Investors talk with apprehension about “Black Swan” events – something so impossibly unlikely that the assumption is ‘it can’t possibly happen,”- until it does. Most horseplayers and sports bettors have become hardened by experience to never completely discount any eventuality, no matter how preposterous it may seem. We can all relate to leaving only
Before making any bet, punters first arrive at a selection. That process can either be rudimentary or seriously complex. Examples of the former would be simply backing the top merit rated horse, or the soccer team that is positioned higher on the log than their opposition. On the other hand, computer syndicate team may
It has been a torrid week for SA racing. Hopes that tracks would reopen this weekend proved false when Government failed to give the green light, and there are still great financial challenges to be overcome with the business model of racing’s operations stretched past breaking point. The German racing authorities also got knocked
Odds on favourite Exultant won the G1 QE11 over 2000m in Hong Kong, just as the masses expected, but it was a hard- fought victory. He battled to get past frontrunner Time Warp after a protracted duel and then required extra reserves to hold off his stable mate, Furore. Punters taking a short price
All over the world people are grappling with an unprecedented public health crisis and a dramatic decline in economies curtailed due to the Covid -19 pandemic. Racing fans are hoping that their favorite game will resume in early May when the extended national lockdown might be is lifted. SA Government approval is still required
The Jackpot as a bet type has been around for a long time in SA. Called the Pick 4 in America and the Quaddie in Oz, it requires forecasting the winner of four successive races. With Interbet clients now able to bet into huge daily Quaddie pools in Australia, constructing smart Jackpot perms can
Most horseplayers sense there is a home court advantage to betting on their local circuit where they know each horse’s respective abilities well enough, together with the nuances of the track and specific competencies of each trainer and jockey. The downside, however, of such a narrow focus is sometimes getting locked in to betting
Punters are obviously familiar with wagering on the outcome of horse races or sports events but there is a weird sub-category of “proposition” or “side-bets” that can keep true gamblers entertained when more conventional wagering opportunities are lacking. Former England Cricket captain, Mike Atherton put together an illuminating read, “Gambling, a story of triumph
With SA racing on hold for the time being and most citizens subject to lockdown, this is an opportunity to catch up on some reading. Two excellent books crossed my desk recently and they are well worth sourcing. Pro gambler and writer, Barry Meadow’s The Skeptical Handicapper is a dense, technical treatise based on
SA racing continued over the weekend in spite of the Covid 19 pandemic. Full credit to all those hardy and determined participants who made it happen, enabling isolated, couch- potato fans to wager comfortably from home. It’s quite remarkable that Born to Perform has managed to win half of his 12 starts despite being