LGHR received this contribution from a respected racing administrator of yesteryear:
‘WHY have Governments and many racing authorities allowed a virtual takeover of the industry by corporate bookies?
The answer of course is money but as you so rightly pointed out the big loser is the TAB which basically funds the majority of prizemoney.
The rights and wrongs of what has happened with many major clubs and racing authorities barring their backsides to sponsorships from the corporates could be argued forever.
The point I want to make refers to the difference to how some approach this takeover from the corporates. You highlighted how SKY continues to operate in partnership with the TAB while RSN and TVN have sold out to any corporate bookies who comes along.
The TAB’s thoroughbred racing markets in Sydney are compiled and priced by their in-house Fixed Odds Trading Team and Chief Odds Framer. Those who work on SKY Form Shows and race days are far more ‘open’ in their opinions whereas the corporates have identities like former top jockey Simon Marshall, who prefers to turn his appearances into a comedy, a la Get On.
Punters want to know if the TAB has stood to win or lose over a million on a single horse, which favourites they want to lay etc. They get that from the TAB but not the corporates.
Just look at last Saturday when there were umpteen upsets up and down the at coast. Marshall and his ‘mates’ on Get On had a disastrous day, which is more par for the course. The ‘bald eagle’ makes a joke of it. The punters go home broke. The team from Get On head overseas for a ‘birthday’ bash in Bali. It doesn’t sit well with the run of the mill punters.
They prefer the traditional form panel preview show on SKY hosted by Greg Radley. Not a bunch of comedians trying to replicate The Footy Show on Racing.com or whatever it’s called now. It’s time they fired some of those ‘so-called’ experts out of a canon and brought in tipsters who can find winners on a regular basis like Mark Hunter.
