Bert’s Horseracing Blog

Disappointment

Jul 11th, 2008 by Bert

A big day and I made arrangements to go to Newmarket - I decided to book a driver for the day. I had a few errands to run in the morning and I headed off a bit late. I slept most of the way there - when I have a driver I usually stay up late the night before knowing I’ll make it up.

The first item on the menu was Winker, who was having a racecourse gallop. I didn’t make it in time to see him. He was working with Striving Storm - apparently he impressed. Jamie Spencer rode, and also takes the ride in Chantilly as a supersub. He said some very positive things, although I tend to ignore such comments as jockeys are invariably positive to owners.

One possible exception here is Alan Munro, who is always cheerful but says it as he sees it. He was riding Bouguereau in the first, and I had a bet. He sat fairly comfortably in third or fourth until the three furlong pole and tried to boot him home from there, but he got run out of it late on.

It was disappointing. I’d love to do a groundhog day and have another go at the race, taking up the pace early and trying to run them ragged - I think those may prove to be the best tactics with him.

In the July Stakes both Pete and Tom Dascombe had fancied runners, and I was hoping they would come out well as I have 2yos working against both horses. As it happened they fought out the finish in a tight race, with Classic Blade of Tom’s just holding sway. A fantastic result for Tom, and his first group victory.

I was very positive. We went for some lunch at the Jockey Club rooms. I didn’t bet in the third race and lost a little on Papal Bull in the fourth. Maxwell Hawke was running in the fifth - he’d been working nicely and had worked with Sayif. He’d been plenty close enough to Sayif on the gallops and Sayif had nearly won a Group 2. I had a large bet.

It didn’t happen for him - he finished last of the five having never had a look in. He’d been colty in the parade ring and he hadn’t travelled down well. Coming back his action was terrible at first - he relaxed after a few furlong and started galloping properly, but it was a short lived effort. He was exhausted afterwards and blew for a long time.

I’m not really sure what to make of that. Obviously it’s disappointing.

I stuck around for a while and headed off after the last. Tom had a 2yo runner at Nottingham - I decided his 2yos were going so well that I’d have a real go at it and try to recoup my losses for the day. It turned out to be a 101 gubbing, nobbled close home by a rank outsider who had looked completely out of it earlier on.

At this point I was staring at my worst day’s betting ever - three large bets had gone down and half my profits from a good two month run were gone. Jeremy had tipped me a horse in the 8:30 at Nottingham. I had a go on that and it came in - I found another late winner and then called it quits. I managed to get back just over half of the days losses - still a terrible day’s betting but a recovery from the lows.

I walked the dog. All in all a bit of a depressing day, and I pondered on a few things. I’ve been betting all of my adult life, but I’m at a point now where the money doesn’t make any difference one way or another, and I keep pretty busy these days. Maybe it’s time to give up completely for a while just to see what happens - I might become more productive, or maybe I’ll go completely crazy. I may think on it a little longer.

For now all my thoughts are with Winker - a year and a day after his last run he will finally line up in a Group 1. Maybe my season is about to begin.

Posted in Berts Horses, Bouguereau, Winker Watson | 10 Comments

10 Responses to “Disappointment”

on 11 Jul 2008 at 12:45 am1The Gambler.

From a distance Bert, I have felt that for a long time.
In your circumstances, why bother with all the emotional ups and downs.
As Mister Stone said to me once “It is always good to take a break”.
Good Luck.
on 11 Jul 2008 at 8:03 am2Roger

€œThe key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.€
on 11 Jul 2008 at 9:55 am3HQO

good to see a good old fashioned Charlie Chase Bert, and on a hampered in running 6/4 chance too, classic stuff.
on 11 Jul 2008 at 11:10 am4Mark Bellew

Yes Bert it must take any excitement about winning away when it doesnt matter. I know what it would be like as it can be compared to me having just a tenner on a horse and winning a ton as opposed to haveing a monkey on a horse .

Maybe Bert you should just concentrate on finding a super horse to run in your colours to win the Derby. I suppose that would not be easy either eh !

On the betting front Bert it is the money and the pleasure of knowing you have beat the book as well sometimes. Anyway Bert if you want you can swap places with me and then your betting will become exciting again and i will be happy to step in your shoes with your dosh even if it does take the reason of betting away.

Anyway regroup and get ready for your next betting front and things will turn around.

Regs M
on 11 Jul 2008 at 11:47 am5Philip Harfleet

I guess we’ve all been through a few downbeat times when nothing seems to go right on the punting front. Nowadays I enjoy picking my own fancies and get a real “high” when I get a winner. No luck yesterday for me and I was doubly choked when my wife selected Lucarno against my selection. Lucarno skated it, brilliantly ridden. ‘Er indoors said she liked Lucarno ‘cos it reminded her of the Streatham Locarno dance hall, which we frequented back in the 1960s! So often does this “method” of picking a runner come right! Dancing Belle in the 7.55 Newbury is one for me tonight!
on 11 Jul 2008 at 12:29 pm6Mark

Not all Bad Bert your Football Team Gave Steuca Bucharest a right fright in Austria. I know … pre season friendly but they did play well and Coxy got his goal
Mark
on 11 Jul 2008 at 1:10 pm7Michael F

First of all Bert, well done for putting down in writing your thoughts after such a disappointing day, not only as an owner but as a punter as well.
As for giving up the punting game for a time, I can understand why things change when the money doesn’t matter. But I’d caution against giving up the game - a bloke I know won an absolute fortune betting and now never has a bet, choosing instead to live on the £50,000 a year interest from his gambling days. As a result he has turned full circle and is “anti gambling”. He is also the biggest bloody bore in the world!
Rather than seeing it as a financial thing, he should see it as a mental challenge and even if he was only punting in fivers and tenners could still get the satisfaction we all feel at working things out and - occasionally - getting it right.
So after a break get back to the punting and rebuild that betting bank as though you really needed it!
And for heaven’s sake don’t give up telling us how the horses are doing. I’m sure I’m not alone in telling others: “My mate Andrew Black, the bloke behind Betfair and Bert to his friends, gave me a tip this morning….!”
on 11 Jul 2008 at 1:46 pm8The Gambler.

Surprised you have any friends left then Michael. :-).
on 11 Jul 2008 at 2:33 pm9Jon

Get in there again Tom…. scoring two days running with Firth of fith……….. 2yo are flying you must be very excited about Marine Boy bert
on 13 Jul 2008 at 10:38 am10ferg

Michael F - “I€™m sure I€™m not alone in telling others: €œMy mate Andrew Black, the bloke behind Betfair and Bert to his friends, gave me a tip this morning€¦.!€

TOSSER!!!!!!

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Betfair’s Andrew Black on Horse Racing, Betting, Betfair and Random Musings

Disappointment

10 Responses to “Disappointment”

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