October
OctoberCold comfort
Speed Gifted’s scratching from the Caulfield Cup led to the inevitable line that punters who backed him had "done their money cold" (Herald Sun 13/10). The clear implication is that punters have been dudded.
But in what way could we make sense of this implication? That horses shouldn’t be entered for a race if there’s a reasonable chance they might not run? That they should be forced to run unless unfit?
Absurd, for keeping one’s options open is an integral part of planning a horse’s campaign (plus connections pay for this possibility as well).
Given that everyone knows the conditions of such betting — all in — one takes the risk of such occurrences. Shrewd operators build this risk into the price they are prepared to take — it’s simply part of the gamble.
The only other thing one might think is that connections should somehow be forced to be more transparent in their thinking and planning regarding a big race, but a moment’s reflection upon this idea reveals it to have the same level of absurdity as the previous one.
It would be simply unworkable in practice; scenarios such as having Lee Freedman hooked up to a lie detector come to mind. "Tell us precisely what probability you put on running Speed Gifted in the Caulfield Cup?"
A verified answer of 50 percent from Lee would result in punters knowing that they had to double the price they were prepared to take.
Enough said? It reminds one of the absurd charade carried out every time Steve Moran interviews Mark Kavanagh regarding his opinion of his horses’ chances — sparring, dissembling, mainly a waste of time, and as entertainment rather lame.
Kavanagh is completely within his rights in keeping his cards close to his chest, and the incessant praise handed out to trainers such as Mick Price because of his "honesty" in "telling it like it is" is a form of moralising that by implication casts judgment upon other trainers, who — to repeat the point — are completely within their tactical rights if they choose to give little away.
Bottom line, buyer beware. Connections’ decisions regarding which races to run in is part of the risk of betting in early markets, so take responsibility for this.
Bottom line for journalists who continually run the "doing their money cold" line? Take some responsibility, and stop mis-educating punters by pandering to their conspiratorial natures.
North Fitzroy (Vic)