UK Horse Racing Tips

Archive for the ‘Musings’ Category

A break from our regular tips t0 bring you an incomplete list to some of the tic tac terms used for various betting odds. Tic Tac is a method of signing used by bookmakers at race courses to communicate odds to each other. Technology has for the most part consigned tic tac to the past, but it’s an art form in its own right as far as I’m concerned and some of the slang terms given to the signs bring a smile the face.

Major Stevens – ‘tic tac’ for Evens

Ear’ole – ‘tic-tac’ term for 6-4.

Double Tops – 15-8

Bottle – ‘tic-tac’ term for 2-1

Top of the head – 9-4

Carpet – The ‘tic-tac’ term for 3-1.

Burlington Bertie – ‘tic-tac’ for 100-30.

Roof – ‘tic-tac’ term for 4-1.

Handful – ‘tic-tac’ for 5-1.

Xis – ‘tic-tac’ for 6-1.

Neves – ‘tic-tac’ term for 7-1.

Enin – The ‘tic-tac’ term for 9-1.

Cockle – The ‘tic-tac’ term for 10-1.

Elef – ‘tic-tac’ for 11-1

Double Net – ‘tic-tac’ for 20-1

Double carpet –  ‘tic-tac’ for 33-1.

Century – ‘tic-tac’ for 100-1

We all have a mate who informs us he has ‘never lost a bet in his life’. Everything he touches turns to gold. He can do no wrong. Of course that may well be far from the truth, but some punters really do have incredible luck or perhaps even fate on their side.

1) From £0.50 to £1,000,000

In 2008, an eight horse accumulator by lucky Yorkshire based punter Fredd Craggs, 60, bagged him an astonishing £1,000,000 win. What drove his decisions resulting in this 2,000,000-1 event you may ask? Was it the form, the trainer, the jockey? No, none of these he simply went with names that he liked the sound of. So apparent no hopers racing at Sandown, Dubai and Wolverhampton with names such as “Isn’t that Lucky”, “Racer Forever” and “A Dream Come True” (you’re not joking) resulted in this lucky man winning a life changing sum of money.

2) Lightening Strikes Twice

In 2001 an unnamed manchester 50-something pocketed a staggering £500,000 from an insignificant 30p 15 event accumulator bet placed at a William Hill in Lichfield. That’s odds of 1,666,666-to-one . The bet was placed on football, cricket and rugby outcomes. Unbelievably the same man won over £150,000 in a £2.50 accumulator bet in 1999 too at the same branch. Branch manager Janet Dyke paid out on both bets. “I was happy for him last night, but at the same time, I thought ‘Oh no, not again’. She said.

3) Magnificent Seven

One of the best known and most widely publicised big wins came as Frankie Dettori remarkably rode winners in all seven of his Ascot races in 1996. A £67 accumulator places on this exact eventuality by Darren Yeats of Morecombe, Lancashire, turned that sum into over £550,000. He used the money to move house and double the size of his business which was struggling at the time. Others weren’t so lucky on the day though. One unlucky lady had 50p win bets on all seven winners, collecting £19. If she’d done a 50p accumulator instead she could’ve won tens of thousands of pounds. I wonder what the biggest win ever is resulting from a horse racing free bet ?

4) Pop Picker

15 years ago, a 40 year old man placed a £30 bet in a Ladbrokes branch in Wales. The bet largely centred on the entertainment and music industry: Cliff Richard to be knighted, U2 to say together, Eastenders to still be broadcasting as well as Neighbours and Home and Away to still be regular fixtures on UK TV. All by the year 2000. He was right on all counts and walked back into the same branch that year to collect his £200,000 in winnings.

Prince Khaled Abdullah looks to have yet another fine prospect to look forward to judging by the tremendously impressive way that his Radiator broke her maiden tag at Lingfield recently in the manner of a filly with a very big future.

The daughter of Dubawi had hinted at a fair degree of ability when shaping with a plenty of promise on her racecourse bow at Glorious Goodwood five weeks earlier, finishing fifth in a hot race won by Amazing Maria, the Ed Dunlop-trained filly who subsequently went on to land the Group 3 Prestige Stakes.

She was duly sent off the 11/10 market leader on Betfair for the seven-furlong Lingfield maiden and was noted travelling easily throughout the first half of the contest under former champion jockey, Ryan Moore, having been sent immediately into the lead once the stalls opened.

By halfway, a glance behind showed all her rivals under pressure while Radiator was giving the impression she was still in second gear.

Once shaken up at the two furlong from home marker, she easily pulled further and further clear, eventually crossing the finishing line no less than 15 lengths clear of main market rival, Zawiyah (2/1 with Betfair), who had only narrowly failed to land a decent Windsor maiden on her previous outing.

From the family of the outstanding sire, Dansili, and with an entry in the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies’ Mile, it came as no surprise to see betting firms such as Betfair react quickly, introducing the juvenile into the ante-post list for next year’s Qipco 1000 Guineas at a top price of 25/1.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Radiator’s owner/breeder, refused to get carried away though with the performance – despite obviously being impressed – suggesting that connections will just take things one step at a time for the time being.

Becoming an equestrian is a task that should be properly thought out before even attempting. It is important that you do your research before making any decisions in order to become a successful racehorse owner.

Money Management

It is vital that you first consider the financial implications of becoming an equestrian as you will not just be paying the upfront cost of the horse. In fact the fees will add up when it comes to annual training and providing food and care for your horse so make sure you have budgeted in these costs accordingly. Veterinarian fees can also be expensive so it is a good idea to look into getting some cheap horse insurance to ease the financial pain. Also remember that keeping your horse is in tip top condition is within your best interest as this will increase your chance of winning races and making profit.

Breed Selection

Your best option is to choose the purest breed of horse possible as there is potential to breed your horse for even more profit. It is also recommendable that you decide what your goal is for your horse before you buy. In other words, do you want your horse to compete in local circuits or in something more national? If you’re in need of a little advice a good tip is to consult a bloodstock agent, who is there to buy and sell horses while offering guidance on which to buy. Another option is to speak to a horse trainer if you’re still stuck on which type to choose.

Buying Methods

You can buy a horse in three different ways. Firstly you can claim your horse at a race by selecting one of the horses currently running for sale. The price will be decided before the race, taking into consideration the quality of the horse, and you will not be able to have a vet check him before you buy. Another option is to buy a horse at auction. You will find in this case that the horses will be grouped by type and categorised by details such as birth-date and blood group listing. The final way you can buy is through making a private purchase. The advantages to this method are that the horse can be inspected by a vet before the sale and the price can be negotiated.

It’s also a good idea to think about whether you want to own your own horse or share an interest in one with a partnership or a syndicate. You can find partnerships adverts in racing trade publications but remember to contact a number of syndicate managers and prospective partnerships before you invest in anything.