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Wife and I went to Adelaide for a weeks holiday.

If you want to get away from everyone and everything, Adelaide is the place to go. 

Dead, lifeless, 10% unemployment, businesses shutting down, heaps of shops for lease in the once thriving Rundle Mall, and everyone is shyting themselves as to when the next black-out will be. And hows this for irony. Their only recycling plant in Adelaide which employed 38 people had to shut down about 4 months ago,because the price of electricity that they were charged had tripled and they couldn't afford to keep going.

This from a brilliant Premier, who is so taken up with the irrational fear of carbon emissions, that he blew up the last coal fired power station that they had in the State. Nothing wrong with that, if you believe that we are all going to die because of carbon emissions, but before you do it, would it not make sense to ensure that you have a reliable source of energy, be it renewables or other, to power your State, BEFORE, you blow up the power station, and so that the one thing that you hold dear, recycling, can continue in your State, in its only recycling plant.

Anyway, they had Irish day at Morphetville, on the 2nd September coz the Irish jumps jockeys were there. Absolute champion riders those blokes and easily won the series.

But here's the thing, the meeting was brilliantly promoted. There were up to 3,000 people there, all in complete comfort in the excellent grandstand and other purpose built facilities around the course. They had a rock band playing, but down stairs, away from the betting ring which is on the first floor of the excellent grandstand, so unless you were downstairs, and particularly wanted to listen to them, you couldn't hear them at all. A lesson that other clubs could learn.

The facilities inside the grandstand are fantastic. The bookies are in a prominent position with great betting boards especially for older people who may find it difficult to read them. Huge writing, jockey, trainer, and next to each horses name the colours that the jockey will wear, and the prices are easy to read. I didn't notice any really big betting, but a lot of business is done on the phones, particularly with Curly Seal who hasn't changed in the 28 years since I last had a bet with him. That's probably because he dies his hair nugget black. He had a staff of 5 and he was particularly occupied on Betfair for much of the meeting.

The other two bookies were Barrington and Lillis, the latter would have to be 140 kilos at least, and he ain't gunna lose any weight if he keeps eating those party pies that you get at the track. All three did a nice constant trade of $20.00 and $50.00 bets all cash. I saw a few nod bets, but as I said, most of the credit betting was done on the phones.

It was also interesting to hear punters there calling their Corporate Bookie, and betting with them.

Comfort levels were excellent, the bar and food service was great, and prices very fair from what I could see. That started with $10.00 entry to what they call a major meeting, and only $5.00 for pensioners, and I managed to get free parking a metre away from the entrance to grandstand.

You could walk out of the enclosed  grandstand area, and sit down and watch a race, similar to that in Perth. Big difference between Perth and Adelaide, were the numbers of security that they had, and not old codgers like me, that couldn't punch an imprint in melted butter, but younger and very well mannered people, who quietly told those who had let the drink get to them, that they would be escorted from the course if they didn't calm down. It worked every time their warning was required, but it was, to be fair, only needed a couple of times.

 I don't know if it's still the case, but surely those in charge at Ascot, could go and take a look at how things are done in Adelaide at Morphetville, so that the punters who bother turning up at Ascot,  on a Saturday in 40 degree heat, are not forced, if they want to bet with a bookie, to put up with extreme heat downstairs under that tin roof, when a move to the first floor of the grandstand would alleviate everyone's discomfort. They could also take note of admission prices and look at their bar and food prices. We did buy a large box of chips, and when I say large, I mean it was huge, and it cost $4.50. Mind you, our racetrack managers in Melbourne,  could do a lot worse than take a look at how you look after the on course punter in comfort without having to charge them a fortune just to get into the track, so at least they have got some punting money left.

We also went to Strathalbyn on the Wednesday. Nice track, once again cheap to get in, two bookies, and they made sure no one froze by opening up the members bar on the ground floor of the grandstand to everyone, which was heated and well catered. Only about 150 there, but a really relaxing day, especially if you win.

South Australia, are considered the poor relations when it comes to racing. Ordinary prize money, although it doesn't stop Weir and Hayes from racing heaps of horses there, but they are making the most of the cards that they have been dealt and spend money on TV advertising, I'm talking about channels 9,10 and 7, not just racing.com and it is paying off for them as far as them getting a reasonable attendance in a State that everyone is really doing it tough.

Anyone who is going to Adelaide in the near future and was not contemplating going to Morphetville races, should give it a go. I hope you win, but even if you don't, you won't walk off the track swearing under your breath about poor facilities and lack of comfort.


+1 -1

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Comments

  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    edited September 2017
    Possibly bookielover an advantage of Morphetville is that it is the one and only metropolitan racetrack in SA ? Easier to manage and plough all resources at ?

    Not that traditionalist me likes the thought of closing down any tracks. I'm 100% against closures but the above does give food for thought.

    With the punters calling their corporate bookie for a bet what's the reason again why the corporates can't have a stand on course ? The more bookies operating on track one would think the better.
  • dungydungy    9,278 posts
    People always coat the place but nighttime wise Glenelg has lengths on Perth or Freo
  • thefalconthefalcon    19,949 posts
    got a cuz in the city..might drop in and catch up with Adam McGrath...
  • bookieloverbookielover    2,623 posts
    Agree with you completely, Riders. I reckon I have made that point about the Corps being on track since they first reared their collective, dare I say it, ugly heads. 

    I might be wrong, but I think they all operate on course in England. One day, we will get racing ministers who really care about on track activity and getting the Corps to have a board and staff on track.

    If the Corps were on course, it might give those who have an account with them, a reason to go to the track, rather than bet at home on the phone.  That way, they can actually see who they are betting with, and getting their $200 bet cut back to a $1.32 bet.

    And Dungy, you'll get no argument on Glenelg from me. Stayed at the Stamford Apartment hotel with the wife a kids 28 years ago, and it was a lot of fun right on the beach, and very family friendly at the time. 
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    edited September 2017
    Yes for sure Bookielover...coming to think of it have noticed the corporate bookies having a stand on track in the U.K. The camera occasionally might pan over to a bookies area and have seen their logos on the board.

    The more the merrier for me. At the very worst ( bookmakers ) ...a necessary evil , ( no offence BL said tongue in cheek ) and at best the more of them makes going to the track that much more enjoyable.

    sonny likes this post.

  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    edited September 2017
    Also @Bookielover...the demise of bookmaker numbers on track also happens to coincide with the demise of crowds ?

    Just a coincidence ? Too simplified ?

    My two cents is that the establishment badly underrated a thriving bookmakers ring on track and in some ways have paid a price.

    With the on course bookie - the price he had showing was the price he bet you! It was never less. Sometimes he rounded up , never down.

    He stood and he delivered.

  • careycarey    6,368 posts

    Also @Bookielover...the demise of bookmaker numbers on track also happens to coincide with the demise of crowds ?

    Just a coincidence ? Too simplified ?

    My two cents is that the establishment badly underrated a thriving bookmakers ring on track and in some ways have paid a price.

    With the on course bookie - the price he had showing was the price he bet you! It was never less. Sometimes he rounded up , never down.

    He stood and he delivered.


    my memory in vic., is that the bookies were having problems with all the
    punters that had read don scott, and were no longer the mugs they once
    were.
    they couldn't handle it at the time, so they started falling away.

    one
    bookie in particular who i have no doubt i put on the rails(high
    turnover), because he would give me a roll of the board most times,
    would not take a bet off us once he got there.

    the bookies that kept going, for the most part increased their
    overrounds, which in turn meant people like me stopped going, because it
    was too hard to get the overs we sought.

    they would also once
    give you the fractions and you would not even have to ask for them most
    of the time, but that mostly stopped too, and when you asked for them,
    would get told to go take a hike.

    so i mostly went to the tote and bet exotics there.

    or else my memory is gone and i just imagined it went that way
    it was the 90's and a long time ago!
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    Have heard in relation to betting the expression ..'roll of the board' ...should know what it means but don't! At a guess possibly selecting the odds ( within reason ) yourself ?
  • hashhash    7,495 posts
    what was in this book by Don Scott that gave punters the edge @carey
  • careycarey    6,368 posts
    there was several of them....
    the winning way
    winning more
    winning in the 90's
    ....maybe more.

    i just looked at mine and it has become clear to me that i am too friggen old!
    it was late 80's or early 90's when we left the track.
    i reckon don scott made it hard for the bookies back than but he also made it hard for some punters that already knew a bit

    riders i just meant that if the bookie was offereing 15/4 on his board he would let us on for 4/1.
    slightly more than he was offering if we asked for it.
    fractions just meant putting maybe 60 on at 16/1 would be 960/60 but bookies most of the time back them would just wirte the ticket at 1000/60, without you even asking for it.

    Ridersonthestorm33, thefalcon likes this post.

  • bookieloverbookielover    2,623 posts
    edited September 2017
    Don Scott couldn't get on in Sydney back then, so he and his mate Morgan Ryan, a solicitor with a dubious reputation, would fly to the city meetings in Melbourne.

    Scott and Ryan bet on credit with my old man among other bookies, and neither of them were what I would term huge punters. Scott would have $400 on a horse, Ryan about the same. They would win and lose like most punters, so my thoughts looking back are, that Scott's big winning days and the edge that he had, had most likely passed by the time he came to Melbourne. 

    His halcyon days were with the group called the legal eagles and they are reported to have won a fortune from Sydney bookies. I should add that having met Scott and spoken to him, he was a thorough gentleman. 

    As Carey correctly states, most bookies would give their better clients a roll of the board. Most of the VFL footballers at the time, from all clubs who went to the track, would bet with my old man because of my fathers fairly heavy involvement in the Carlton Football Club, and he would give them at least 2-3 points over the odds, so he'd give them 6/1 or 7/1 about a 4/1 chance. They were shocking punters.

    When I have been to the Gold Coast, I would go to the Tweed Heads Greyhound Track and bet with what were three bookies. That number bet there until I went again three years ago and only the Merlehan boys i.e. Top Sport were there. But when there were three there, Merlehan would give me a roll of the board so that I would only bet with him, and I'm sure that there are bookies on track here and Interstate who will give that "service" to a punter that they want to keep, who either bets in cash or always pays if they bet on credit.

    I don't know if you were still at the track when bookies boards became decimalised, Carey, but it became very awkward for bookies to offer fraction betting. However, they did overcome it so that if a horse was $8.00 which is 7/1, the bet to obtain the fraction would be $1000/140. So at the $8.00 the punter would say to the bookie, 140.00 up the 5, the number of the horse, and that would go into the computer as a bet of $1000/140.

    I'm not too sure what happens today with fraction betting, but if bookies don't give it to their good clients, it would not be a surprise to me if they lost that clients business.

    Further to your comments, Riders, racing authorities lost the plot as far as on course attendance is concerned as they became completely seduced under the spell of the TAB. Money was flowing in to their coffers as they sat in the comfort of their Committee Rooms, and who among them gave a stuff if there were 40,000 at the track or 4,000, or as it is now, 400 at the track on a Saturday, when all this beautiful loot was coming into their bank accounts each year, and they didn't have to do a thing to earn it.

    And they didn't. So they lost a complete generation of punters, who would have gone to the track. They did not object enough about the Corporates, until it was too late. They have not stood up as one and insisted that if the Corps want to bet on their product, they MUST have a representative on track.

    This last one is the easiest of all. You would all be aware that the TAB take up a position on the rails at Flemington for the 4 days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and Glen Munsie is interviewed ad nauseum on channel 7 pontificating over what has been backed. That  last part aside, it is a prime example that if the racing ministers in all states got together and insisted on an on course presence by the Corps, it would happen, and would lead to an extra source of revenue for the race clubs.

    Bottom line though, is that unless the clubs make going to the races an inexpensive experience, no one will go, and if there are no bookies on track, then even less than no one will go. I only went to Morphetville and Strathalbyn because I knew there were bookies there, and I bet with them, as well as having a few bets on Betfair. If I'm at the track, I want to support the on course bookies. If I was on holiday in Port Lincoln, I wouldn't go to the track there, because for their next 6 meetings, they won't have a bookie on track. But that's just me, although I do have mates who feel the same way.

    All being well, the wife and I will be in Perth In January and we'll go to the track as many times as we can because we enjoy it. We also love going to Gloucester Park, even though we are not really trotting people, but it's a very enjoyable night out, and the absolute best place to go to watch a trotting race close up. We should be there for three Friday nights. Two of those are major meetings I think the Fremantle Cup, or W.A Pacing Cup are the two, and I'm sure a bookie or bookies will be there. But one of the Fridays is an ordinary meeting, and if there is no bookie, we won't go.

    Just on Gloucester Park, had a look at a couple of races Friday night, and was stunned at the low attendance when they showed a crowd shot, as compared to a year or so ago. So I had a look at the admission prices. $12.00 or $6.00 Concession. 

    It was $10.00 or $5.00 concession to get into a "major" meeting at Morphetville. These people at GP are living in a bubble. It should be $5.00 to get in and nothing for pensioners or concession card holders. People are doing it tough, bills are getting harder to pay, and in Perth there is more mortgage stress than in any other State in Australia.

    I would say to the CEO at GP, how about showing a bit of intelligence and making the experience of a night at the trots more affordable, so that when they take a crowd shot of the place, you don't see tumble weeds rolling across a barren wasteland.

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

  • careycarey    6,368 posts
    i was seeing scott at melbourne midweeks as early as 1983
    can't remember ever seing him on a saturday meeting though
    i know dom beirne well, so i might ask him about scott and how good he was.
    regardless of how well scott himself may have done, he had a huge impact on punting in general, in that he made dills more racing savvy.
    i certainly blame him for forcing me off track!

    i was gone by that time(decimal boards), except for every blue moon when i would go socially.
    racing to me now though, is just something that i used to do.

    glancing through your post, you mention corporates....i can honestly say i have never had a bet with one.
    although matthew whatshisname and his dad from near yarrawonga was the money behind one betting syndicate i was involved in for a time
    is not racing victoria basically in bed with the corporates now?



    bookielover likes this post.

  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    edited September 2017
    Thanks for explaining 'roll of the board' guys...gosh can't believe didn't quite know what it meant but had heard of it in relation to bookmaker lingo many times...however hadn't heard the term for along time...now I know why.

    Just a very small one here BL if just for the minimum of atmosphere and comparing tote and on course bookie...enjoyed going to Pinjarra trots here...just 2 or 3 bookies but they added something to the day...made the difference for me between going to Pinjarra and not going.

    Then lo and behold their gone. Ended my days of going regularly and investing money on the on course tote at Pinjarra. Bookmakers for me on track didn't discourage tote betting rather it encouraged it.

    The people who make these decisions can't see the forrest for the trees.

    cisco, bookielover likes this post.

  • detonatordetonator    4,360 posts
    Morphetville does have a rail line for the tram that stops at its gate. It stops and starts in the city and goes through to Glenelg. You can hop off all stops in between.
    We have the rail at Belmont but not at Ascot.
    Make Belmont (with an upgrade) the all year round track. With the stadium there as well, the possibilities are endless.

    hash, goose, bookielover likes this post.

  • Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 

    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.


    hash dislikes this post.

  • H-BOMBERH-BOMBER    10,235 posts
    Have to agree
  • detonatordetonator    4,360 posts

    Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 


    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.



    Depends on how you define impact.
    Without doing anything or spending one cent. If the Eagles or Dockers have Saturday night games scheduled at the new stadium starting 6.10pm how many of those patrons will spend some time pre game at Belmont Park ?
    Perth Racing promote it and throw open the gates I guarantee you will get big numbers on track compared to what we have now.
    But we are in W.A and we don't like innovation or change.

    bookielover likes this post.

  • thefalconthefalcon    19,949 posts
    throw the gates open everytime there is game..footy cricket, soccer etc on a Saturday.

    bookielover, Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

  • hashhash    7,495 posts

    Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 


    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.


    that's because you and everyone else against it or not seeing it being beneficial are thinking like true punters and owners... think about it from a non race goers POV... day at the footy, team wins, full of p!ss, lets head across the bridge to the races for the last few or the other way round, let's head to the track for the first few races and a beer before the night game (your footy ticket gets you in for free to the track) 

    you'd be surprised how much traffic the Crown generates after an event in our around Burswood, why not do Belmont up and attract those same people to the races before or after they attend an event

    detonator, thefalcon, jum, bookielover likes this post.

  • FastmoneyFastmoney    4,912 posts
    Racing is funded by wagering.

    Takes a lot of food and beverage to fund a single $70k race.
  • detonatordetonator    4,360 posts
    Fastmoney said:

    Racing is funded by wagering.

    Takes a lot of food and beverage to fund a single $70k race.


    Will still be funded by wagering.
    Whats wrong with having atmosphere at the track on the days when there is action at the stadium ?
  • FastmoneyFastmoney    4,912 posts
    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:

    Racing is funded by wagering.

    Takes a lot of food and beverage to fund a single $70k race.


    Will still be funded by wagering.
    Whats wrong with having atmosphere at the track on the days when there is action at the stadium ?
    Can have atmosphere but thats all it is.
  • detonatordetonator    4,360 posts
    Fastmoney said:


    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:

    Racing is funded by wagering.

    Takes a lot of food and beverage to fund a single $70k race.


    Will still be funded by wagering.
    Whats wrong with having atmosphere at the track on the days when there is action at the stadium ?
    Can have atmosphere but thats all it is.

    Perfect day. Punting, Footy and Casino. What else do you want ???? \:D/
  • NevershowsurpriseNevershowsurprise    995 posts
    edited September 2017
    hash said:

    Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 


    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.


    that's because you and everyone else against it or not seeing it being beneficial are thinking like true punters and owners... think about it from a non race goers POV... day at the footy, team wins, full of p!ss, lets head across the bridge to the races for the last few or the other way round, let's head to the track for the first few races and a beer before the night game (your footy ticket gets you in for free to the track) 

    you'd be surprised how much traffic the Crown generates after an event in our around Burswood, why not do Belmont up and attract those same people to the races before or after they attend an even
    Hash it's got nothing to do with me being against it or looking at it from a punting or owning perspective.

    I'm a realist, I'm 40 been an owner and participant since I was 18 and love racing and would love nothing more than to see it go back to the halcyon days.

    I'm looking at it from a business model and ROI perspective, it's broken and won't work. Racing doesn't have the appeal it once did and on course patronage will never return like it once was.

    On course Bookies will disappear and eventually it will become nothing more than a betting medium that will only have public attendance at carnival times.

    Build it and they will come just doesn't apply to racing anymore, that saddens me no end but that's reality.

    WA racing cops a bagging but as an owner, pound for pound (purchase price, training fees, prize money ratio) its still the best place in the country to race horses for a return and I hope that continues.


  • hashhash    7,495 posts
    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:


    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:

    Racing is funded by wagering.

    Takes a lot of food and beverage to fund a single $70k race.


    Will still be funded by wagering.
    Whats wrong with having atmosphere at the track on the days when there is action at the stadium ?
    Can have atmosphere but thats all it is.

    Perfect day. Punting, Footy and Casino. What else do you want ???? \:D/



    The only other thing I'd want is only a stones throw from the casino too, great way to end the night if you don't mind but can be quite an expensive hour (so I'm told)

    jum, Thunderstruck, thefalcon, paraletic likes this post.

  • dungydungy    9,278 posts
    detonator said:

    Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 


    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.



    Depends on how you define impact.
    Without doing anything or spending one cent. If the Eagles or Dockers have Saturday night  games scheduled at the new stadium starting 6.10pm how many of those patrons will spend some time pre game at Belmont Park ?
    Perth Racing promote it and throw open the gates I guarantee you will get big numbers on track compared to what we have now.
    But we are in W.A and we don't like innovation or change.
    100% Det , they should get big crowds next year on Footy days but WA stands for Wait a While PR have been given a free kick lets see how they use the ball next year when they get the free kick 

    hash, detonator likes this post.

  • jumjum    3,512 posts
    hash said:

    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:

    detonator said:

    Fastmoney said:




    The only other thing I'd want is only a stones throw from the casino too, great way to end the night if you don't mind but can be quite an expensive hour (so I'm told)

    =))   Where's the High Five emoji when you need it =))
  • chocchoc    788 posts
    detonator said:

    Det you need to forget about the stadium having an impact on racing. It just wont. 


    The days of racetrack attendance is finished permanently, its generational and its Australia wide.



    Depends on how you define impact.
    Without doing anything or spending one cent. If the Eagles or Dockers have Saturday night games scheduled at the new stadium starting 6.10pm how many of those patrons will spend some time pre game at Belmont Park ?
    Perth Racing promote it and throw open the gates I guarantee you will get big numbers on track compared to what we have now.
    But we are in W.A and we don't like innovation or change.
    Have always agreed with that theory.
    Can't stand the Trots as a rule, but if Ive been to the first day of the WACA Test, would ALWAYS walk over the road when they throw open the gates for a few drinks and some misguided investments.

    Do similar at Belmont on a game day and encourage any walk-ups you possibly can...

    hash likes this post.

  • detonatordetonator    4,360 posts
    2018 Perth Racing season Ascot switches to Belmont on 26th May.
    Based on 2017 AFL season, that would be Round 10. The first Derby was April 29th Sat 6.10pm start time.
    Wouldn't that be a shame or missed opportunity if history repeats.
    Perth Racing should consider the racing dates for season 2019.

  • ThumperThumper    820 posts

    Healthy industry needs healthy clubs, PR has not made an operating for a profit for a decade. The only way racing clubs can make money is by getting people into their facilities be it on race day or other.

    PR seriously need to consider aligning the Belmont season with not only the footy season but with footy games as well. They have to come up with a way to increase revenue and every weekend during the footy season there will be up to 60000 people rolling up next door. Imagine if they could get 2000 of those people in spending $20 each.

    thefalcon, detonator likes this post.

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