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A Return To Pinjarra
West Australian Racing
Ridersonthestorm33
10,930 posts
With rain and overcast conditions set off on Boxing Day for the first time in about 20 years to Pinjarra, was somewhat different to what i remember, that’s not being critical, was a happy and festive family crowd, whereas as recall when was mostly a betting crowd, a circle of lawn that once saw 10 - 12 bookmakers plying their trade was now taken up by families and friends.
The ladies working the tote were very pleasant and was easy enough to get a bet on. Sadly on course bookmakers though have gone the same way as the evening newspaper, never to return. Mores the pity, does take something away from a day at the track.
By about race 3 the clouds began to dissipate and cool sunny blue skies returned, and the Pinjarra grass was in the same immaculate condition as remembered.
A good highlight was the comfortable Cafe area and seeing photos on the wall of the 1990’s Pinjarra feature race winners and their respective jockeys - a name that featured regularly either winning or being in the placings was Troy Jackman - also great to see names like Laurie Millington, Jeff Berry, Stephen Miller, David Catarino, Peter Barnett, Bluey Lambie, John Claite and several others.
One Pinjarra Cup photo 1991 or 92 won by Cambridge Lad the winning hoops in order were Troy Jackman - Shaun O’Donnell - Laurie Millington and the 3 place getters in what looked a blanket finish carried between 50kgs and 52kgs. O’Donnell still riding there today thats longevity.
Jeff Berry was good to see his name again, recall him riding a long shot at Pinjarra decades ago was either first up or second up in a big field of 16, it’s name was Sinners Garden - don’t think ever reached any great heights or any heights at all, was looking for a couple of rough ones to back a place - and liked “Chuck” Berry and thought maybe this Sinners Garden at around 40/1 might run a drum, was clutching at straws, a guy next to me as the jockeys mounted up politely called out any chance Jeff and the reply was pretty straight forward and to the point “no mate no chance.”
Had been around racetracks long enough by then and when heard that thought perhaps it is a hope! On the back of an excellent ride he got it into second or third.
Even though today was a lack lustre meeting quality wise, was an enjoyable day run in nice cool conditions the 2 young blokes who did the mounting yard presentation and interviewed the hoops after they won couldn’t fault them. They had a job to do and did it well. As the winning jockeys after the interview walked close to the mounting yard fence was easy to give them a “well done” and after backing the card did that 8 times - i wish - dream on!!!
Finally that was the first time ever been to a race, trot or greyhound meeting where apart from the jockeys and trainers did not see one single face i knew. Time marches on.
The ladies working the tote were very pleasant and was easy enough to get a bet on. Sadly on course bookmakers though have gone the same way as the evening newspaper, never to return. Mores the pity, does take something away from a day at the track.
By about race 3 the clouds began to dissipate and cool sunny blue skies returned, and the Pinjarra grass was in the same immaculate condition as remembered.
A good highlight was the comfortable Cafe area and seeing photos on the wall of the 1990’s Pinjarra feature race winners and their respective jockeys - a name that featured regularly either winning or being in the placings was Troy Jackman - also great to see names like Laurie Millington, Jeff Berry, Stephen Miller, David Catarino, Peter Barnett, Bluey Lambie, John Claite and several others.
One Pinjarra Cup photo 1991 or 92 won by Cambridge Lad the winning hoops in order were Troy Jackman - Shaun O’Donnell - Laurie Millington and the 3 place getters in what looked a blanket finish carried between 50kgs and 52kgs. O’Donnell still riding there today thats longevity.
Jeff Berry was good to see his name again, recall him riding a long shot at Pinjarra decades ago was either first up or second up in a big field of 16, it’s name was Sinners Garden - don’t think ever reached any great heights or any heights at all, was looking for a couple of rough ones to back a place - and liked “Chuck” Berry and thought maybe this Sinners Garden at around 40/1 might run a drum, was clutching at straws, a guy next to me as the jockeys mounted up politely called out any chance Jeff and the reply was pretty straight forward and to the point “no mate no chance.”
Had been around racetracks long enough by then and when heard that thought perhaps it is a hope! On the back of an excellent ride he got it into second or third.
Even though today was a lack lustre meeting quality wise, was an enjoyable day run in nice cool conditions the 2 young blokes who did the mounting yard presentation and interviewed the hoops after they won couldn’t fault them. They had a job to do and did it well. As the winning jockeys after the interview walked close to the mounting yard fence was easy to give them a “well done” and after backing the card did that 8 times - i wish - dream on!!!
Finally that was the first time ever been to a race, trot or greyhound meeting where apart from the jockeys and trainers did not see one single face i knew. Time marches on.
+1 -1
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Talking of which was very difficult yesterday to come from behind. Top four or five in running was the place to be.
A couple of other things was $20 to get in and $10 concession, probably hard to strike the right balance especially for country clubs - think $10 and $5 is more than enough, but that’s from the payees point of view.
Lots of security guys too that was a big change.
Another name revival was winner Sky Duke a horse of the same name raced in the 1970’s.
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Now talking of lamb shank one of the food vans had run out of gravy by race 3! The soft serve ice cream guy did a good trade and the $6.50 single chocolate whippy was very good.
Without chocolate was $6 a fair bit away from the times of running down the street to buy one when they were 5 cents a single and 10 cents a double .
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spinking likes this post.
Which incident was Mark Miller involved in at Pinny?
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Ridersonthestorm33, Desperado likes this post.
Starstruck for Mark Miller was a far better horse than i thought had some good clashes with Juene. Was on Juene and Starstruck beat him on his merits a few times Miller seemed to enjoy it a little bit more getting over the top of Shane Dye on Juene in there clashes. He was an outstanding hoop. They both were.
When “Chuck” Berry said no chance that also can mean but I’m doing my best. It was 40/1 he wasn’t the only one that thought that. Also they’re riding for owners and trainer, and themselves - not for me. The way it should be.
Also as someone once said “the quickest way to lose friends - tip them horses.”
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But left some good ones Artello Bay,Sir Mardia, Kaytello, Kendon,San Towers ones i can remember.
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Also did i read right that at country Victorian harness meetings that’s there’s now not only no bookmakers on track but no tote facilities either ?!! Astounding. I couldn’t believe that. Perhaps at Melton trots too ? Im sure I read something about the tote facilities going.
Bet - move - eat - scratch your head - all online!
I think all race meetings with the exception of the big days throw the gates open - must be hard for country clubs though but $10 and $5 is more than enough.
On a different note was looking at Betfair and in the run betting always puzzles me how when a horse looms up to win and comes into say $1.10 how in that split second do you get on ? Another blink the race is over you’d have to be mighty quick.
Those guys that blow a fortune backing things at $1.01 when they’ve dashed to the front at the 200 only to die on the run and get run down - why would you back something at $1.01 ?!!
You need 100 of them to win in a row - ( and they don’t ) before can afford one of them to lose just to break even - madness.
Bookielover if you layed every odds on favourite on a Metropolitan track every Saturday and Public Holiday for 52 weeks of the year would you finish in front ? Is it that simple ?
I guess the thing is having a big enough bank to hold onto after 6 or 7 odds on pops win in a row - if can ride that out then sooner or later they will lose, but enough to finish in front ??
It’s that favourite versus the field bet that interests me but only when the fave is odds on - and around say 1/3 to 9/10.
I’d say in the halcyon days bookies loved odds on favourites ? Just enough of them running to keep it interesting with the big players who could really bet up on them.
SLIPPERGOLDEN likes this post.
The average punter doesn’t want world pools the average punter wants lower take out rates. Both preferably.
Am all for a National Tote or a World Pool but not on the basis of the punter being ripped off. Takeout rates since the tote was established have only ever gone up not down - it’s a trend that needs to cease or sports betting will replace it if hasn’t already.
See trifecta betting takeout was around 15% then 18% up to 20% and now “sneaking” to 21% my goodness when does it cease ? 25% 30% not a case of if but when. Once win and place and novelties go over 20% with a rounding down of dividends - forget it.
Some of the other jurisdictions around the world that Tabcorp commingles staggeringly high.
Stability of pools, liquidity - that’s mumbo jumbo talk, they can put a spin on anything. Overall dividends are less - fact.
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Awesome to have you back brother.
You have been missed.
FOB is Fixed Odds Betting.
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