October
MarchNever the twain?
It was with only mild passing interest I read Richard Callander’s story (22/2) regarding the dangre of The Championships overshadowing the Golden Slipper, and thus affecting betting turnover on the Golden Slipper. Pardon me?
As a regular small but successful punter, the only time I favour one race over another is if I believe race A provides a better opportunity than race B towards making a profit, and I couldn’t care less if it’s the Golden Slipper, The Championships or your average Saturday handicap.
I believe this description fits most punters.
In fact on most occasions I have found the Golden Slipper to provide bad value across the board. Either the standout choice is far too short, and the rest of the field so evenly matched as to be impossible to separate, or there are many top chances at ridiculous prices when one takes into consideration the strength of the opposition and the higher-than-usual prospect of very bad luck in running. The race can become a lottery.
For these reasons there have been many Golden Slippers over the years in which I have not had a bet.
But then Callander somehow relates betting turnover to his favourite subject of western suburbs (of Sydney) versus east. Again, pardon me?
All over the world, it is statistically proved that people of lower socio-economic groups have a much higher tendency to gamble, and gamble relatively more heavily than those in more affluent areas.
No matter if it is pokies, casino, the TAB or the track, residents of the less affluent areas outbet their more cautious counterparts in richer suburbs. That probably helps to contribute to their less affluent state.
Does Richard Callander really believe that his pals in the western suburbs are going to curb their addiction to a punt because one race is perceived to carry more prestige than another? I think not.
Brighton (Qld)