October
MarchBooby prize
Sad stories abound in punting — the grandiose $8 treble that "almost" won $30,000 and so on.
One way to boost on-course attendances would be: $1 entry per sad story into a barrel, with the "winner" getting a $1000 betting voucher.
Weekly there’d be at least 100,000 entries at each racetrack, running continuously at least until the day when bookmakers evolve into apes. Just $1 per entry means spectacular profits.
Imagine this idea in Sydney, coupled with the unique phenomenon where zero prizemoney attracts record runners.
Sydney owners are obviously the wealthiest in the world: $800,000 prizemoney on a raceday attracts 70 runners, but no prizemoney at a trials morning gets 110 (producing endless barrier-trial "champions").
Incidentally, if any Sydney owners are reading this, I’ve got a bridge for sale too: extensively "barrier-trialled", a promising Group 1 performer, a real steal — ask any trainer.
Carina (Qld)