Horse Racing Thread

[HKYellow]

Over the years, have seen some of the posters taking a keen interest in horse racing and like a bet or two.

I have a keen interest in horse racing here in Hong Kong (and Singapore & Japan to a lesser degree). People might have seen that I have set up my own forum for Hong Kong horse racing. So this thread is for anything relating to horse racing, including predictions, especially strong tips, maybe from the yards or people "in the know". So please feel free to post anything on this thread relating to horse racing.

Some info about Horse Racing in Hong Kong.

They have 2 tracks, Happy Valley and Shatin. HV is the oldest, is on Hong Kong Island, been here for well over 100 years. Is special because its right in the middle of the city surrounded by tall buildings which makes it spectacular. Is usually held under floodlights on Wednesday nights. Cost only 80p to get in, stand by the rails and see the parade ring. All bets are done through the tote and can bet from 80p. Very much a social occasion with lots of tourists, bankers coming along, enjoying a beer from only 2 pounds. Consists of 8 races and usually around 1 billion Hong Kong Dollars is bet on each meeting (thats 80 million GBP). Usually between 20,000 to 30,000 attend the meeting.

Shatin is the new and bigger track. Upwards of 40,000 attend the meeting held on Sundays usually. Prices to get in and drink are the same. Usually this is where the more serious racer goes. Its also where the local group and Internation group races are held with prize money for a group races start at 200,000 GBP all the way up to well over 1.5 million GBP.

Below is the link to my forum. And also how good or bad I did on the last 2 meetings. I look forward to reading your posts and hopefully making some money!

hongkonghorseracing.proboards.com/index.cgi

Results

Race 1 - Grandfield - Won at 59HKD
Race 2 - Smart Giant - 8th due to incident
Race 3 - Oasis Davis - Won at 290HKD
Race 4 - Sunseeker - 9th
Race 5 - Bayview Greyslew - 6th
Race 6 - Chantilly - 14th
Race 7 - Lucky Forever - Won at 49.50HKD
Race 8 - Fatboy Sugar - 2nd
Race 9 - Sunrise - 3rd
Race 10 - Little Bridge - Won at 41HKD
Race 11 - California Memory - Won at 98HKD

PnL based on 10HKD win stake = 427.5HKD

Race 1 - King Creole - 5th
Race 2 - High Luck - 4th
Race 3 - Mossman Blitz - 5th
Race 4 - Make It - 4th
Race 5 - Diamond Knight - 7th
Race 6 - Lucky Bravo - 7th
Race 7 - Soviet Pearl - 3rd
Race 8 - Ho Wongchoy - 2nd

So based on 10HKD win line, PnL would be -80HKD
Net PnL 347.5HKD

[Agadoo]

It's one thing I don't understand in this country - why it's so expensive to go racing. Usually about £25+ a ticket, typical English snobbery. You'd think they would have far more to gain if they let people in for a fiver or nothing, ah well, i'm sure Best Mate will put me right on that

[HKYellow]

Jan 7, 2011 10:30:12 GMT Agadoo said:

It's one thing I don't understand in this country - why it's so expensive to go racing. Usually about £25+ a ticket, typical English snobbery. You'd think they would have far more to gain if they let people in for a fiver or nothing, ah well, i'm sure Best Mate will put me right on that

Yes, totally understand your point. And just to reiterate, its always 10HKD, even when they have the international Cathay Pacific races. Of course you can go to other area's and pay more, but even then they are reasonable

[Boogaloo]

Jan 7, 2011 10:30:12 GMT Agadoo said:

It's one thing I don't understand in this country - why it's so expensive to go racing. Usually about £25+ a ticket, typical English snobbery. You'd think they would have far more to gain if they let people in for a fiver or nothing, ah well, i'm sure Best Mate will put me right on that

The greyhounds are pretty cheap to watch.

[Best Mate]

On a different racing forum I wrote a big piece on attendances (and what is wrong in my view with the racing industry).

I agree its far too expensive to watch racing in the UK. Especially an average meeting where is £20 to get in. At least at a big meeting when you see great horses - it is more understandable.

The reason it is so cheap in HK is the reason HK Yellow mentioned - the Tote betting. As gambling outside this betting medium does not exist, it means that the Hong Kong Jockey Club can put X amount of profits back into the sport (prize money). So this encourages a better standard of racing. Though knowing the HK population as I do, they would gamble on anything anyway!

They can have cheap entry as 1. Their profits are derided from the Tote whereas race courses here are independent to the book makers and use entries to create cash for prize money 2. The more people in, means more people gambling on the Tote - which in turn will mean more profits etc

Freelance bookmaking in the UK is a great thing in the sense that you can 'take a price' or you can 'shop around for the best odds' but the levy the bookmakers pay is too low (in my opinion). A lot of the bookmakers have set themselves up in Gibralter so they avoid tax and contributing to the levy - as they are not UK bookmakers.

The bookmakers argument against their levy contributions is that racing is a lower proportion of their income then it used to be and for other sports - such as football/ cricket etc - they pay no levy at all.

My argument is the BHA (British Horse racing Autority) needs to be a lot harder and state if you do not pay the desired levy then you cannot show pictures in your shops. Punters will soon leave the bookmakers shops where they can not watch their races and will go to the bookmakers shops who are willing to pay the levy and get the pictures. Racing brings in everyday cash to bookmakers and without racing Mon-Fri they would just be like mini arcades.....

They may lose income at the beginning as I am sure the bookmakers would fight it - but eventually they would cave. Just like they did with the Turf TV saga in the UK (Bookmakers were charged for pictures from certain courses and would no pay and just had commentary in shops). Betting fell dramatically and soon some bookmakers signed up and showed the racing and eventually they all had to follow suit....

[ConcreteBob]

I also live in Racecourse town (Warwick)

I've been up there a few times. Always a good laugh although I'm not much of a gambler so don't use the full potential of it.

[wizzard]

Think I'm right in saying that entry is free at Towcester.
But in general,to the major tracks,entry fee is expensive,along with food and drink.
I used to be a regular at Windsor on a monday night,good crack when the weather is fine,but the position of the stands and the figure of eight shaped track means you cant see the race unfold till the final couple of furlongs,just have to watch the big screen.
My favourite tracks are Sandown and Ascot.

['Beav']

Been to the races about 6 times.

I have NEVER NOT won on the last race.


I once even had to leave early and Ruby Walsh hadn't won all day after I backed him twice. Cheeky £5 won me about £40.

Lovely!

[Best Mate]

I love Sandown!

[HKYellow]

Can you bet on Hong Kong horse racing there in the UK? Dont mean the big races, but the normal meetings?

[Agadoo]

I usually go to Derby Day at Epsom, it's an open track so it's free and you get a nice view at Tattenham Corner. Been to Cheltenham once but didn't enjoy it

[bicesterox]

Had never been racing til I went to Ayr as Oxford were playing a freindly, saw there was a racetrack just down the road from my digs so went along, first 2 people I saw were Jerome Sale & Mikki Ianota [remember him from Fox fm].
Think they got a bit of a shock to see an OUFC clad fan at Ayr races!!

[Agadoo]

Jan 12, 2011 11:39:21 GMT bicesterox said:

Had never been racing til I went to Ayr as Oxford were playing a freindly, saw there was a racetrack just down the road from my digs so went along, first 2 people I saw were Jerome Sale & Mikki Ianota [remember him from Fox fm].
Think they got a bit of a shock to see an OUFC clad fan at Ayr races!!

So were they on Ayr.....(get it?)....?

[Best Mate]

No - do not think you can bet on standard HK races on a normal bookmakers but maybe on Betfair?

I will have a look about at the weekend (think that is the next meeting?)