Professional Gambler: Betting On Course

Professional Gambler: Betting On Course
Back in the day, horse was literally King. 

Hundreds of thousands heading to the Epsom Derby or Grand National to witness a sporting spectacular. Those days punters loved their racing. They weren't afraid to have a bet and strangely or not you didn't hear one word about gambling addicts. No doubt they existed but those foe probably had slightly stiffer spines. 

Yes, it sounds like I have it in for people who bet and lose. I have compassion to a point. Addiction can't be any fun. However, I very much doubt you would hear one gambler complain if they were making good money. We can't have it every way. Perhaps, I'm missing the point. I do find the bookmaker chains irritating. Restricted accounts. They don't even close your accounts anymore because they know being allowed to bet 50p each-way won't see many professional gamblers returning. Interesting, I can bet as much money as I want on the slots. No wonder professional gambler are returning to the track to place their bets. 

Something tells me whatever the gambling commission or government do - sticking their nose into other people's business - there will always be a bookmaker on course who is willing to take my bet. Thank the Lord. I never thought I'd see the day I was patting the enemy on the back as though I give a *uck.  

I often visit Great Yarmouth racecourse and there are plenty of bookies who will take a bet. 

You may be asking why go to the course?

The betting exchanges (until the late markets) are verging on pointless. With so many exchanges all looking for their piece of the pie the markets have been diluted to the point of absurdity. The original Betfair markets were strong because there wasn't all and sundry plying their trade. It's a shame all can't be joined together because it would be a revelation.

So punter are heading back to the course. 

I don't blame them. Perhaps it will be one way the racecourses return to some aspect of popularity. However, the likes of Arc need to put the price of day's racing back to a figure which makes sense. 

I've had a few professional gamblers ask if I could place bets for them when I'm at the course. It is all turning into that direction. Is it too much to ask for someone to take a bet? Multi-million-pound companies scared to take £50 on a horse. Turf accountants turned to accountants who use every aspect of gambling reformation to do their dirty work. 

What a world we live in. 

Everyone is terrified of everyone. 

In truth, there is nothing to be frightened of - it's your own shadow. 

Get to the course and place that bet. You have a decent chance compared with the online brigade. 

What a insult to bookmaking. 

Author: JC

Professional Gambler: Betting for a Living

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The concept of becoming a professional gambler sounds alluring. The idea of making a living from betting, without the confines of a traditional job, is a dream for many. However, behind the glitz and glamour, it’s a high-stakes world filled with hard work, research, discipline, and often, a rollercoaster of emotions. For those willing to embrace the risks and intricacies, betting for a living is possible, but it's not for the faint of heart. 

The Reality of Betting for a Living:

The life of a professional gambler is not just about throwing money on a bet and waiting for fortune to smile. Success in gambling, particularly in sports betting, poker, or horse racing, comes down to knowledge, mathematics, and strategy. Professional gamblers approach betting like a business, carefully analyzing probabilities, statistics, and odds to make informed decisions.

Luck plays a role, but over the long run, skill outweighs chance. The difference between an amateur and a pro is that pros consistently make bets with positive expected value (EV). These are bets where the odds of winning are higher than what the market or bookmaker suggests.

Managing the Bankroll:

One of the most important aspects of betting for a living is managing the bankroll. Professional gamblers have strict financial discipline. Every bet is meticulously calculated, and they only wager a small percentage of their bankroll on any given bet—often between 1% to 5%. This method allows them to survive losing streaks, which are inevitable, and maintain a steady growth of their funds over time. Without this discipline, even the best gamblers would risk going broke.

Specialization is Key:

Professional gamblers rarely bet on everything. Instead, they find a niche. Some may focus on horse racing, while others might master poker, sports betting, or even specialized markets like tennis or golf. Specialization allows them to know every detail about their niche, giving them an edge over casual bettors. For instance, a pro horse racing bettor would know the trainers, the horses' forms, weather conditions, and even how different racetracks affect performance. This information, combined with the right betting strategy, enables them to spot value bets the general public might miss.

Emotion Control:

An often overlooked but crucial skill for professional gamblers is emotional control. Betting for a living requires the ability to detach from emotions—whether after a big win or a crushing loss. Chasing losses or becoming overconfident after a streak of wins is one of the fastest ways to lose everything. Pros stick to their strategies and treat gambling like a marathon, not a sprint. Their focus is on long-term profitability, not short-term thrills. 

The Downsides of the Profession:

While betting for a living can offer freedom and the potential for significant earnings, it’s not all glamorous. The financial uncertainty, the stress of relying on winnings to pay bills, and the constant mental pressure can take a toll. Many professional gamblers spend long hours researching, watching games, and studying odds. It's a far cry from the casual betting most people imagine.

Moreover, there’s a social element to consider. Gambling professionally is a solitary pursuit. The highs and lows are often faced alone, and the unpredictability of income can make it hard to plan for the future.

Conclusion:


Betting for a living is not just about picking winners; it’s about hard work, strategy, discipline, and patience. Professional gamblers treat betting like a business, constantly learning and refining their craft. While it offers freedom and excitement, it also requires a level of skill and emotional control that goes far beyond casual betting. For those with the right mindset and abilities, it can be a rewarding profession—but it’s certainly not easy.

Professional Gambler: Betting Odds On

'Money without work!' 

That's what one bookmaker said as Great Yarmouth racecourse. Plenty of people said: 'Buying money!' It has to be betting odds on. My uncle was the classic favourites man but I'm sure even he drew the line at levels you devils. But how should we consider betting odds on or is it a great idea or the worst idea a gambler could ever take?

As with all aspects of gambling, there isn't a simple answer or one size fits all.

I'm sure you know a few gamblers who love to bet odds against. For most mere mortals there is little point betting £50 to win £20. So should we leave it to the big gamblers. Harry Findlay made a gambling career out of betting odds on. He was convinced the 1/4f should have been 1/10f. If so, then he had the value to make a profit. Considering at times he had millions of pounds in his Betfair accounts, he may have been onto something. I always branded him a big mouth but I did warm to him after reading his publication: Gambling for Life, written by Neil Harman. Findlay has done it all: won and lost. So it is interesting to consider the words of the odds on backer. Clearly, he didn't dedicate himself to this alone and would bet on two flies crawling up a wall if he noticed one had a leg missing. The edge was eroded to the point the odds on shots didn't feature any value at all. 

As Dave Nevison said: 'No easy money!'

Clearly each odds on favourite should be assessed on its own merits. You can make money and you lose money. 

I knew a couple of school friends who thought being a professional gambler was simply betting odds meant you just collected your winnings. That easy £500 to win £200. As you can imagine, it didn't last very long and they soon lost their cash. Betting odds on or against is related to skill and finding value. If you don't you will lose. 

Personally, I don't bet odds on. In the past I have done (only to small money) and I soon gave it up as a bad job. Within my niche of two-year-old horse racing, I feel confident I could pick between the lines but when you consider you need a 50% strike rate to be level betting a even money let alone odds on you have to question where is the profit coming from and how much cash will you be betting. 

For me, it's about making a decision. Do you wish to bet odds on or not. For me it's a no bet. I feel I can find better value at bigger odds and although I respect an odds on opponent I don't fear them. Let them prove the point and win, if good enough. Often they aren't and the odds of those in opposition are turned into value. 

Fearing an odds on horse can be a mistake especially if it means you don't bet against them. Often you hear punters say those exact words and they feel annoyed when the odds on fails and the selection wins at big odds. If you have no interest in betting odds on do not let it put you off betting on a fancy. 

I've seen it happen so many times and to myself.

Odds on shot can be the best and worst bets. 

Just like any. 

But the decision is yours.

Professional Gambler: Understanding Horse Trainers

Professional Gambler: Understanding Horse Trainers
Horse Trainers really do come in every shape and size. From the one-man band who breeds, trains and rides their horse to the giant stables who literally train hundreds of horses. My niche is two-year-old horse racing. It's a subject I have followed for 30+ years. In fact, it is my chosen subject if I was ever to go on Mastermind! 

I'd be good on my chosen subject and fail miserably on the general knowledge. 

I guess we all have our favourite horse trainers. To be fair I have favourites who are both big and small stables. Part of your gambling success is to understanding horse trainers. This is most likely data driven. Using the Racing Post you are able to look at any horse trainer data for many aspect such a jockey, course, distance and many others. It is enough to help you find a few gems of knowledge. In this modern era there is very little information which isn't available. It's a far cry from the old days of horse racing when you couldn't even watch live horse racing and you had to listen to a Tannoy (radio system). If you had the information at hand these days and went back in time you'd be viewed as the font of all wisdom. Akin to an alien life-form who simply knows 'everything'. 

What I'm saying is use the information at hand. Why? Because most punters are so lazy they just don't bother. They just can't be asked to dig a little deeper. I'm not saying every punter is the same as some go the extra mile or a real anorak. Who do you think is going to be the most successful?

Two-year-old horse trainers really do go from those who are consistent and dependable to those who simply cannot train a winner and unlikely to ever do so. I do say: 'If anyone trains long enough they will get a good horse!' That has proven to be the case for those who have been banging their head against a wall for decades. 

A lot of smaller horse trainers can win races. Some can and some can't. It shouldn't take too much time to appreciate the wheat from the chaff. 

If you find a small trainer who gets a decent horse (usually from a noted owner) they can make very good bets. Often slipping under the radar at big odds. While a few horse trainers simply don't appeal at all. 

To be fair, some of the larger horse trainers don't give me confidence. I don't really like to point them out but they shouldn't be afraid of their results or strike rate. I do have something of a hatred for Tim Easterby's two-year-olds on debut and there after. Although 50% of all his debut winners won in the month of April. I had someone ask: 'Should I bet on all his debutantes in April?' No. 

I like new horse trainers as they can often go very well. Keep an eye on their results. If they show promise take a closer look. You will often find they have a decent owner who has money to spend. Some owners are very selective giving the impression they don't keep horses in training unless they think they are up to winning a race. For example, Warren Greatex has done well this two-year-old season with owners Jim & Claire Limited. As the trainer said: 'Most of their horses improve a lot for the debut run.' It isn't a surprise to consider betting on them second start. 

There are literally 200+ two-year-old horse trainers. 

A number of power houses. You know who I am talking about. But this doesn't mean you should rest on their laurels (or yours). Because over time the standard of horse trainers can go in two directions: up or down (most, to be fair, will remain the same and predictable which is good news for you). It is crucial you know if a horse trainer is on the decline. For example, John Gosden's juveniles have been slightly lesser standard over the last two years. It may be a blip but when bookmakers are pricing them as stronger contenders than they may be you need to know (whether backer or layer). Similarly, James Tate has much fewer juveniles in his stable than previous years. It is worth knowing how these things work because they have implications. 

The best way to understand a horse trainer is to follow them closely. Know how they think. Most trainers are creatures of habit. They train a certain horse, a certain way. They are very predictable and the data proves this point. 

Sure, as I said, some get better and some get worse. This is progressive. But you should know what is happening. 

Perhaps you don't have enough time to follow every two-year-old horse trainer. It is a lot of work to know all their runners. Personally, I update each juveniles for every two-year-old trainer so I can see how they fare each and every year. In fact, I use this data to dig deeper and learn things that most punters have no understanding. 

You don't want to know the same stuff as 99% of the population? Dig a little deeper and you will know more than the 99% and be the man who sits on the top of the hill in the 1% club. 

It is quite amazing how little most people know about a horse trainer. For example, some have a favourite track. They simple don't send a two-year-old horse to the track without fancying it to go well. The other side of the coin, some have sent 100+ horses to a given course and never had a winner. 

Anyway, you can see from this basic article that you need to understand horse trainers. Naturally, you want to know more and follow your passion. To be a successful gambler you don't need to be the best punter on Earth. The point is simple, you just need to be a little better than most. 

Good luck. 

What Happened to Nick Mordin?

I received an email a long time ago asking this very question. 

Sadly, my reply was: ''I have no idea.''

The reason why I was contacted is because my twin brother, Tony, run a study regarding the significance of pattern-race entries within two-year-old horse racing. 

In fact, the data was pieced together into a story by Mordin for his popular Systems, detailed in the Weekender publication. 

The article was titled: In a Class of their Own: How to Spot & Back Potential Top-Notch Two-year-olds. I can't remember the date of the publication, but it must have been a long time ago. [I found a link to the article on High Class Equine dated 14th, May 1994].  

This research was groundbreaking and it was the first study of its kind in the world. 


In fact, I have had many people remark about its publication years later and still holds a lot of interest and clout to this day. 

My brother and I still use this information and we detail some aspects for free via our Group Horse Subscription + Easy Professional Gambler Mailing Series. (100% Free).

Nick Mordin is a man who was much respected in the racing world finding angles and writing a number of publications to help readers get ahead of the game. 

Betting for a Living (1992)

The Winning Look (1994)

Mordin on Time (1996) 

Winning Without Thinking (2002)

All were very well received and I have a couple in my personal collection. 

I notice a few threads on Betfair Community musing about his work. 

I do believe Mordin went to live in the United States although I couldn't confirm this as fact or fiction.  

Many punters will remember he was criticised by Harry Findlay about the chances of Denman winning the Gold Cup. At least, I think that's what it was about as the old grey matter isn't quite what it used to be. 

Anyway, wherever you are, Nick, I hope life is treating you well and my brother often mentions the phone conversation he had with you back in the day. 

All good stuff.

For more sports questions answered visit our latest website. 

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Tony Bloom: The Professional Gambler Who Turned Odds Into Opportunities

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Tony Bloom: The Professional Gambler Who Turned Odds Into Opportunities
Tony Bloom, often referred to as "The Lizard" due to his cool demeanor and ability to adapt to any situation, is one of the most successful professional gamblers in history. However, Bloom's achievements extend far beyond the poker tables and betting slips. Born in Brighton, England, in 1970, Bloom has made his mark not only as a gambler but also as a shrewd businessman and philanthropist.

Bloom's journey into the world of gambling began at a young age. Fascinated by numbers and probabilities, he started placing small bets on football matches and horse races. Unlike many, he quickly realized that gambling was not just about luck but about strategy, analysis, and understanding risk. This realization set him on a path to becoming a professional gambler, a career that would eventually make him a multimillionaire.

One of Bloom's most notable achievements in the gambling world is his success in sports betting, particularly football. He developed sophisticated betting models that allowed him to identify value in betting markets. His analytical approach, combined with a deep understanding of the sports he bet on, enabled him to consistently outsmart bookmakers. Bloom's success in sports betting was so significant that he became one of the biggest players in the industry, with bookmakers reportedly fearing his bets.

Beyond sports betting, Bloom also made a name for himself in the world of poker. He competed in high-stakes tournaments around the world, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he demonstrated his exceptional skills and strategic thinking. His poker earnings, while impressive, were just a fraction of his overall gambling success.

Bloom's gambling prowess translated into success in other areas of life as well. He became the owner and chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, his hometown team. Under his leadership, the club rose from the lower leagues of English football to the Premier League, a testament to Bloom's ability to apply his strategic thinking to business and sports management.

However, Bloom's success has not been without controversy. The secretive nature of his betting activities and his reluctance to speak publicly about his methods have led to speculation and intrigue. Despite this, Bloom remains a respected figure in both the gambling and business worlds, known for his intelligence, humility, and philanthropy.

Top 5 Reasons for Tony Bloom's Success:

1) Analytical Approach: Tony Bloom's success is largely due to his ability to analyze data and identify patterns. Whether in sports betting or poker, he relies on mathematical models and statistical analysis to make informed decisions, giving him an edge over competitors.

2) Risk Management: Unlike many gamblers who are driven by emotion, Bloom approaches gambling as a business. He carefully manages risk, ensuring that he never bets more than he can afford to lose. This disciplined approach has allowed him to stay profitable over the long term.

3) Deep Knowledge of Sports: Bloom's deep understanding of the sports he bets on, particularly football, has been a key factor in his success. His ability to assess teams, players, and matches with an expert eye has enabled him to consistently find value in betting markets.

4) Adaptability: Known as "The Lizard," Bloom's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and environments has been crucial to his success. Whether adjusting his betting strategies or making decisions in high-pressure poker games, Bloom remains calm and flexible, allowing him to stay ahead of the competition.

5) Business Acumen: Beyond gambling, Bloom's success can be attributed to his sharp business sense. His leadership of Brighton & Hove Albion FC and his investments in various ventures demonstrate his ability to apply his strategic thinking to business, ensuring long-term success and stability.


Tony Bloom's story is one of intelligence, discipline, and a deep understanding of risk and reward. His success as a professional gambler and businessman is a testament to the power of strategy and analytical thinking in any field.

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Professional Gambler: Keep It Simple Stupid

Professional Gambler: Keep It Simple Stupid
As the acronym goes: Keep It Simple, Stupid. 

Who doesn't love a KISS?

In truth, there is nothing simple about becoming or being a professional gambler. However, simplicity is a key to success. That's the nature of the beast. Making the complicated simple. It's like fitting a gallon into a pint jug. Perhaps that's impossible. So perhaps we should view it as compressed air. You need to be handle the pressure to make it happen. And for the most part that is how gambling can feel especially in trying times. 

Simplicity is key because you need to reduce your knowledge into a working process which is not only manageable but professional, efficient and effective. I have said it a million times that if you don't follow an exacting process or rules and guidelines you will be lost. You may think different but it simply won't happen. You will be at the mercy of your emotions, making rash decisions as the time to the next race clicks down and you'll have so many knee-jerk reactions you will struggle to walk out of your local bookmakers. 

Your pockets will be empty of money. 

If you lose your way when gambling and become unsettled, rattled by losses or over confident because you had a string of wins you will be at the mercy of the unknown variables which will catch you out. 

The problem with simplicity is that it comes from a place of great complexity. A wealth of information that you have to use in a replicable manner. Most punters simply never get to the point they have learned enough knowledge to join the dots. If you cannot see the full picture you simply cannot learn those hidden points which make the difference between being a would-be pro gambler to those who have walked that path. 

I cannot put into words the information you need to beat the layers. 

Everyone is different. Everything is different. There may be professionals out there who have found the most simplistic approach to making their betting pay. They will never tell you what it is. They won't even tell you what they do for a living. They will be like a stealth plane. The time you see the bombs dropping you will be gone. 

Much of my information is data driven. You need to understand how data works and what it can tell you. Without question it lets you see the start and end of many opportunities. Many bets proven to be brilliant or ridiculous. There are people out there who would look at your bets and laugh. But you also have the opportunity to terrify any layer too. But, once again, that isn't founded on luck. Before money comes knowledge. And that knowledge needs to fit into a working process that sees you make a profit. 

Gambling like any professional when you are talking about the few isn't easy. 

Somehow you have to set yourself apart from the competition. Like the grand master chess player. We are all playing the same game but they sit across the table with a knowing smile. They do not consider you know more. They know by the law of averages that the likelihood of you being the one in ten thousand to put up any residence is statistically remote. 

However, if you have class, a wealth of information, reduced to a process that works they will soon fear you. They will look you in the eye and smile because they respect a kindred spirit. 

Good luck. 

Author: JC & Photo 2024 

What Is The Quickest Way To Become A Professional Gambler?

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There are a lot of punters out there who would love to become a professional gambler. 

But is it a realistic ambition? 

Each and every professional gambler has their own story to tell. To be fair, most would make a good book because a compelling read often relies on conflict. That may be personal conflict or a battle in the mind. My journey hasn't been easy. Not so much in the loss of money but the endless years of hard work to achieve a standard to beat the layers. I haven't had a losing year gambling for decades but that doesn't mean to say I've made a fortune and living the high life. To do that, you need to be very successful and have a plan of attack to get the money on to outweigh the cost of living - going far beyond your average gambler.

As Dave Nevison said: 'Bet like a man.'

You can't see the competition but it is there. Like a twenty foot wall. You're that little bloke the other side without a ladder. I'm not being condescending. We have all been that bloke at one time or another. 

But what is the quickest way to become a professional gambler? 

The truth is, there isn't a quick way to becoming a successful gambler. Well, at least, if there is, I haven't hear of it. The only exception may be paying for a mentor or sticking your hand deep into your pocket for inside information. I'm not talking about these £30 - £100 a month deals. If you can make that pay then good for you but all information out in the public domain will be diluted to the point nothing. Market forces see to that. I know of people who pay £7,000 a year for privileged inside information. Even at that rate, there are no guarantees you will make a profit. Even at the cliff face there are no certainties. Without value you are at the mercy of the layers. 

Clearly, any hope of becoming a successful gambler is via gambling on skill-based sports. Fixed odds such as slots, casino games, with the exception of blackjack and card counting, will see you lose. You see all these systems on YouTube for roulette but they simply defer the loser which will clean you out. 

Before money comes knowledge. If you don't have a high level of knowledge you are guaranteed to lose when gambling. Nothing else matters. You don't have to know everything but you definitely need to know more than most. You cannot follow the crowd. How can everyone be right? They can't. 

I have been refining my skills within horse racing for decades and there simply isn't an easy answer to beating the odds. 

This is likely to be a sole endeavour. You have created your skills. If you and your best mate know something that can make cash can they be trusted? If not, they will bleed you dry. Your hard-earned knowledge made worthless as it is learned by others. The market forces will see you disappear to nothing. 

No system will hold strong. Similarly, it will be diluted to nothing. 

The last thing you need in gambling is a low barrier to entry. If it is something anyone can learn you are fooling yourself. Your knowledge needs a high barrier to entry. It need to be so complex and complicated that no one beyond yourself could even contemplate how it works. That's the answer. 

You need to put in the work and find your road to success. 

The difficulty with that is how on Earth do you learn something which isn't known to the general public? Are they willing to give you a little bit of insight to help you on your way. What is in it for them? All you will do to them is bring complications, slow them down and may even destroy their business. 

Mentorship is one of the few answers. We work with one person helping them learn and achieve their goal of being a professional gambler. Have they improved and making their betting pay? Yes. Are they learning things that very few people know or understand?. Yes. Will he become a fully fledged professional gambler? Only time will tell. 

I would advise any would-be professional gambler to follow this road because it is their passion rather than a route to riches. It isn't a get quick rich scheme. In fact, it is a very complicated, tiring and often frustrating journey. You need a thick skin and a strong mind because it is a stressful endeavour. 

The good times are great the bad times very demanding. 

Becoming a professional gambler is a possibility but also very unlikely. 

If you have the skills to succeed you will get there.

Good luck. 

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What Is The Best Approach to Becoming a Professional Gambler?

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What Is The Best Approach to Becoming a Professional Gambler?
When you consider professional gambling, what comes to mind? There are endless sports you could follow. Perhaps you want a little bit of horse racing, football, and the odd night at your local casino to play roulette. You may be new to gambling or a veteran who has been crafting their skills for a lifetime. In truth, the path of a professional gambler could come about in many ways. It may be your passion or something you just fell into such as a misspent youth. Personally, I can only tell you my story. 

For me, two-year-old horse racing has been my niche for about the last 30-years. I'm not sure if I should be pleased or disappointed but I am still learning. You'd think after three decades I'd be past all that hey. But to me, I have to try and incorporate learning into my subject to gamble well. That doesn't mean I am perfect. In fact, I often frustrate myself by making the same old mistakes. Most are to do with the process rather than the selections themselves. You wouldn't believe that getting the process wrong can be the difference between winning and losing. The process is just a working method, a set of rules and guidelines to help you follow a set path. You may wonder why you need these things. Why can't you just go 'freestyle'  and just 'Go with the flow'. 

If I said the best approach to gambling is akin to following the scientific method you may think I've lost the plot. It sounds far too standardised hey. Surely, you don't need to go to that extreme? 

It seems alien to most punters because even though they think they know something (and many do) the majority don't really know much at all. I'm not saying that to be a thorn in your side or to dampen your hopes of being a professional gambler. Most people do not have an understanding to gather their thoughts, knowledge and even categorise how they work. You may say: 'What does it matter?'  However, you think of the largest most successful companies in the world. They don't, generally, fly by the seat of their pants. They have a very simplistic model which they know works. They don't just change something for no good reason. They want to build on their past glories and understanding. It has taken a lot of time and money - investment. 

Being a successful professional gambler is the same. You don't want to chop and change your approach. It should be formed by success. 

As I often say: 'Knowledge comes before money.' 

Too many punters think making lots of money gambling is about having a lot of money to start with. In some respects you do need a decent betting bank. But money will never substitute knowledge. If you are lacking on that front you will get through unlimited money and you are unlikely to ever learn enough to change that tide. 

Your method and process to professional gambling should be refined. It is by all accounts about replication.You follow the same way of working to maximise your chance of winning. This is no easy feat. In fact, most gamblers will never come close to this level of understanding. Why? Because it takes unending work to gather your thoughts. To refine your skills. To appreciate why these skills are important and continue to nurture them throughout your gambling career. 

It is like climbing a mountain. You need to know 80% to appreciate how things work. And gaining that 80% is like a blind man making clay pot on a wheel. You need to be in tune with your subject matter. 

To be fair, it is difficult to even put into words. 

Now, I'm not saying that is the journey for every successful gambler. They may pay someone for their knowledge. They may have used data to find their edge. It could be anything and everything. But they know something more than most. They can beat the competition. That is a frightening task. You cannot see it. But if you could, you would realise you are David against the Goliath. You are a lone soul fighting the collective forces of layers who think they know more. 

That doesn't mean to say you can't or don't know more. 

You may well do. 

But gambling, in my opinion, is a lot more about testing hypothesis and replication than you may imagine. It is both quantitative and qualitative. But the best approaches are data driven. They have a process and use a method to keep them on the straight and narrow. 

I works that way for a reason. 

It is a way to compress a lot of knowledge into a small space. You have to simplify the endeavour as best you can. 

When you get to a certain part of your journey you will begin to understand these words. 

Good luck. 

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Betting Like Your Dad

I guess a vast number of gamblers followed in the footsteps of their father, granddad or significant male figure.

Perhaps gambling addicts will always regret that interaction. The consequence of nature and nurture. I can't blame them if they have been scared by the affects of addiction. 

My Dad was the influence of my gambling. I doubt he ever questioned the effect it may have on me as a child or grown up. This was back in the 1970s where very few parents considered the implications of their many vices. My parents smoked, drank (not too excess) and gambled. In fact, when we were about 9 years old we'd go to the local social club on a weekend (Buffalo Club) with our parents. It was a time when smoking was the norm and ventilation wasn't much cared about. By the time it was 10pm the room was filled with smog. You couldn't see the far wall for the smoke of cigarettes and cigars. I'm convinced the more dense the fog the better time they had. Perhaps the lack of visibility gave ample opportunity to do something they shouldn't. My eyes would sting and the next day my jacket would smell like I'd smoke 50 John Player Special. No one questioned the ill affects of the smoke or the fact as young children we would be playing the fruit machine which had a top prize of £50. That was a good amount of money back in the day. Dad would put the money in and we would stand next to him pressing the button or hold for the reels. We loved it.

I'm sure in this age people would question the ethics or such parental guidance or wonder if it was moral and fear the impact it may have on our later life. 

Thankfully I grew up with an understanding that slots (fruit machines as we called them back in the day) were about the most addictive form of gambling. I always found them very boring in later life and left them well alone. I've never been much of a drinker (even less so now days) and never smoked. 

So perhaps the experience wasn't such a bad thing. I'm sure statistically it does influence later behaviour and I wounder if I had smoked, drank and gambled too excess perhaps I would be dead before the age of 54. 

My Dad always loved the horse racing and betting an each-way Yankee. A very popular bet in its day but not so much these days with the likes of the Lucky 15 taking its place. Dad wasn't a favourites man. If he could be called anything, he was an outside man. If there was a 25/1 shot running at Yarmouth you could guarantee it would feature in his bet. For that reason he had very few Yankees come up. Its not easy to get four winners at the best of times but when they all have a starting price of 25/1+ it is pushing the boundaries. 

I guess he was thinking if they all come up it would be a retirement bet. 

We could all do with one of those. 

So my brother and I caught the horse racing/gambling bug from my father. It was a generation of gamblers. Like father like son. People had less things to entertain them so they would place a bet. Every September family and friends would go to Great Yarmouth's Eastern Festival. Three days of gambling on the horses and every evening at the greyhounds. For many, their holiday had vanished into a bookmaker's satchel within a couple of days. I've heard others say a couple of hours!

Dad wasn't an informed gambler. He didn't really study the form. Perhaps follow a few horses and enjoy a small bet. As children, our pet cat Pogel was named after a winning horse Pogel's Wood. It must have been a nice win for our kitten to a beneficiary by name at least. Sure the money came in handy too. 

My brother and I have followed two-year-old horse racing from about 16-years old. It is our specialist subject even to this day. In fact, there are very few (if any people) who know more after polishing the stone for 30+ years. 

When we were younger, we'd always want people to realise how good we were at gambling. That was a mistake. No one every believes you can beat the bookies and there is a stigma to anyone who proclaims themselves to be a gambler. I guess it's one of those things which people say: 'Don't gamble' thinking they are doing you a favour. Perhaps for many they are. But it always irritated me in ways. That was very much the naivety of youth. Dad was a wise man and he said these following words: 'If I knew something no one else did, I would just smile and keep it to myself.' 

Without question we was correct. 

And later in life I would appreciate those words. 

To this day we make a merry pilgrimage to Great Yarmout's Eastern Festival to remember Dad and all the people who sadly no longer with us. 

I look into the grandstand and say: 'Thank you, Dad.'

I'm sure he is watching from above and smiling down on us. 

Photo: 1974 JC [Sandra, cousin, Nana Polo, Tony, brother, Dad, and me) Ciaster-on-sea Ladbroke's Camp site

The Dark Clouds Of Racing

The Dark Clouds Of Racing
Most turf writers, including myself, tend to lean away from the ugly stories in our sport and gravitate toward the "feel-good and happy" narrative. But we all know it's not all sunshine and roses out there and the truth is that jockeys face death around every turn.

Today's column isn't intended to be a grim read for a morbid crowd but it is meant to be a tribute to a few little fellows who lost their lives doing what they loved.

I doubt many have heard of these men and their families and I thought they deserved mention and their stories be told. 

A Nightmare Comes True 

In the early 20th century, Billy Fahey was a popular rider around the New Zealand circuits and was known as "The Irishman." He had a mount on a horse named Arahula in an upcoming steeplechase event at Wanganui Racecourse but he didn't have a lot of confidence in his chances. He'd been schooling the horse for several weeks but was yet to ride him in a race and Arahula was every bit of a handful.

The night before the Wanganui Steeplechase, a fellow rider was outside the stalls and upon noticing Fahey, asked him for a light for his cigarette. He took out a book of matches and told his fellow jockey he could keep them.







"I won't be needing these after tomorrow," Fahey supposedly said. "I had a dream last night Arahula fell and killed me. I dreamed he kicked me on the way down."

On race day, Fahey seemed normal to most, although a reporter would later write that the rider seemed "tense and nervous."

Most of the race was uneventful but like a script from a bad horror movie, the rider's worst nightmare came true. Two jumps from home, Arahula clipped the top of the fence and did a complete somersault before landing directly on Fahey.

Although the ambulance crew rushed him to nearby Wanganui Hospital the jockey was pronounced dead on arrival.

Billy Fahey predicted his death at the age of 38. One could never calculate the infinite odds of him being correct, as we've all had weird dreams and visions at times. And, even though Fahey never collected on that long shot of a wager, he still went out a winner in my book.

The O'Shea Family

John and Norah O'Shea had seven children, two of whom were jockeys, and one of their sons, Jack, was a top rider in New Zealand. Jack's main claim to fame was riding a great mare named Desert Gold, who was very popular among the masses during the WWI years. Desert Gold was so famous, that the horse's picture adorned packages of cigarettes and tobacco tins, and parents let their kids cut out of school to watch the girl race. To this day, the "Desert Gold" name is still used in modern vaping, and nicotine products and tins with the horse's picture are widely available on the internet.

In 1925, Jack O'Shea was enjoying his success as a top jockey. He won the Auckland, Wellington, and Takapuna Cups in New Zealand and then traveled to Australia, and took the Tattersalls and Brisbane Cups on a horse named Te Kara.

But the O'Shea family had a dark cloud hovering from the past and that darkness would continue.

In 1916, Jack's younger brother died suddenly in his teenage years. A few years later, another died after a long illness and in 1924, a sister died in the family home of an undisclosed illness. That year would continue to be a bad one for the O'Sheas.

Jack's younger brother Michael followed in his brother's footsteps and took to riding horses quite well. Jack got the kid a job with the Charlie Coleman Stables but not long into Michael's career, the O'Shea curse would surface. He fell during a race at Ellerslie Racecourse in New Zealand, hit his head, and died almost immediately at the scene.

The next year, Jack was riding at Dannevirke Racecourse on a very soggy day. He took a bad soaking but still managed to win a couple of races, including the feature on the card. But when he arrived home that night, the chill he had felt all day turned into pneumonia, and was rushed to the hospital. After a brief comeback rally, Jack passed away at the young age of 31, becoming the fifth O'Shea child to pass in a short time.

In a weird addition to this already bizarre story, the trainer that the two brothers rode for may have sported a black cloud of his own. In addition to Michael's passing, trainer Charlie Coleman had another one of his riders, Abbey Whittaker, die within a year of Jack's death. And to complete the oddity, Charlie himself disappeared from a ferry trip (and was presumed dead) while bringing a horse back from Australia. It's feared that the trainer lost his way back to his cabin after spending time with his horse and fell overboard.

Jack O'Shea's career was a good one and from my research, he seemed like a decent man. He won nearly every major race in New Zealand, some of them several times.

He was content to just put his head down and ride and wasn't looking for a bigger arena or a higher position in the industry. 

But what's even more impressive than Jack's riding career was his dedication to his family. His parents were both Irish immigrants and he bought them a nice house in Auckland. He spent the majority of his fortune supporting his family and many years later the remaining family members were still living in the house Jack purchased for them.

After Jack's passing, the O'Shea cloud moved on a bit. 

The youngest brother, Maurice, survived several battles in WWII, including time spent as a POW, and died in Auckland in 1966. 

Another brother lived a long life and spent his days as a successful optometrist in Auckland, and the parents, Jack and Norah, lived a long and full life as well.

One can only imagine the pain this poor family endured losing five children all under the age of 32 in 8 years.

Emmanuel Lionel Mercer

"Manny" Mercer was an English jockey who was a top rider throughout most of the 1950s. Horse racing was a real family affair as his brother, Joe, was also a jockey and Manny married the daughter of trainer Harry Wragg. Manny's daughter, Carolyn, married champion rider Pat Eddery, and she became a great rider in her own right.

Manny had a great reputation for being a competent and reliable rider but off track, he was known as a wildman. He liked to drink and party, smoke like a chimney, and be seen with beautiful women and fast cars.

On September 26, 1959, Manny had a mount aboard Priddy Fair in the Red Deer Stakes at Ascot.  

Manny and his horse were parading past the stands in the post-parade when Priddy Fair spun around and her back legs slipped out from under her. Manny was dislodged from the saddle and hit the rail before the panicked horse launched a few hooves in the air. Two of those kicks hit Manny in the face/head area and he died instantly.

Meanwhile, Manny's brother Joe, who was also riding in the contest, looked for Manny during the race but never saw him. He had no idea his brother had died before the race even started.

"My horse had already cantered ahead (in the post-parade) but when I got to the start I realized Manny wasn't there and I thought his filly must have been withdrawn," Joe said. "It was only when we finished the race that I saw him."

Priddy Fair, who unknowingly contributed to the death of her pilot was retired on the spot by her owner, Sir Foster Robinson, and the trainer, John Oxley. The pair agreed that they "didn't want to parade the cause of tragedy in public again."

Priddy Fair went on to the breeding shed and turned out to be quite a decent dam and grand dam to some good horses.

Many years later, Joe thought of what might have been if his brother hadn't died.

"We were rivals on the racetrack but great friends," he said in a newspaper interview in 2009. "He would have been a champion jockey for many years if he hadn't been killed."

Manny Mercer was buried at Newmarket and his daughter Carolyn visits the grave of a father she never knew. She can't help but go over and over the last entry in his journal the night before his death.

"Who knows what the life ahead holds for me."

By Peter Monaco 

Photo: Pixabay (free) 

Gambling Book Revealing Ladbrokes & William Hill Secrets

Gambling Book Revealing Ladbrokes & William Hill Secrets
What a book. 

No doubt you're on the edge of your seat. He's talking about a book! As you may know, if you read this blog, I'm the man who reads gambling books old and new giving you my thoughts and reviews. Also, more interesting, unearthing some forgotten stories about bookmakers back in the day when they were struggling to survive let alone flying high on the stock market and Top 500. 

Anyway, I've been reading Ron Pollard's biography Odds & Sod's: My Life in the Betting Business, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1991. Sadly, Ron Pollard passed away in 2015 at the age of 89 but his book is a goldmine of information - long forgotten by most - about his time working as a clerk for William Hill and later odds-maker and PR Director for Ladbrokes. I can't tell you how many snippets of information I have gleaned from this excellent read. In fact, it is one of the best gambling books I have ever read. 

You may think with the passing of time this publication has lost its shine but far from it. Many of the names I hadn't heard of but many I have from yesteryear including celebrities, sports men and woman, big-time gamblers and so much more. It is packed with secrets and I'm sure many of the stories about Ladbrokes and William Hill, literally, send shivers down their spines. I won't go into detail here but you can guarantee that every word is true as Pollard got it straight from the horse's mouth. Some of his statements leaving a nasty taste too. 

Ron Pollard was a true gentleman in every sense of the word and trusting as the day is long. He played a crucial role in the success of Ladbrokes being a Public Relations Director. It's a role I hadn't much thought about but his job was to get Ladbrokes' name in the media whether TV, radio or newspaper and he did this like no other. While other bookmakers were stuck in the time warp of tradition concentrating their business with horse racing, dogs and golf, he was dipping Ladbrokes' toe into new, deeper ponds. His first big success was making a book on the General Election after the Jack Profumo scandal which rocked Government. This was just one of many boons. In fact, there was little Pollard didn't get into the media and every step of the way Ladbrokes made a name for themselves on a global scale. 

From reading this book you got a real view of a man who was loved by so many. He literally loved Ladbrokes. He also loved politics, and had aspirations of becoming an MP, which he would have achieved if he hadn't put his family first and job security. The stories and insight he details about bookmakers the good, bad and ugly is there to be seen in these 195 pages. 

He doesn't pull any punches. 

You can get this worthy hardback for less than a fiver on Amazon including postage and packing. 

What a fantastic buy. 

There would have been no better joy than chatting with Ron about the sports he loved. Of those there were many and the people he bumped into along the way pure magic. 

God bless. 

Photo: J.Coote (2023) 

The Discrimination of a Horseplayer

Image by freepik

Remarkably, there are people in this world who dislike horseplayers and maybe even despise them. Some think of us as total and complete lowlifes, merely because we choose to wager on horses instead of playing poker, the slots, the lottery, or betting on sports.

Being discriminated against for being a horseplayer is nothing new to me. I've dealt with it since I was a kid and still do, on occasion.

Surprisingly, horse racing discrimination can come from all angles, even close friends and family.

Watching the Radio.

As a young child, I took a big interest in my grandfather's horse racing bookmaking operation, and one of the first perks I remember receiving from my inquisitiveness was a case of flash paper. This made me extremely popular with the kids in my neighborhood, and we all agreed that any job or hobby that worked with this magical stuff needed further looking into. One could say that flash paper got me (more) interested in horseracing. Our family usually visited my grandparents in Queens, NY, on the weekends. I'd usually find Granddad in the basement quietly doing his paperwork, and counting money while listening to the races and results on the radio. Once in a while, I'd visit or stay with my grandparents during the week and the basement day scene was very different. Grandpa usually had some loud, wild, and crazy friends over.

Up to a dozen horse enthusiasts would be jumping around and screaming a foot away from the radio in the cellar of his "insurance and real estate" establishment watching it like a TV while pounding the racing form against their hips. You could feel the excitement and intensity, before, during, and after the contest and you couldn't help but notice the obvious emotions of the horseplayers. You could sense the pure joy of the people who had the winner and the sadness of the losers and every reaction in between. The entire scene was beyond exciting and a lot to take in.

You had folks who thought it was a perfect ride on the winner and others who said the race was fixed and their horse got stiffed.

There were cheers, jeers, moans, groans, and the throwing of many foreign and domestic objects, especially during and after a close finish.

Paperwork and money were constantly being exchanged and odds were spoken about non-stop by cigar-smoking men with cool nicknames like Vinny the Butcher, One-Eyed Joey, (he had both eyes, so no idea why), Hot Dog, and The Chicken Man. You couldn't possibly make up characters like these fellows and although they seemed to be having fun, they also seemed very serious. This was no ordinary baseball, football, or hockey game. People were so extremely alive when a race went off and seemed sincerely happy, even if it was for only a few minutes. I'm not sure who wouldn't be impressed no matter how old you were and that was without even seeing a horse!

My grandfather lived only a block from Aqueduct Racetrack and he first brought me there in 1970, when I was ten years old. He and I were the only people in our family who even knew how many legs a racehorse had. We were frowned upon by all of the clan, and most friends and neighbors too, for simply being horseplayers.

You would automatically be classified as a degenerate gambler and you sure weren't ever getting a loan from anybody (except from another horse player) even if it was an emergency. You would surely take that money you said you needed to bring your sick kid to the hospital and run directly to the racetrack. You'd put it on a nag to win and come home with a sob story about the horse stumbling out of the gate and losing by a nose at odds of 100/1.

These non-horseplayers even had a preconceived notion of what a horseplayer looked like and how he acted.

The gambling villain would of course be unshaven and slightly smelly, wear a sleeveless stained white tee shirt, have tattoos, smoke and drink to excess, beat his wife and kids, chase married women around, and partake in drugs and prostitution.

I was stereotyped and categorized negatively by most families I knew and had no idea why. Horse racing was a dark evil shitstain to these folks, even though they lived close to several major racetracks. Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Roosevelt Raceway were all within 20 miles of my house and Yonkers and The Meadowlands were only an hour away.

I attended a strict Catholic school for 8 years of my youth and cut out one day to attend the races at Aqueduct with another schoolmate. When word of our adventure made its way through the loop of school society, one girl went directly to the nuns and turned us in.

I never made it to the principal's office but Sister Joanne did have a chat with me and I was reminded that gambling, skipping school, and lying about it were mortal sins and I might be spending some time in purgatory for my poor choices. 

Corrupted by a Terrible Sickness.

My parents never went to a racetrack, and never bet a horse, or gambled in their entire existence on this planet. It was the same story for my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

But I caught the horse fever quite early and took first place as the family's black sheep at just ten years old.

My mother was the daughter of a long-time bookmaker, horse owner, and bettor and had seen quite enough of horse racing and gambling in her day.

She witnessed many fellows lose their businesses, houses, cars, wives, and kids due to horse racing, so she didn't want me involved.

My poor grandfather took some tremendous heat for introducing me to this new sport. Most family members viewed his tutoring like he had taken a pure innocent young soul and brought me over to the dark side and had "corrupted me with his terrible sickness," as my father once put it.

My parents weren't happy with either of us for a long time.

When introduced to my father's friends as a teenager, the meeting would go something like this:

"This is my son, Peter. He's a horseplayer."

His friends always laughed at first but usually ended the introduction by telling me what an evil place the racetrack was and that I should stop going there before I lost everything.

I was confused and didn't know what to make of my "classification." The bad things I heard about the racetrack were all from non-horseplayers and I started to wonder since they didn't play the horses and never went to the racetrack, how did they know it was so evil?

I had many wonderful days logged in at the track with my grandfather at the time and never saw any crazy or devious activity among the horse-playing crowd. Sure, there was the occasional fight and the rare scam or robbery and, you could always count on at least one person a day losing their shit over a ride, ticket mistake, or a disqualification.

But this was NY and that could happen on any given street on any given day about anything.

Horse Racing Brings People Together.

What I did see at the racetrack was the exact opposite of the bad habits of a horseplayer that were described to me.

Unlike my father, my grandfather seemed so proud to introduce me to his friends at the track and I was proud to be there. I was immediately accepted because I WAS a horse player. I also sincerely loved hanging out with these old fellows. Their experiences and stories were incredible and they were always eager to share their vast horse-racing and worldly knowledge. I realized being at the racetrack with my 70-year-old grandfather and his friends was where I wanted to be. There seemed to be respect among horseplayers and a brotherhood like no other. It was almost as if you were soldiers in a war together, sometimes tending to each other's wounds and encouraging each other through the uphill 9-race battle.

When I looked at my grandfather's crowd they were all clean-shaven, wore nice suits and ties, and even smelled good. Everyone seemed to have a great time talking and laughing together and no one was crying, getting beat up, borrowing money for their habit, getting drunk, or chasing anyone's wife.

I spent the next several years observing the masses at the racetracks, always looking for signs of the degenerate horse players I was warned about.

Surprisingly, my summation was that horse racing brought people together. People who might be enemies on the mean streets of New York and looking to stab each other could sometimes be seen sharing a smoke and a racing form under the tote board at Aqueduct. Old winning and losing horse stories were abundant and usually ended with laughter and a slap on the back, or a light punch in the shoulder. The crowd seemed almost respectable and the day pretty wholesome, with a semi-family-like atmosphere.

It was also cool that you could start a conversation with any stranger at the track by asking them who they liked in the upcoming race. This person might turn out to be a total dick and want to fight you or he might provide some valuable insight for the race and become your best friend. Even if you disagree with their assessment, you probably felt good meeting and speaking with another horseplayer and trading picks. Over the years, these social encounters at the track have led to countless new acquaintances, jobs, and even girlfriends for me and I'm 100% sure it also kept me out of a lot of trouble.

I also absorbed how much horseracing kept these older fellows alive. It gave them something to occupy their time and kept them out of the hospital and probably the graveyard, as they never wanted to miss a day of racing or even a single race.

There was no simulcasting back then at the racetracks and the Off-Track Betting parlors were few and far between. So, the Aqueduct and Belmont meetings were a major event in the area and the locals were religious at attending. Old Italian guys would stake out a quiet corner and plop down a big brown oil-stained bag containing snacks and their lunch. They'd talk about how their tomatoes were doing and trade stories of how their figs survived the winter and how bad the Mets (NY baseball team) sucked.

This was their daily life and entire social connection. They hated Mondays and Tuesdays as there was no racing and they didn't know what to do with themselves on those dark days stuck in the house. A few hours of handicapping and a day at the races while socializing filled their day with joy.

It seemed the day wasn't always about winning or losing.

These are some of my ideal memories and initial interpretations of horse racing. Things have changed a bunch since those days but some remain the same. 

Few could argue there is nothing like the thrills encountered and the pure intensity of live horse racing and there never will be anything close. I feel extremely sorry for those who have never bet on a live race. Sadly, some people will live their entire lives without ever experiencing this unique action.

But I feel even sorrier for those who look down on horseracing and horseplayers and perhaps if they spent a day at the track they might change their tune.

For we are not animals, we only bet on them.

By Peter Monaco.

Photo: Freepik