UK Horse Racing Tips

Could this be the best £3.34 I have ever spent?

[Originally priced £14,99]

I say this in humour but also in fact as today the book arrived! I’m already loving Ron Pollard’s Odds & Sods betting industry related book. It was like an unboxing – unwrapping – as the book was pushed through the letterbox and the next thing I’m tearing off the black plastic wrapper to reveal the book.

I must thank Goldstone Books for an exemplary service.

The dust cover is brilliant with a cartoon style black ink depiction of Pollard as a caricature resplendent in his hat, trench coat and binoculars standing in front of the Houses of Parliament, specifically Big Ben. It looks like there are a few Ministers of Parliament huffing and puffing, no doubt reeling from the Tory leadership battle after the Christine Keeler affair. They must have seen Ron chalking-up the odds.

Ron Pollard’s book details his career which started working as a clerk for William Hill. However, he made a name for himself when employed by Ladbrokes and the prominent position of PR Director. Pollard captured the imagination of bookmaking by pricing up what could be said novel betting opportunities which found favour not only with punters but the press alike. Those who today will be looking for free bets uk, would love the zany take of Pollard’s pricing.

He realised there was more to betting than horse racing, greyhounds, football and golf.

Without question, he was a hit and known as ‘the most famous odds-maker in the world’ bringing national and international success to his business as a ‘merchant of chance’.

If you have ever wondered who was behind so many novel bets then look no further than Pollard:

Which party will win the next election?

Which novel will win the Booker Prize?

What are the odds of a white Christmas?

Or even finding the Loch Ness monster?

If you wanted a price for aliens taking over the Government then Pollard was your man.

As Ron Pollard said: ‘From bookmaker to book writer’. With stories from triumph and tribulation at the racecourse to the casino with anecdotes about politicians, royalty, sportspeople and celebrities we have insight by a man from very humble beginnings.

With 14 chapters and 195 pages about Odds And Sods I’m very much looking forward to hearing about these stories to be told. I first heard of Ron Pollard after reading Harry Findlay’s Gambling For Life: The Man Who Won Millions And Spent Every Penny, published by Trinity Mirror Sport Media 2017 (a very good read). He mentioned Pollard with reference to working at William Hill about bookmaking practices at the time.

To be fair, I had never heard about Ron Pollard although at the time of publication I was aged 21 and had an interest in horse racing and gambling so perhaps I just forgot about the man himself. Anyway, I am very much looking forward to reading this publication as I can tell it will be both entertaining and insightful.

In an article written by Bruce Webber the journalist said: ‘Mr. Pollard, a British odds-maker who recognised a human craving to gamble on anything and everything…’

Never a truer word said.

Ron Pollard passed away in 2015 at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and three children.

Comments are closed.