Where are the old-style bookies who did their own form and would accordingly "let punters on" or would lay certain horses because, in their opinion, certain runners were a good risk?
They were form students but where is this breed now?
Invariably, on-course bookies will follow the opening tote price and they wonder why punters are deserting the tracks in droves!
Guess what....? If a punter considers that he can secure good value at the track then he/she will attend the races and hopefully pay for their day out. It amazes me that on-course bookies cannot grasp this simple truism.
The question then is: do on-course bookies deserve our sympathy for their ultimate decrease or even demise?
Or, more specifically, does their future lay in their own hands?
I am of the opinion that they have no-one else to blame but themselves, e.g. each way bookies rarely bet 1/4 odds for the place but rather, bet tote odds....we all know why!
Isn't the solution clear to see for these participants in the racing industry....it is to the rest of us.
So, please, no whinging about turnover tax and the like....if they wanted to give it a go, they may very well succeed in their business venture by offering attractive odds to on-course patrons.
Their future is in their own hands!
Any comments for or against?

Cheers.