There has been a lot of talk about the high percentages the bookies in these states bet to. I was at canterbury today and as a matter of interest watched the market our local interstate bookies were giving.
Remember these are rails bookies who as far as I know are all Multi Millionaires{ no wonder). In EVERY race I checked,in the first five in the market they were under fluctuations with 2 or 3 nags and no better prices on the long shots. Here is one race I wrote down and believe me all the others were the same. The percentages on the monitor at the jump were 145% so what were the fleas at canterbury betting to.

ADELAIDE BOOKS 2.25-6-5-8.5-7-5.5
SYDNEY FLEAS 2.0-5.5-5-8.5-7-4.6
So if adelaide was 145% what the hell were the sydney millionaires betting to. Yes these are sour grapes because the least I expect to get is the odds in the home state. Oh and by the way it wasn"t because they had taken big bets on certain nags they were ALWAYS under from the start of betting.

And their (bookies) representative Mr.Tim Ryan was bleating about the evils of Betting Exchanges on last Sunday mornings Racing Retro.

The prices bet by Brisbane and Adelaide bookies are the laughing stock of Australia.It makes you wonder why punters would be so stupid to bet with them.
Tune into Radio TAB on the Qld TAB site at about 8.40 am and listen to Lindsay Gallagher BRIS and Curly Seale ADEL and listen to the big bets they bet.$50,000 to this $60,000 to that, but the punters on course are flat out getting a $5000 bet on at the quoted price.Makes you wonder.
The sooner it is all TAB the better off punters will be. The weak bookies are betting back and ruining the prices for the average TAB punter.
Why people continue to support bookies is another of racings mysteries.

now theres a red rag to a "Bull"

Late mail, do you honestly think that the TAB(s) will keep their pecentages to 115 odd percent once, or if, the bookies have all disappeared?????
Have a look at the take in NZ and Singapore, I think it is something in the order of 25-30% for the win bet. Try holding your own giving away that sort of start with no betting alternative.
You should be very very careful what you wish for just in case you get it.

Well said brissy,

Although we have problems in our racing scene, we punters still have the best of both worlds. That is, the serious punter being to compare the odds on offer between bookies and tote and betting only when he/she believes the odds are in his/her favour.
Yes, the scenario you envisaged is not very attractive at all is it(ie. tote domination of betting)?
All over the world where this is the case, racing appears to be in the doldrums.

Cheers

Went to Rosehill last Saturday and noted no difference with the fleas except one, namely Bill Waterhouse.He had his market up before the opening market and in most races in the 8.0 to 12.0 range He was giving A better price than the FLEAS.Not one Of these horses won.Doomben R5 He had Winsome Dancer at 7.5 I smelt a rat and got 9.0 off a FLEA ta very much.Now Im not saying Bill is a GURU but it was good to see A Bookie setting His own BOOK and not being a sheep like the rest of the fleas. The Sydney Bookies are totally different and one can really shop for prices.

Dont know if anyone took notice of what I said about Bill Waterhouse But I seriously suggest that any Sydney punters that actually go to the track watch what I have said about his prices. Today Rosehill 3 bets stood out where he was shorter than other books. Result $7 plce---$3 plce and the cream Melb R4 CAHUITA $26 ALL BOOKS WATERHOUSE $19,SO I dont really think he wants to take a bet on it. I had $50E/W tote box tri with high flyers jackpot selections. Box first 4 with jackpot selections. Result 47-90 win 10.30 plce Tri $1287 F4 $7544 THATS WHAT I CALL A RESULT. No pie shop tonight.

Cheers

could'nt lend us a couple of bucks eh kenchar ??

Forgot to mention Abdullah all books 3.0 Waterhouse 3.3. Dont this seem like he WANTS you to back this horse with him???????

Cheers