape. This is because the at International All Sports (IAS) in gives Read a half-point advantage. corporate bookmakers and TABs are Darwin to use computers—developed This is why Read referred to his betting becoming far more competitive with by an in-house mathematician— room as the Trading Room, because their pricing, and odds-comparison to analyse his clients back in the he likened it to buying and selling services are becoming the norm. days of phone betting only. his position on a stock exchange. When a phone bet came in from Read rarely refused a bet because Profiling a registered client to Read and his his gambling nature was to trade senior staff in what was called the into a better position, and the he fact that bookmakers profile “Trading Room”, the punter would knowledge he could gain from their customers is hardly new, be put on hold before receiving a smart or in-the-know punters T although the concept has quoted price on his/her selection. could be used to his advantage. changed significantly over the years. The punter’s name or code was called Read believed he could increase Any bookmaker worth his salt—and out to allow another staff member his winning percentage from what that’s even turning the clock back to look up the punter’s profile on his was normally 3 per cent on turnover 100 or more years to legendary computer. The profile offered key for most corporate bookmakers bagmen such as Joe Thompson and information about the punter’s betting to closer to 7 or 8 per cent. Sol Green—would meticulously study habits, particularly his/her overall Few if any modern corporate the betting habits of his clients. strike rate and with different jockeys bookmakers operate like Read, The art of bookmaking is doing the and trainers, average bet size, etc. who has since sold his operation, “form” on their regular clients as much The profile might Read to which later became IASbet, to Irish as knowing the form of the horses. deduce that this punter is very bookmaking firm Paddy Power. Leviathan bookie Bill Waterhouse successful backing a particular These days the corporates prefer not bragged about how he out-psyched big jockey to the point that he would to trade—there are so few bookmakers punter Felipe Ysmael into backing the regard the punter as “getting the to trade with other than the other “wrong” horse in the 1967 Melbourne right mail” from that jockey or a corporates—and they would rather Cup because he knew Ysmael’s source close to that jockey. restrict or ban a successful punter. personality and his punting axioms On the other hand, the profile might This practice has become a contentious and was confident he could beat him. show that this punter loses 6 per cent issue in racing, so much so that in New Waterhouse challenged Ysmael by on turnover with an average bet of South Wales the state government, winding out the price of the favourite $50, but when the punter increases on the insistence of Racing NSW, Red Handed—who he expected the stake to $200 or more, the winning introduced a regulatory change to Ysmael to back—which forced Ysmael strike rate shows 40 per cent profit on betting rules in December 2014. to second-guess himself that maybe turnover. In other words, the punter Under the new minimum-bet rule, Waterhouse knew something was bets up when either the “mail” is bookmakers must pay a minimum wrong with the horse, so he changed right or he/she is clever enough to find winners through form study. $2000 (place $800) on a win bet at his bet to $250,000 on General a Saturday metropolitan meeting Command. Red Handed won and That’s extremely useful information, and $1000 (place $400) at a General Command was unplaced. especially for a gambling bookmaker country or provincial meeting—this Waterhouse claims Ysmael never such as Read, who wasn’t in rule applies to NSW-registered recovered from the incident and the habit of rejecting a bet. bookmakers with a net-assessable lost his nerve to bet big. Let’s say Read considered that the turnover of $5 million or more.

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1799, and daughters produced from The breeding game matings with the Cape mares are Australia’s oldest taproot mares. History From 1820 more quality thoroughbred mares and stallions were he history of the Australian imported to build the foundation thoroughbred is encapsulated of the Australian breed. T in an extract from the excellent book by Andrew Lemon The first champion sire of Australia and Freedman, The History was recorded as St. Albans (GB) of Australian Thoroughbred. in 1883-84—he stood at James Wilson’s St. Albans Stud, Geelong, The extract, attributed to a renowned and also at Field Stud in Tasmania. author and breeding expert, the late Douglas Barrie, says: Etienne de Mestre’s Robinson Crusoe, who had survived a shipwreck, was “The Australian thoroughbred is, of the first leading stallion to come from course, the British thoroughbred, NSW and the first Australian-bred—he modified to a greater or lesser extent won the title in 1886-87 standing at by the Australian environment. de Mestre’s Terara Stud, near Nowra. “In the first half-century (of Chester, a four-time leading sire Australia’s existence) a few different in the period 1888-93, is the first elements—mostly Arabs of the Melbourne Cup winner to earn highest quality—were added to the top-stallion title. Another the mixture, but these have been Cup winner, the unbeaten Grand continually diluted by the import of Flaneur, topped it in 1894-95. thoroughbred stallions from England, GREAT STALLION: at Coolmore Stud. The Thompson family’s Widden Stud the United States and New Zealand.” in the Hunter Valley, NSW, dominated Other famous studs from the Hunter Lemon and Freedman wrote: “In the breeding scene from the turn Valley included Kia Ora Stud, near 1956, Barrie published his book The of the 20th century. Widden, which Aberdeen, which stood champion Australian Bloodhorse. He wished remains the oldest stud in the world to stallions Midstream and Delville to demonstrate that the Australian be still in the same family, has stood Wood; Tarwyn Park, near Byalong, horse was a special breed, the equal many Australian champion stallions, from where Heroic won seven or better of any in the world; at the including Lochiel, Grafton, Maltster, consecutive champion stallion titles same time he sought to prove that Valais, Bletchingly, Vain and . from 1933 to 1939; Arrowfield Stud the bloodlines of the Australian (which is now Coolmore Stud) at Widden Stud shares a secluded and thoroughbred were as as those ’s Plains; and Segenhoe Stud relatively remote valley with Baramul of any thoroughbred in the world.” (now Vinery Stud), near Scone. Stud, where Stanley Wootton stood The history of the Australian the great , who changed In Victoria, in addition to St Albans thoroughbred goes back no further the nature of Australian breeding from Stud, the leading farms were the than 1795 when the ‘Britannia’ arrived stout stayers aiming for the Melbourne Clarke family’s Stud, near with a cargo of breeding mares from Cup to an emphasis on speed and Bacchus Marsh, where The Welkin the Cape of Good Hope. The first precocity with a focus on juvenile was three times Australia’s leading imported stallion was in racing and winning the Golden Slipper. sire just after World War I; and

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Noorilim Stud, Murchison, where And then came Catbird (1999 2012 the winner of 14 races, the Comedy King, the first imported winner) and Ha Ha (2001). last 12 at Group 1 level. is by Melbourne Cup winner, stood and from the Danehill mare, Kind. Since Ha Ha, nine of the 14 Golden won the Australian title in 1922-23. Slipper winners boast Danehill Shuttle stallions More recently, Victoria’s leading blood close-up in their pedigrees. studs were Range View Stud (since The nature of Australian breeding It took a while for the northern sold for housing) at Carrum Downs, changed dramatically thanks to the hemisphere breeders to cotton on to which stood the great Better Boy; foresight of Robert Sangster, who came Danehill, but by the early 2000s he was Stud (now Emirates Park) at up with the idea of sending northern the champion sire in both hemispheres. Diggers Rest, from where Showdown hemisphere stallions to Australia and became leading sire; and Mornmoot He is the sire of 2008 runners New Zealand after they completed the Stud, Whittlesea, which stood Better worldwide, 349 Stakes winners northern hemisphere breeding season. Boy’s champion son Century. and his progeny won more This proved a boon for owners than $AUD375 million. Star Kingdom of the stallions as it virtually Danehill died after breaking a doubled the earning capacity of The dominance of Star Kingdom hind leg in a paddock accident the stallions, and at the same time on the Australian breed has been in Ireland in 2003. gave Australian breeders access to profound. The chunky chestnut was a the best stallions in the world. very fast horse in England, but didn’t At its peak in 2002, 71 stallions attract much outside support when were flown into Australia from he arrived in Australia. However, Europe and the USA for the southern his first crops were a sensation and hemisphere breeding season. included the champion colt Todman, who in 1957 won the first Golden There is no doubt that the shuttling Slipper—the first five Golden Slipper of stallions across the equator has winners were sired by Star Kingdom. FAST FACT meant that the major stallion farms of Europe and America—such as Star Kingdom’s son and At the top of his Coolmore, Darley and Vinery—have Biscay’s son Bletchingly carried on the game champion stallion been able to move into the Australian great sire line, which, unfortunately, is Danehill covered more breeding industry in a big way. now almost extinct on a commercial basis in Australia. The Bletchingly- than 400 mares in The effect of this is that the smaller stud line stallion Show A Heart (who two hemispheres at farms in Australia have found it almost impossible to compete, especially in stands at Glenlogan Park Stud in a fee of close to Queensland) and his son Toorak sourcing the best stallions—the local Toff (Rosemont Stud, Victoria) are $300,000. Do the sum! product has become too expensive. the only Star Kingdom-line stallions For example, recent Golden Slipper at commercial studs in Australia. winners Pierro (2012) and Vancouver (2015) were sold soon after their wins However, Star Kingdom’s blood An example of his influence can be to the Ireland-owned Coolmore Stud has flourished through broodmares seen by a study of the most recent for prices reported to be between who proved to be a perfect match Australian Champion Sire title (2014- $30 million and $40 million. for the next super stallion, Danehill 15)—of the top 20 stallions, nine are (by ). Danehill burst on from the Danehill sire line and his The demand by breeders for the star the scene in the 1990s when he sons (first), Exceed local colts means that in 2015 the shuttled to Arrowfield Stud (now And Excel (second) and Redoute’s number of shuttle stallions dropped Coolmore) in the Hunter Valley. Choice (fourth) dominate the current to 38 of the 604 registered stallions in Australian breeding scene. Australia. In 2014, the average book of Danehill The current top stallion in the world is mares to a shuttle stallion was 109. Danehill’s first crop produced Coolmore Stud’s Galileo (by Sadler’s In recent years we have seen the 1994 Golden Slipper winner Wells), who has a great affinity with Australian-bred stallions such as Danzero, and the following crops Danehill mares. The unbeaten Frankel, Exceed And Excel, Redoute’s the next two winners (Flying who many regard as the greatest Choice and Lonhro “reverse” shuttle Spur, 1995, and Merlene, 1996). horse to race in England, retired in to the northern hemisphere.

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bred” animals, those that do not meet the standard will be flushed out. In the case of racehorses, it is those that were not returned to the Stud Book or had one parent not returned to the Stud Book. Before 1980, horses could be registered for racing without pedigree, and it was not uncommon to see a horse listed as “by a station sire out of an unregistered mare”. In 1980, a rule was implemented to prevent horses without registered STUD SCENE: A broodmare and her foal enjoy paddock life. parents from being officially named. There were several cases of well- The Australian Stud Book 14,700 foals and nearly 20,000 breeders, ranks second to the American Stud Book. performed racehorses that could not The first Australian stud book was be accepted into the Australian Stud The format decided by Archie Yuille, compiled by William C. Yuille, Book because their parents had not based on the General Stud Book of sporting editor of the Melbourne been previously recorded. One, Rivette England, has changed little in more Weekly Times, in 1878. (born in 1933), won the Caulfield than 125 years. His policy was to Cup-Melbourne Cup double. Another, Yuille ran a bloodstock agency at 47 keep the breed as pure as possible Aquanita (1956), won 17 Stakes races Bourke Street West, Melbourne, which and gradually eliminate the doubtful including a Cox Plate, Mackinnon later became Wright Stephensons, and elements at Australian studs. then Wrightsons Bloodstock before Stakes, Orr Stakes and two Underwood While most horses traced to mares becoming New Zealand Bloodstock. Stakes, and stood as a stallion, but in the General Stud Book of England, none of his progeny could be accepted Yuille’s son Archibald Yuille was later certain Australian-bred mares of because his great-granddam, Brilliant honoured with life membership of unknown pedigree were accepted Queen, had not been returned to the the Victoria Racing Club. With Frank as colonial taproot mares due to Australian Stud Book as a foal. In Dakin, Yuille helped his father to the excellence of their progeny. both cases, an accepted method of compile the records of several colonial Always during the compilation of “pure promotion did not exist at the time. stud books into a national register called the Australian Stud Book. AUSTRALIAN BREEDING STATISTICS AS AT AUGUST 1, 2015 The Australian Jockey Club and Victoria Racing Club assisted Coverings in 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 financially with Volume 3 and officially recognised the Australian Stud Stallions Standing 872 823 793 753 691 Book from Volume 4 onwards. When the cost of publishing the Mares Covered 24614 24198 22583 21455 20360 records proved too burdensome Returns for 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 for Yuille, he sold his copyright and publishing rights for £2000 to the AJC Live Foals Born 16444 16183 15068 14466 13504 and VRC for “the express purpose of preserving an official record of the Live Foals/Coverings 67% 67% 67% 67% 66% breeding industry in Australia and of assisting to improve the standard of Non Live Foals 5424 5242 4821 4290 3562 the blood horse in the country”. The ASB was sold by the VRC and Mares Not Served 6771 5890 6010 5404 4202 AJC in early 2015, and is now part of the Australian Racing Board and TOTAL RETURNS RECEIVED 28639 27315 25899 24160 21268 RISA, a partnership that has been Source: Australian Stud Book rebranded Racing Australia. The ASB, with its 23,000 broodmares, WORRYING NUMBERS: the trend in Australia is a smaller foal crop that will result in fewer horses for the racetrack.

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Pedigrees

oseph Estes, the former editor of the famed US publication J Bloodhorse, once wrote: “What I am attempting is to prepare the reader for the conclusion that there is no conclusion to the study of pedigrees.” What he is saying is that when it comes to the study of pedigrees, the rule is, there are no rules. Despite that, there is nothing more debated in the thoroughbred world than pedigrees, especially in regards to the next trend to produce the next generation of champions. The pedigree of a thoroughbred is, in simple terms, the family tree— generally, the use of the term is quite broad, from the sire and dam of a particular horse to the complete historical profile going back 200 years. The paternal side of the pedigree refers to the sire/father, which is the top line of a pedigree chart. The bottom line refers to the dam/mother—the maternal line SEBRING: The 2008 Golden Slipper winner at the picturesque Widden Stud. is the “family” of the horse. A few basic points to consider from 3 type of horse the sire produces: turf 2 performance of her foals on the among the numerous facts and or dirt, sprint or stay; track—how many made it to the attributes regarding a sire (sire line) are: track and started? What was their 4 precociousness of his foals—does he race record, i.e. number of starts, 1 number and size of foal crops; produce better two-year-old runners wins and purse money earned? How or do they develop more slowly? 2 percentage of progeny that are long did they withstand training?; starters, winners and Stakes winners; As with a sire, there are many factors 3 number of full and/or half-siblings to consider with regard to a dam that have been Stakes performers. (distaff line): A pedigree chart can display all 1 racing and produce record of the the ancestors Stable on 4 Rowsboth sides B 3-10 of &a C 1-5 female side, goingOn Account back at least of MILBURN two horse’sCREEK, parentageWildes Meadow going back many (As Agent for Makybe) generations; generations. Here is an example of Lot 261 BROWN FILLY 14 (Branded nr sh. off sh. Foaled 21st September 2012) 2 FAST FACT Danzig ...... by Northern Dancer.... (SIRE) Danehill (USA) ...... Razyana ...... by ...... DESERT KING (IRE) ... ...... by Northern Dancer.... Only two brothers have Sabaah ...... Dish Dash...... by ...... won the Melbourne Cup— (DAM) ...... by Nasrullah...... ...... Gaulus beat his brother TUGELA (USA) ...... River Lady ...... by Prince John ...... 1995 ...... by ...... Rambushka...... Katsura...... by Northern Dancer.... The Grafter in 1897 and DESERT KING (IRE) (Bay 1994-Stud 1998). 5 wins-2 at 2, Irish Derby, Gr.1. The Grafter won in 1898. Sire of 1062 rnrs, 600 wnrs, 26 SW, inc. Makybe Diva (VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr.1), Desert War, , Darsalam, , Lachlan River, Basra, PEDIGREEMango CHAR Mischief,T: A standard Maranilla, pedigree chart Rageman,of sire and dam asPl appearsace Rouge, in a yearling North sale catalogue. Queen, Bygone Days, Banana Man, Alpacco, Petit Calva, Grand Opening, Always King, Roman Squire, Pretty Tough, Qui Es Tu, Bowmore, Desert Fantasy, Mohican Brave, etc. 1st Dam TUGELA (USA), by Riverman. Started twice. This is her tenth foal. Dam of 8 foals to race, 5 winners, inc:- THE PUNTERSMAKYBE BIBLE DIVA84 (fPUNTERS.COM.AU by Desert King (Ire)) Australian Horse of the Year twice. Champion stayer in Australia in 2003-04 & 2005-06. Champion middle distance horse in Australia in 2005-06. Head of The 2005-06 Australasian 4YO+ Classification. 15 wins 1400 to 3200m, $14,526,685, MVRC WS Cox P., Gr 1, VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr 1-3 times, Australian Cup, Gr 1, 2000m-in track record time, STC BMW S., Gr 1, AJC Sydney Cup, Gr 1, VRC Queen Elizabeth S., Gr 2, Turnbull S., Gr 2, MRC Memsie S., Gr 2, Werribee Cup, L, VRC Jezabeel H., 2d MRC Caulfield Cup, Gr 1, St George S., Gr 2, MVRC John F Feehan S., Gr 2- twice, 3d STC BMW S., Gr 1, Ranvet Rawson S., Gr 1, MRC TS Carlyon Cup, Gr 3, 4th MRC Caulfield Cup, Gr 1, VRC Turnbull S., Gr 2, MRC Memsie S., Gr 2, MVRC WH Stocks S., Gr 3. Dam of- Rockstardom. 2 wins at 1600, 2025m to 2012-13. MUSKET (c by Redoute's Choice) 4 wins 1200 to 1600m, $308,250, STC Shannon S., Gr 2, AJC Wales Truck Repairs Welter H., National Jockeys Celebration Day H., STC Spring Carnival H., 2d AJC Japan Racing Association P., L, STC S., L, Royal Parma S., L, 3d STC Furniture One Group H., 4th Newcastle JC Newmarket H., Gr 3. Sire. VALKYRIE DIVA (f by Jade Robbery (USA)) 8 wins 1200 to 1700m, $208,275, MVRC Tesio S., Gr 3, MRC Shirley Evans H., Solution H., VRC Sunny Lane H., MRC Chatham H., 2d MRC Leonia Harcourt's 40th Birthday H., 3d MRC Waranton H., 4th VRC Matriarch S., Gr 2. Dam of 2 winners- WALES (c Redoute's Choice) Winner at 2 at 1200m, MRC Redoute's Choice S., L. Compass. 3 wins at 1300, 1900m to 2012-13, ATC Onemorenomore at Vinery H., 2d ATC WED Group H., MRC Schweppes H., MVRC Sportingbet H. Shadowofexcellence (g by Redoute's Choice) 2 wins at 1850, 2100m, 3d VRC Super Impose S., L. La Amistad (f by Redoute's Choice) 2 wins at 2200m in 2013-14. Celtic Reign (f by Woodman (USA)) Placed. Dam of- Excursions. Winner at 1520m in 2013-14. Bakarje Diva (f by Redoute's Choice) Placed, 2d SAJC Advantage SA P., 3d SAJC Tattsbet P. 2nd Dam RAMBUSHKA, by Roberto. 3 wins–1 at 2–at 7f, 1¼m in Great Britain and U.S.A, Newcastle Virginia S., L, Newmarket Balaton Lodge S., 2d Newmarket S., L. Half-sister to Arokat, Katsina (dam of HALLAND PARK GIRL), River Foyle. Dam of 11 foals, 8 to race, 7 winners. The horse racing industry

a five-generation pedigree, using classification system of thoroughbred For example, some pedigree enthusiasts Makybe Diva’s pedigree as an families that is still used today. pay particular attention to inbreeding example. Lowe analysed the statistics of major and/or outcrossing, while others elect On the other hand, a pedigree in a race winners and ranked the distaff or to focus on the physical or performance characteristics of the horse. yearling sale catalogue often refers to dam lines by their degree of success. the maternal family and the important This and similar ranking systems are Some experts prefer the presence of relatives that exist under the first three still used by some breeders today, significant champion broodmares within or four dams. On this page is a typical though a prestigious pedigree does not a pedigree and especially get excited yearling sale pedigree as appears in a necessarily translate into racing success. when there is a double cross of one of yearling sale catalogue—winners of Lowe’s Breeding Racehorses by the these “dominant” mares. Stakes races are in uppercase black Figure System became something of a Leading US breeding expert Jay type, while the placegetters in these bible for breeders—he ranked families Leimbach wrote in 2007 on the races are represented in lowercase from one to 43. influence of the females in a pedigree. black type. There are more theories about Leimbach believes the broodmare In the late 1800s, an Australian, thoroughbred breeding than there are is probably the most Bruce Lowe, developed a pedigree on how to make money on the punt. influential horse of the 19th century due to the fact that three of her sons Stable 4 Rows B 3-10 & C 1-5 On Account of MILBURN CREEK, Wildes Meadow were champion sires—Stockwell, (As Agent for Makybe) Rataplan and . Lot 261 BROWN FILLY 14 (Branded nr sh. off sh. Foaled 21st September 2012) He claims , Selene, La 2 Danzig ...... by Northern Dancer.... (SIRE) Danehill (USA) ...... Troienne and Plucky Leige as the most Razyana ...... by His Majesty ...... DESERT KING (IRE) ... Nureyev...... by Northern Dancer.... Sabaah ...... influential mares of the 20th century. Dish Dash...... by Bustino......

(DAM) Never Bend ...... by Nasrullah...... Riverman ...... For example, Mumtaz Mahal became TUGELA (USA) ...... River Lady ...... by Prince John ...... 1995 Roberto ...... by Hail to Reason ...... Rambushka...... the second dam of both Nasrullah Katsura...... by Northern Dancer....

DESERT KING (IRE) (Bay 1994-Stud 1998). 5 wins-2 at 2, Irish Derby, Gr.1. and , as well as the third Sire of 1062 rnrs, 600 wnrs, 26 SW, inc. Makybe Diva (VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr.1), Desert War, Mr Dinos, Darsalam, Chelsea Rose, Lachlan River, Basra, dam of . Her influence Mischief, Maranilla, Rageman, Place Rouge, North Queen, Bygone Days, Banana Man, Alpacco, Petit Calva, Grand Opening, Always King, Roman Squire, is thus found in the pedigrees of Pretty Tough, Qui Es Tu, Bowmore, Desert Fantasy, Mohican Brave, etc. champion stallions Northern Dancer, 1st Dam TUGELA (USA), by Riverman. Started twice. This is her tenth foal. Dam of 8 foals Mr. Prospector, Turn-to, and particularly to race, 5 winners, inc:- MAKYBE DIVA (f by Desert King (Ire)) Australian Horse of the Year Sadler’s Wells, Seattle Slew and his son twice. Champion stayer in Australia in 2003-04 & 2005-06. Champion middle distance horse in Australia in 2005-06. Head of A.P. Indy (six strains of Mumtaz Mahal). The 2005-06 Australasian 4YO+ Classification. 15 wins 1400 to 3200m, $14,526,685, MVRC WS Cox P., Gr 1, VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr 1-3 “Dominant sires and sire lines receive times, Australian Cup, Gr 1, 2000m-in track record time, STC BMW S., Gr 1, AJC Sydney Cup, Gr 1, VRC Queen Elizabeth S., Gr 2, Turnbull S., much attention from students of Gr 2, MRC Memsie S., Gr 2, Werribee Cup, L, VRC Jezabeel H., 2d MRC Caulfield Cup, Gr 1, St George S., Gr 2, MVRC John F Feehan S., Gr 2- breeding, and rightly so. But half twice, 3d STC BMW S., Gr 1, Ranvet Rawson S., Gr 1, MRC TS Carlyon Cup, Gr 3, 4th MRC Caulfield Cup, Gr 1, VRC Turnbull S., Gr 2, MRC the names in every pedigree are Memsie S., Gr 2, MVRC WH Stocks S., Gr 3. Dam of- Rockstardom. 2 wins at 1600, 2025m to 2012-13. broodmares, and there is growing MUSKET (c by Redoute's Choice) 4 wins 1200 to 1600m, $308,250, STC evidence that broodmares may Shannon S., Gr 2, AJC Wales Truck Repairs Welter H., National Jockeys Celebration Day H., STC Spring Carnival H., 2d AJC Japan Racing contribute slightly more genetically Association P., L, STC Sky High S., L, Royal Parma S., L, 3d STC Furniture One Group H., 4th Newcastle JC Newmarket H., Gr 3. Sire. to their offspring than the stallion VALKYRIE DIVA (f by Jade Robbery (USA)) 8 wins 1200 to 1700m, $208,275, MVRC Tesio S., Gr 3, MRC Shirley Evans H., Solution H., VRC does. Their X-Chromosomes and Sunny Lane H., MRC Chatham H., 2d MRC Leonia Harcourt's 40th Birthday H., 3d MRC Waranton H., 4th VRC Matriarch S., Gr 2. Dam of 2 winners- mitochondrial DNA may play key roles WALES (c Redoute's Choice) Winner at 2 at 1200m, MRC Redoute's Choice S., L. in both heart function and energy Compass. 3 wins at 1300, 1900m to 2012-13, ATC Onemorenomore at production,” Leimbach wrote. Vinery H., 2d ATC WED Group H., MRC Schweppes H., MVRC Sportingbet H. Shadowofexcellence (g by Redoute's Choice) 2 wins at 1850, 2100m, 3d “Since nearly half of all fillies will VRC Super Impose S., L. La Amistad (f by Redoute's Choice) 2 wins at 2200m in 2013-14. one day reproduce as broodmares, Celtic Reign (f by Woodman (USA)) Placed. Dam of- Excursions. Winner at 1520m in 2013-14. but relatively few males will become Bakarje Diva (f by Redoute's Choice) Placed, 2d SAJC Advantage SA P., 3d SAJC Tattsbet P. sires, broodmares outnumber sires 2nd Dam by a large margin. On numbers alone RAMBUSHKA, by Roberto. 3 wins–1 at 2–at 7f, 1¼m in Great Britain and U.S.A, Newcastle Virginia S., L, Newmarket Balaton Lodge S., 2d Newmarket it’s very likely that the best genetic Pretty Polly S., L. Half-sister to Arokat, Katsina (dam of HALLAND PARK influences in history have been female, GIRL), River Foyle. Dam of 11 foals, 8 to race, 7 winners. THE PEDIGREE: This pedigree chart is typical of the family history available in sales catalogues. not male, particularly since broodmares

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contribute as much or more to the sire line, nicking is a highly regarded Famously, in 1988, Lee Freedman genetic inheritance of the foal. mating tool within the industry. bought a grey colt by for “Although the stallion population Some prolific nicks that have been $100,000 because he thought he’d is certainly a more select group responsible for outstanding racehorses be ideal for the Magic Millions race in general, most of the greatest and stallions include Nasrullah/ 12 months later, only to find the colt broodmares in history would never Princequillo, Mr. Prospector/Northern possessed none of the precocious have stood at stud at all had they been Dancer, Galileo/Danehill and Danehill/ speed of his pedigree. males, so it’s likely that many of the Star Kingdom. That colt, Subzero, went on to win potentially best sires never even got One thing is certain, the modern the 1992 Melbourne Cup over 3200 the chance to breed. thoroughbred is so finely bred that metres. “Which brings up the important, but there is enough “good” blood running In recent times, the Magic Millions has often overlooked, concept that the through the veins of the seemingly lived up to expectations by supplying genetic ingredients of a great breeding most obscurely bred thoroughbred to top trainer Gai Waterhouse with three horse are not the same as the genetic produce a champion. champion colts that have won the ingredients for a great racehorse.” world’s richest race for two-year-olds, Below are some of the most used the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill terms of breeding. Yearling sales —Vancouver (2015, cost $185,000), Pierro (2012, cost $230,000) and Inbreeding ustralian thoroughbred Sebring (2008, cost $130,000). racing has two major sales Inbreeding is the term used to describe companies—Inglis and Magic Waterhouse has won the Slipper six A times (equal record with her father breeding in which the same ancestor Millions—that conduct sales for horses appears two or more times within the of all ages throughout the year. Tommy Smith) and four of them first four generations of pedigree. For were bought by her and associated The yearling sales season starts in example, if the same ancestor appears bloodstock agents as yearlings at the January and runs at a hectic pace to in the third generation and again in the Magic Millions—the other was Dance the final sale in June. fourth, the horse is referred to as being Hero (2004, cost $90,000), who also is “inbred 3x4”. Both companies conduct horses-in- the only one to win the Magic Millions training sales—for unraced two-year- 2YO Classic on his way to the Slipper. The significance of inbreeding is that the ancestor to whom the particular olds—late in the year, and both have Interestingly, Pierro, who now stands horse is inbred will have greater major broodmare and weanling (a foal as a stallion at a fee of $77,000 at influence, thus emphasising certain recently weaned off its mother and not Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley, characteristics. Most believe it is turned one year old) sales. was bred by Sheikh Mohammed’s radical for a horse to be inbred closer In between, each state holds at least Darley, but sold as a weanling at the than 3x3. one feature yearling sale. The most Magic Millions National Weanling Sale famous is the Inglis Easter Yearling in June 2010 for $115,000. Outcrossing Sale at the historic Newmarket The buyer was Musk Creek Farm, Outcross breeding is the opposite complex near Randwick, which is from Red Hill in Victoria, which bought of inbreeding in that there is no regarded as Australia’s premier and the son of Lonhro as a weanling to repeat presence within four or most internationally recognised sell as a yearling seven months later— more generations. An outcross is yearling sale. It attracts major buyers hopefully for a profit. This is called believed to offer greater variety and from all over the world. “pinhooking”, an American term that avoid concentration of good and bad The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling has a background from when farmers characteristics. Sale in early January offers buyers took young cattle and pigs to sale for first bite of the cherry and the nature others to fatten and sell at a later date. Nicking of this sale—which has the Musk Creek Farm was able to double Nicking, the theory that certain lines of a rich Magic Millions race for two- its money when Waterhouse and have an affinity for one another, has year-olds restricted to horses from this agent James Harron bought Pierro at perpetuated through thoroughbred sale—means that buyers are looking the 2011 Magic Millions for $230,000. for precocious, mature yearlings that breeding since the 18th century. The Magic Millions concept was Measuring the success of a sire line will be suited for racing as a juvenile. developed in the early 1990s for the when crossed with a broodmare However, that often doesn’t ring true. purpose of capitalising on the holiday

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atmosphere in January on the Gold Sydney’s Easter sale is its headliner The following year there were five Coast, and offer an alternative to the and rarely does this great sale fail to yearlings sold for $1 million or more traditional yearling sale concept by attract news. in Sydney: four raced—two won a attaching a lucrative race restricted to Some of the famous horses sold combined $64,970, one was placed horses sold at the sale. at Inglis in the shade of the giant and another didn’t run a place. In the late 1990s, a consortium of Moreton Bay fig tree include However, there are enough high- businessmen, including Gerry Harvey champions Might And Power, Heroic, priced yearlings that have made it to (of Harvey ), now the sole Shannon, Flight, and the racetrack and breeding barn with owner, and John Singleton, bought . distinction to tempt the speculators each year. the company and added even more Recently, the sale gained publicity razzamatazz to the sales days, but when an Australian record price for a Here’s a short list of the $1 million more importantly, expanded the Magic yearling was set—$5 million for Black yearlings in Australia and New Zealand Millions race day at the Southport Caviar’s half-brother, by Redoute’s who made good on the racetrack track to include races for three-year- Choice, in 2013. The colt was bought and/or at stud. olds, maidens, older sprinters and by Bill Vlahos, acting for his syndicate All Too Hard stayers—the Magic Millions now group BC3 Thoroughbreds, offers $11.9 million in prizemoney. • Cost $1.2 million at 2011 Inglis However, it all turned sour a few Easter—won Caulfield Guineas, Orr On the other hand, the Sydney-based months later when Vlahos’s betting Stakes, Futurity Stakes and All Aged Inglis sales company is steeped syndicate, The Edge, ran into financial Stakes and more than $2 million in in family history, going back to its trouble and he failed to pay for stakemoney. Sold as a stallion for founder, William Inglis, who sold all the colt. The result was that Inglis what is believed to be $25-30 million. types of livestock and produce from repossessed the then two-year-old, his bazaar in Pitt Street, Sydney, from affectionately named Jimmy, late Don Eduardo (NZ) 1867 under the banner of William in 2013, only for him to die from a • Cost NZ record $NZ3.6 million at Inglis & Son. suspected spider bite in January 2014. 2000 NZB Karaka—won the AJC Australian Derby. Became handy The bloodstock operation began Luckily, he was insured. stallion. in 1906 at rented premises in Anybody can buy at a horse sale, Newmarket, which the company although they need to register with the Viking (NZ) bought later , establishing the current sales company beforehand. In some • Sold for $NZ1.5 million at 2000 NZB complex that has seating for more than cases, the sales company will offer a Karaka—won the Spring Champion 1000 people and can accommodate suitable client credit terms. Stakes; Group 1-producing sire. 620 horses. For the uninitiated, a thoroughbred The famous saleyards were sold in June yearling sale can be a daunting 2015 and Inglis will continue to operate prospect, with rule one being never there until a move to a new centre at bid from the bar! Warwick Farm, likely to be in 2019. Therefore, if you plan to buy a yearling, Breeders from the famous farms in the or buy a share in a yearling, use the Hunter Valley sent their yearlings to be experts such as a reputable trainer or sold at Newmarket by train that set out ask the sales company to recommend from Muswellbrook—often after a long a registered bloodstock agent. walk from the outlying stations, such Remember, the history books are as Widden, Arrowfield, Kia Ora and riddled with cheap horses who Baramul. became champions and there are Inglis also holds the major yearling sale many $1 million yearlings that didn’t in Melbourne at the Oaklands Junction win a race. complex north of the city near the The first $1 million yearling was a airport, usually in late February or early colt by Bletchingly from Verdi, who March. It was at the Melbourne sale sold for $1.1 million to the bid of Bart in 2008 that the great Black Caviar Cummings at the 1988 Inglis Easter was bought by trainer Peter Moody for Yearling Sale—his name was Fortunino GREAT COLT: All Too Hard, a $1.2 million yearling, $210,000. and he didn’t make it to the races. was a star on the racetrack, winning three Group 1 races.

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St Reims (NZ) William Inglis Winter Sale when the and on the advice of trainer Tommy • Cost $NZ1 million at 2001 NZB gelding’s previous owners gave up on Smith was immediately gelded. Karaka—won NZ Derby, the injury-prone horse after he failed It was a transformed Kingston Town Stakes. Sold as stallion. to live up to his early promise, which who returned to racing in June to win included a trial win at Rosehill six races in a row, culminating with Shower Of Roses (NZ) in September 2001. an easy win in the Group 1 Spring • Cost $NZ1.45 million at 2001 NZB It wasn’t until April 2004 that Janiak Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick Karaka—won the Storm Queen got the gelding to the races, on his in October. Stakes. home track in a 1200-metre maiden— The following autumn, ‘The King’ Master Of Design Takeover Target won by seven lengths. dominated the by • Sold for $2.1 million at 2007 Inglis Incredibly, it was only six months later winning six races, including the AJC Easter—won T.J. Smith Stakes. that Takeover Target won in the Group Derby, Sydney Cup and Tancred Promising stallion. 1 Salinger Stakes (1200m) down the Stakes. Smith took him to Queensland famous Flemington straight course. where he won the Queensland Derby. Catbird Takeover Target’s career exploded Kingston Town became the first • Sold for $1.1 million at 2002 Magic after that, extending his sprinting Australian horse to win $1 million in Millions Gold Coast—won Golden dominance beyond our shores. In an stakemoney and remains the only Slipper. Became leading stallion. overseas jaunt in 2006, the taxi-driver horse to win three consecutive Cox Sunday Joy trainer and his former cast-off gelding Plates (1980-82). He finished his career with 30 wins from 41 starts and was • Sold for $1 million at 2001 Magic won the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes one of five inaugural inductees into the Millions Gold Coast—won the AJC (1000m) at Royal Ascot in England and Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Australian Oaks. Dam of champion the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) filly/mare More Joyous. at Nakayama in Japan. In 2008, he 3. —cost $3000; won the Group 1 KrisFlyer International won $3,118,100 Samantha Miss Sprint (1200m) at Kranji in Singapore. One of the most popular horses to • Cost $1.5 million at 2007 Inglis Takeover Target finished his career in race in Australia, the free-wheeling Vo Easter; won VRC Oaks, 2009 with a record of 21 wins from Rogue was sired by the American-bred and Champagne Stakes. 41 starts, including eight victories at Ivor Prince whose career was cut short Group 1 level. by injury. Rags to riches 2. Kingston Town—passed A big part of the Vo Rogue story in for $8000; won $1,605,790 was his trainer Vic Rail, a battling hile thoroughbred racing is Kingston Town was bred by Victorian Queenslander with a great love of his often referred to as the Sport David Hains, who tried to sell the son horse. W of Kings, there are many of Bletchingly as a yearling in 1978, but The superstar gelding raced 83 times champions that emerged from humble took him home after he failed to reach over distances ranging from 1010m to beginnings. Australia is one place in the $8000 reserve. The colt ran last 2040m. He won 26 of those, with six the racing world where the racetrack on debut at Canterbury in March 1979, at Group 1 level, including consecutive doesn’t discern between the battlers and the billionaires. AUSTRALIAN AUCTION SALES RESULTS 2013-14 Here are 10 of our favourite battlers who have made good—nine Aussies Category No. Sold Gross Sales Average Median and a Yank. 1. Takeover Target—cost $1250; Weanlings 783 $23,254,100 $29,700 $10,000 won $6,001,032 Yearlings 4932 $342,420,700 $69,428 $35,000 The absolute epitome of rags-to- riches, Takeover Target cost only 2YOs 249 $13,519,800 $54,295 $38,000 $1250 but finished his stellar career with more than $6 million in earnings. Broodmares 1354 $89,548,400 $66,136 $11,000 Queanbeyan taxi driver Joe Janiak purchased the gelding at the 2003 AVERAGES: The average price of a yearling in Australia is $35,000—less than what it costs to train it for a year.

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Australian Cups (1988-89). His clashes with stars such as Better Loosen Up and Super Impose were a highlight of Australian racing. Vo Rogue, ridden most of the time by Queensland jockey Cyril Small, was a favourite with punters because of his bold front-running style that sometimes saw him open up margins of 10 lengths or more at various stages of the race. Rail died in unfortunate circumstances due to Hendra Virus in 1994. Vo Rogue lived until he was 28. 4. —cost $3500; won $1,154,210 Manikato was the second Australian horse, after Kingston Town, to pass $1 million in stakemoney. The superstar POLANSKI: The colt didn’t cost much as a yearling, but he went on to win the Group 1 Victoria Derby. sprinter was bought for $3500 as a yearling in Adelaide by owner Mal Chaparral, hadn’t hit any heights as Melbourne Autumn Sale, Laing bought Seccull. The chestnut was the only one a stallion at that time, so the price the son of the recently deceased sire of eight named foals out of the mare for Shoot Out seemed accurate. Rakti (who won six Group 1 races in Markato to win a Stakes race. However, connections knew they had Europe) and the dam Citrium for only $4000. Manikato scored 29 wins from 47 acquired a very smart horse when starts, including the William Reid Shoot Out, trained by John Wallace, Polanski showed from the Stakes a staggering five times. He also strolled in on debut at the Gold Coast start and impressed by winning as a won the Futurity Stakes four times in May 2009 by a widening 5.3 lengths. two-year-old despite a pedigree that and as a two-year-old completed the At his next start he won the Group 2 suggested he’d be better over longer Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) distances. at Eagle Farm. in 1978. Manikato won 21 Stakes In the 2013 spring, he first showed his races and all of those races are now Shoot Out won his first Group 1 at staying talent by winning the Group classified as Group 1s. his ninth start—the 2010 Randwick 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m, Guineas (1600m)—before winning the Manikato was trained as a juvenile by Caulfield). Two weeks later he scored AJC Derby (2400m) two starts later. Bon Hoysted, but Hoysted died soon one of the best wins in the Group 1 after, so Manikato was transferred He was later transferred to Chris Waller, Victoria Derby (2500m, Flemington) of to Hoysted’s brother Bob, whose who trained the gelding to win the 2012 modern times. Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) devotion to his horse was legendary. Polanski returned to racing the following and the Group 1 Chipping Norton 5. Shoot Out—cost $15,000; autumn, and after a brilliant trial lined up Stakes (1600m) in 2012 and 2013. won $3,238,950 in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) Shoot Out retired in 2014 with 10 wins at Caulfield. Unfortunately, Polanski Mt Isa businesswoman Linda Huddy (five Group 1s) and 11 placings from sustained a career-ending injury and bought Shoot Out (by ) 37 starts. was retired to stud. for $15,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and raced 6. Polanski—cost $4000; 7. Piping Lane—cost $6000; him in partnership with her husband won $1,173,565 won $100,000 Graham. Victorian trainer Robbie Laing bought Piping Lane was the Tasmanian Shoot Out’s dam, Pentamerous (by Polanski based on his belief that “many battler—he didn’t win a race until his Pentire) had recorded just one win times in racing a stallion will die and get 14th start, a 1000-metre maiden at and enjoyed only moderate success in a good one (progeny) in his last crop”. Mowbray—who became a Melbourne the breeding barn, and his sire, High Taking this principle to the 2012 Inglis Cup winner.

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Piping Lane had toiled around Wyong trainer Stephen Farley was failed to reach his reserve price of Tassie accumulating only $12,638 in impressed by the quality of the son of $25,000 at the 2007 Inglis Classic prizemoney before 69-year-old former Umatilla and one of the part-owners, Yearling Sale in Sydney. Stan Johnson, had been in the racing amateur jockey and owner-trainer Ray The chestnut was later sold to game 50 years but never owned a Trinder bought the horse for $6000 Laurence Eales, who sent him to horse good enough to win in Sydney— with the highly ambitious aim of Flemington trainer Mark Kavanagh. Sincero soon changed that. winning the Melbourne Cup. ‘Whobe’ was bred to have ability— Trinder sent Piping Lane to legendary Sincero won at Wyong and Wagga his sire was a champion Melbourne trainer George Hanlon to in his five starts at two, but he racehorse and his dam Temple Of put the polish on the six-year-old and blossomed at three to win four on Peace, who was bred in Japan, was Piping Lane got a start in the big Cup the trot at the end of 2010, including Stakes-placed in France. after a third in the Moonee Valley Cup. granting Johnson’s wish with two impressive performances at Randwick. didn’t race until May Hanlon booked Adelaide jockey 2008 when he impressively won a In his first four starts in 2011, Sincero John Letts, who doubted the former 2YO maiden (1100m) on the Geelong won the Gosford Guineas (1200m), Tasmanian had any chance—he was synthetic track. He followed that with Inglis 3YO Guineas (1600m) at Scone quoted as saying “we’re only here to another eye-catching win at Moonee and the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap make up the numbers”—and punters Valley (1200m) in June. (1400m) at Eagle Farm. He returned in agreed, sending Piping Lane around at the spring to win his first two starts— In September, Whobegotyou won odds of 40/1. the Group 3 Tramway Stakes and the the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Piping Lane only won one more Group 1 George Main Stakes, which Moonee Valley before a barnstorming race—the 1972 Cox Stakes (2400m) at earned him favouritism for the Group 1 win in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas Ascot in Perth—but he will go down Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. (1600m, Caulfield). Two weeks later, he easily won the Group 2 AAMI Vase in folklore as not only a true rags-to- Sincero flopped to finish eighth behind (2040m) at Moonee Valley—in faster riches story, but also a winner of the Secret Admirer in the Epsom, and time than the Cox Plate on the same Melbourne Cup. wasn’t able to recapture his best form, day—and was hot favourite to win 8. Sincero—cost $8000; although he won the Group 2 Memsie the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) won $1,734,475 Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in 2012. a week later. Sincero, who cost only $8000, wasn’t 9. Whobegotyou—cost $19,500; Unfortunately, the seven-day back- the cheapest horse sold at the 2009 won $3,263,450 up and a long first campaign took its William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, but Whobegotyou was bred by Canberra- toll and Whobegotyou was beaten he wasn’t far from it. based Lockyer Thoroughbreds and by 100/1 chance Rebel Raider in the Derby. In 2009, the gelding won the Group 1 (2000m, Caulfield) and was favourite in the Cox Plate (2040m) at his next start, but could only manage sixth in a crack field that included So You Think (winner), Zipping and El Segundo. Whobegotyou was retired in 2011 as the winner of 10, including two Group 1s and six Group 2s. 10. —cost $US10,500; won $US3.5 million California Chrome attracted the attention of racing fans all over the world when he aimed to capture the ultimate in American GREAT BUY: Whobegotyou cost only $19,500, but he won more than $3.2 million in stakemoney. horse racing—the Triple Crown.

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The chestnut from California had hefty price tag and was retired won the first two legs in 2014— as a maiden after three runs. the (1800m) and The almighty flop stood at stud at (2000m)—but Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds failed to win the third leg, the Belmont in Florida for a fee of $US5000—he Stakes (2400m), when, according would need to cover 3200 mares over to trainer Art Sherman, jockey the next 18 years or so to break even! FAST FACT Victor Espinoza, “lost his compass”. California Chrome finished fourth At subsequent Fasig Tipton ready-to- Makybe Diva’s behind Tonilist. run sales, a toy green monkey often son Rockstardom cost has been hung from a tree in mocking It is truly a remarkable story given his tribute to the high-priced colt. $1.5 million as a yearling, dam, Love the Chase, won just one but was eventually race before being sold for $8000 and 2. Meydan City—$US11.7 million his sire, Lucky Pulpit, won three of his Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al sold for only $17,000. 22 starts before being retired due to Maktoum of Dubai bought this colt at breathing problems. public auction at the 2005 Keeneland 4. Plavius—$US9.2 million Since the Belmont, California Chrome Yearling Sales for $US11.7 million, has won one of five starts and finished making him the world’s second most Plavius was a $US9.2 million purchase second behind in the expensive yearling. by Sheikh Mohammed for Godolphin Racing in 2006. The colt by Danzig 2015 G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan The son of Kingmambo and Crown from Sharp Minister started his career in March. An attempt to race at Of Crimson raced in the famous in the UK, but after failing to win in four Royal Ascot in June was halted after Godolphin blue colours. He finished starts, he was transferred to the United California Chrome broke down in a third on debut before breaking his Emirates. He won two lowly races track gallop. maiden at Newmarket in 2008 under there before retiring, as a gelding, after the urgings of . In his 18 starts with $57,034 in prizemoney. seven-start career he recorded just Expensive flops one other win and was retired with 5. Mr Sekiguchi—$US8 million earnings of $US51,035. This US-bred colt was purchased hefty price tag is no guarantee 3. —$US10.2 million for $US8 million in 2004 by Fusao of success in the racing game. Sekiguchi, a wealthy (and somewhat The following list of expensive In 1983 $1 million was a ludicrous A egotistical) Japanese businessman. flops from both sides of the equator amount of money, and $US10.2 million Mr Sekiguchi (the horse), by Storm is testimony to that. The only saving for an unraced yearling colt was Cat from Welcome Surprise, made grace is that, in most cases, the absolutely unthinkable. a reasonably promising start to his owners were so wealthy that the However, that’s how much Sheikh career, winning two from four before losses were a mere blip to the hip Mohammed paid for this colt by a tibia injury forced him to retire from pocket. Northern Dancer out of My Bupers. racing with earnings of $113,872. It demolished the record for the most He went to stud but produced only Northern hemisphere expensive thoroughbred ever sold at moderate results—just one Stakes 1. The Green Monkey— auction—$US4.5 million—and was winner, Rose And Shine. cost $US16 million seen as a future flagship stallion for the Sheikh’s Aston Upthorpe Stud. This colt became the most expensive Southern hemisphere racehorse sold at auction when bought Snaafi Dancer, despite his good looks 1. ‘Jimmy”’—$5 million and magnificent pedigree, never made for $US16 million by agent Demi ‘Jimmy’ was the much-heralded half- it to the races. ‘Snaafi’ danced his way O’Byrne, acting for the Coolmore brother to superstar mare Black Caviar. team of Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith straight to the breeding barn, where he The son of Redoute’s Choice and and at the Fasig-Tipton also proved to be a dud, producing just Helsinge was sold for an Australian 2YOs in Training Sale in 2006. three runners in two years at stud. record $5 million at the 2013 Inglis The son of Forestry had displayed None did anything substantial and he Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney to the enormous speed in a pre-sale workout. was retired from stud duties to live bid of Bill Vlahos, acting on behalf of Unfortunately for his owners, The out his years at the equine version of his now defunct racing group, BC3 Green Monkey failed to live up to the Seinfeld’s “Del Boca Vista” in Florida. Thoroughbreds.

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Later in 2013, Vlahos’ punting group favourite in a Seymour maiden only to value as a prospective stallion. He was The Edge folded, allegedly owing finish another second. retired to stud in New Zealand where millions, after which the sales Eventually, Godspeed won a weak he has done quite well considering his lack of racing talent—he has Sired company, Inglis, announced that its maiden at Mornington, but he showed six Stakes winners, including Group 1 account for the sale of the colt hadn’t none of the speed and talent of his Queen Elizabeth winner Prince. been settled. looks or pedigree, and found himself The sales company took control over with a third trainer, David Vandyke. 4. Rockstardom—$1.5 million the colt, only for him to die in March The stallion hasn’t been seen since Great name, dud horse. Rockstardom 2014 from what was believed to be a finishing third in a Class 2 at Kembla was bred to be a superstar, being by spider bite. Grange in September 2013. the great Galileo from legendary mare 2. Godspeed—$1.875 million His earnings were $58,210 after two Makybe Diva. wins from 13 starts. The Kitchwin Hills syndicate bought Danny O’Brien Racing bought the this colt—by Redoute’s Choice from 3. Colombia—$NZ1.6 million handsome colt at the 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, but alarm bells were Regrowth—for $1.85 million at the Colombia was racing royalty from ringing early for most of the syndicate 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and the day he was born—his sire Zabeel of owners when the colt failed to run a sent him to Sydney trainer Gerald was a champion, and his dam Eight place in his first three starts. Ryan. The aim was to win a Group 1 Carat a broodmare gem who produced to secure him a place on the stallion champions Octagonal and Mouawad. Rockstardom eventually broke roster at Kitchwin Hills, near Scone, in his maiden at Bendigo (1600m) in The colt was offered by his breeder at the Hunter Valley. November 2011, but finished his the 1998 NZB Premier Yearling Sale career in March 2013 as a much- Godspeed showed promise in trials, and bought for what was then a New maligned gelding with only two wins but finished second at his first two Zealand record, $NZ1.6 million, by Tom from 12 starts and a paltry $29,015 in starts at Rosehill and Randwick early Simon’s Roselands Stud and sent to prizemoney. in 2011 when long odds-on favourite. Lee Freedman to train. 5. Shadowofexcellence— He was transferred to Peter Moody in Colombia had three trials, winning the $1.2 million Melbourne with the spring racing as first of them at Seymour in 2000, but his target—in August he started $1.45 never made it to the track to prove his Shadowofexcellence was bought by Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm for $1.2 million at the 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney—the same sale in which his close relation Rockstardom was sold for $1.5 million. Shadowofexcellence is by Redoute’s Choice from Tugela, who is the dam of three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (the dam of Rockstardom). The colt started his career in the care of the Hawkes stable, but was moved to trainer John Thompson after winning only once from 13 starts. He continued to struggle for form and has now found his way into the barn of little-known trainer Myron Cooper, from Dubbo. The gelding hasn’t raced since September 2014 when sixth at Wellington—his earnings were $65,040 from three wins in 33 starts. He certainly lived in the distant ROCKSTARDOM: The son of champions Galilee and Makybe Diva cost $1.5 as a yearling, but was a racetrack dud. shadow of excellence.

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1990s that the number of owners with Racehorse names in the racebook was extended ownership to 10—recently, it went up to 20. The growth of the ownership base here is no better time to become is continuing. In 2004-05, the number an owner of a racehorse because of horses with ownership of 10 or Tthe racing industry’s focus has more was 599; in 2013-14 that had taken an owner-centric attitude in grown to 1317. The number of horses recent years. with two owners dropped from 4034 to 2717 in the same time. Governing bodies such as Racing Victoria and Racing NSW focus a lot It’s worth noting that more than of energy on attracting new owners, 50 per cent of the yearlings bought and there are plenty of perks. at sales are purchased by syndication companies. For example, in Victoria every registered owner, no matter how People also can buy into part- small the ownership, gets an Owner’s ownerships of horses directly through OWNERS: Cheering home a winner. Gold Card. a trainer. Such a transaction is usually based on purchase price plus costs and VOBIS Gold offers bonuses over To quote from the Racing Victoria no added profit margin that is common and above the regular prizemoney— website, racing.com: with syndicates. $5 million in the 2014-15 season, “Once you become a registered owner including 100 $20,000 bonuses on Major racing bodies provide in Victoria, you will be issued with offer for four-year-olds. It’s worth prospective owners with a list of an Owner’s Gold Card and a unique noting that the VOBIS Gold bonus is approved syndicators or promoters, Owner ID Number, which will allow intended to expand through the racing as they are also called. Under the rules you to receive optimum customer life of the horse. service and enjoy the fantastic race-day of racing a syndicator must hold an A part-owner can expect to pay training privileges that come with racehorse Australian Financial Services Licence, fees of a percentage of $50,000 a year ownership. which is issued by ASIC. (at racing age) for a horse in a major “Your Owner’s Gold Card provides a Bonus schemes metropolitan racing stable—this can number of exciting race-day privileges, and prizemoney be reduced to as low as $30,000 for including admission and members’ a provincial trainer. passes on the day your horse runs, Lucrative bonus schemes for eligible However, prizemoney increases mean as well as complimentary racebooks, horses, such as Super VOBIS and that a metropolitan win on a Saturday parking and access to on-course VOBIS Gold in Victoria, BOBS in will cover that expense. owners’ facilities with race replay NSW and QTIS in Queensland have facilities. Here you can sit back and significantly boosted prizemoney Below is a chart of how the enjoy a win, or console your fellow and made owning a racehorse more prizemoney has increased in owners following a hard run, with attractive. recent years (source ARB): complimentary beverages available.” Gone are the days when the green PRIZEMONEY VS RACES 1995/96 – 2013/14 coats on the gates would bar small- Prizemoney Races time owners from access to the best $500,000,000 facilities on the track. In Victoria, 30,000 a 20-share syndicate can access $400,000,000 25,000

20,000 40 tickets per horse (restrictions may $300,000,000 apply during the spring carnival). 15,000 $200,000,000 10,000

Syndication $100,000,000 5,000 Syndication also has become a major 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 part of Australian racing. Up to the 1950s, most horses were raced in single ownership, and it was only in the PRIZEMONEY: The rise and rise.

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THE PUNTERS BIBLE 94 PUNTERS.COM.AU Glossary Glossary

lateral vision of the horse. Used to Claim: Also known as an allowance— The language make the horse more focused. a reduction in the weight to be carried by a horse ridden by an Blow: When a horse drifts of racing apprentice jockey. It varies from 4kg noticeably in betting. to 0.5kg depending on the number of Acceptor: A horse confirmed (or Boat race: A race with a number winners the apprentice has ridden. paid-up) by the owner or trainer to of non-triers that is said to be fixed be in the final field for a race. Clams: Cash, money, bucks, dollars. for one particular outcome. All-up: A type of bet where the Clerk of the course: Mounted Bolter: A horse at long odds. winnings (and the first investment) racecourse official responsible for the of one race are carried over a Bowler: A person placing bets for management of horses before, during sequence of races or events. another individual (or individuals) and after a race. Also leads the winner who has been previously of a race back to the mounting yard. Apprentice: An inexperienced restricted or banned by the jockey, usually under the age of 21. bookie taking the wagers. Colours: Also known as ‘silks’. Coloured racing jacket and cap Approximates: The projected Box or boxed: Betting term worn by jockeys. Colours are dividends displayed by the TAB. denoting an exotic combination registered to an owner or trainer. Backed: A horse supported in betting. bet whereby all possible numeric outcomes are covered. Colt: An entire (not gelded) male Bagman: Bookmaker or under four years of age. bookmaker’s employee responsible Bridle: A piece of equipment, Connections: People involved in the for taking bets on-course. usually made of leather or nylon, which fits on a horse’s head and ownership or training of a horse. Banker: A standout horse or team includes a bit and the reins. Correct weight: The signal by the regarded as a lynchpin in an exotic stewards on-course that all bets can be bet or all-up sequence of bets. Broodmare: A female horse that is used almost exclusively for the paid. This is declared after the jockeys Bailed-up: A horse running in restricted purpose of producing foals. of the first six horses have weighed racing room, unable to get clear. in correctly at their allocated weight. : A dud horse. Barriers: Starting stalls used to Dam: The mother of a horse. keep horses in line before the start Cast: A horse wedged in the Dead-heat: A tie between of a race. Each horse is allocated barriers, usually on its side or two or more horses. a position through a draw. back, in a position that makes it difficult for it to get to its feet. Deductions: The percentage reduction Barry Crocker: Rhyming in odds for win and place bets when slang for shocker. Cast (2): When a punter is broke. a horse is scratched from a race after Cast a plate: To lose a Black type: Another term for Stakes- betting on that event has commenced. racing plate (shoe). class. A horse that has won or been Derby: A stakes event placed at Listed or Group level has Cat: An unreliable galloper that for three-year-olds. achieved ‘black-type’ success. often teases but very rarely wins. The black type refers to how the Dish-lickers: Greyhounds. Checked: Incident during a race when performance is recorded in pedigree. a horse is interfered with or blocked Drift: When the odds of a Blinkers: A hood with cup- by another runner, causing it to change horse increase or ease from shaped sides that restricts the stride, slow down or change direction. the opening price.

THE PUNTERS BIBLE 95 PUNTERS.COM.AU Glossary

MUDDER: Wet-tracker Descarado (inside) wins the 2009 Caulfield Cup for trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Each-way: To bet for a win and a place. Goat rodeo: A field of slow Mug: A person who isn’t horses all getting in their own overly skilled at betting. Emergency: A substitute runner way; a chaotic spectacle. that takes the place of a withdrawn Off the bit: Can refer to either a horse before final scratchings being Gorilla: $1000. horse that is under hard riding or declared on the day of the event. Hands and heels: Riding the horse a punter who is chasing losses. Emu: A person who picks up aggressively without use of the whip. On the nose/snout: Backing discarded betting tickets in the hope Hit the quicksand: A horse that is in a horse with a win bet only. of finding a live bet. Often seen front around the home turn but slows Overs: A horse at longer scurrying around on-track or at the down dramatically in the straight. odds than it should be. TAB after a successful protest. Knocked-up: A horse that slows right Pig-root: The action of a horse bucking down towards the end of a race. Entire: A male horse (not gelded). and trying to dislodge the rider. Load up: Have a large wager Even money: Odds of 1-1. A total Plunge: A sudden rush of money on a horse you’re feeling return of $2 for a $1 outlay. for one particular runner. particularly bullish about. Exchange: Internet-based organisation Plodder: Slow horse that just Lost a leg: Refers to a horse that that brokers bets between punters for a plods along at one pace. commission. Betfair is the best known. has drifted alarmingly in betting. Ridden upside down: A horse that is Milk-drinker: See cat. Exotics: Any bet other than a ridden against its usual racing pattern. win or place wager. Most noted Monkey: $500 (half a gorilla). are quinella, exacta, trifecta, Shillelagh (pronounced shi- Moonwalking: A horse that duet, treble and quadrella. lay-lee): A term for the whip. quickly loses ground and drops Fill your boots: Have a back through the field. Slaughter: An awful ride from a jockey. substantial collect on the punt. Money-muncher: A horse that Smoking the pipe: A jockey riding patiently and not demanding any Fleeced: Had a shocker on the keeps attracting plenty of betting excessive effort from the horse. punt and lost everything. support, but continues to find one or two better each time it races. Squib: A horse that goes Get-out stakes: Generally the last fast early but gives in meekly race on the program or the last Moral: A dead-set certainty when put under pressure. thoroughbred race of the day— that is expected to win. the final chance for punters to Mudder: A horse that loves Unders: A horse at shorter resurrect from a losing position. racing on wet tracks. odds than it should be.

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Glossary

Everything we know about horse racing

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