October
DecemberAlas, poor punter
Events in quaddie races over the weekend on November 24-25 illustrate the need for an end to the TABs’ substitute system.
A change of track conditions prompted some late scratchings in the Saturday’s Ballarat Cup and the sub was Lucky For All, a horse that had been declared lay of the day by some tipsters and was soundly beaten.
On the Sunday at Kilmore Kissee Mee played up at the barriers in the last race and was a scratching, the sub being Bold Missile.
The Victorian quaddie pool was in excess of $400,000 so one could assume quite a few punters were affected and I doubt too many were pleased at their investment being transferred to this horse. The fluctuations were $4.40 to $6.00 but at the time of jump bet365 was offering $7.50. The horse was unplaced.
Then there was Bordertown last Sunday. I realise Bordertown is not a major meeting and that the Victorian quaddie pool was only $22,000 but it was another example of how the poor old punter is never a consideration.
In the main race of the day the favourite was scratched at the barrier but the next two horses in betting were very close. The commentator in his wisdom kept calling Costa Lante as the favourite and no doubt the punters who were placed on the sub were cheering him home when he won.
Unfortunately the TAB’s archaic rules declared Duquessa the sub. Officially they were equal favourites. Pity about the poor punter.
Yamba (NSW)