New Gadget Does Not Compute For Old-school Punters
Sun Herald
Sunday July 16, 2006
MORGAN Ryan, a throwback to the golden years of the Sydney betting ring, shuddered at the sight of the new hand-held betting computer that will be available to racegoers down the track.
"Give me the personal contact with the bookmaker's bag," he grimaced. Put in and take out is the simplified interpretation.Ryan studied law with Bill Waterhouse and Neville Wran at Sydney University, and the punt with even more learned and distinguished judges.The new technology has mostly escaped him, and the advantages in yesterday's trial run at the track don't hold any appeal. Certainly the computer will cut down on tote queues, but then Ryan was a dashing figure getting top odds with bookmakers.Handling the new gadget, now in the pilot stage, a user has one of those magic pencils and the number of your race and horse is ticked when it is called up on the screen. Obviously tote queues weren't a problem at Randwick yesterday.With the early rain decimating fields, the computer at least was an interesting diversion. Punters can secure one by lodging a deposit from which they can bet throughout the day. The greatest benefit is approximate odds. Not only win and place, but the exotics. Quinellas, Exactas and Trifecta players will benefit because these estimates can be difficult to find due to a lack of monitors.At the end of the day the computer is returned to the tote. Had one been given to me yesterday, I would have been hitting buttons figuring computer error when the highly promising Rosecutter drifted into the black in the Mount Gay Rum Handicap. Still, the filly won, as good things should, and prompted champion jockey Darren Beadman to declare she is a budding group horse."Rosecutter will be better on top of the ground," he said. The heavy conditions blunted her acceleration, in his opinion, but she still picked up the opposition quickly. Rosecutter isn't easy on the eye until she hits top gear, but then she has the presence of a budding topliner.While the betting drift didn't stop Rosecutter, bookmakers gambled successfully against With A Chance in the Pitcher Partners Handicap. With A Chance was a wilting fourth and jockey Grant Buckley told stewards a combination of the wet conditions and big weight (57.5kg) took the edge off him. With A Chance had shown a liking for the slow, but the Randwick course proper was considerably worse. The AJC even had the Kensington circuit in reserve if the conditions had worsened.However, Melbourne visitor Mr Baritone was very comfortable indeed and scored convincingly in the Olivier Group Handicap. Victorian racing is renowned for being dollar rich, but prior to yesterday Mr Baritone had earned only $36,700 from nine starts, including two wins and five placings, but returned $36,700 for the Randwick triumph. And he didn't have to down any world-beaters, either.Alas, Postcode, also from Melbourne, didn't fare as well in the Luncheon Handicap, tailing off with the well-backed Respect, which would really have had the hand-held gadget sparking as he firmed in the betting. Postcode didn't handle the track, jockey Dan Nikolic said, and Respect had heart tribulations.The clubs are awaiting approval from the Department Of Gaming and Racing to cut the new computer lose at the track. With or without the punter's aid, you've still got to get dividends. When I master the mobile telephone and laptop, I'll graduate to the "wireless terminal". Until then, the bookmaker's bag still has appeal.
© 2006 Sun Herald