IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reveals how corporate bookmaking agency BetEasy rejected a bet of $1,000 but announced a $50 million AFL sponsorship.
Butts also reports on the outcome of the workshop for racing participants in the far north and how well it was received by stakeholders.
Here is the Butts’ column:
BETEASY REJECTS $1,000 BET BUT ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION AFL SPONSORSHIP
IN the very same week that online bookie BetEasy knocked back a $1000 bet on a $2.90 chance (they bet the punter $500) the same bookie announced a staggering $50 million sponsorship of the AFL.
But that wasn’t the only snippet of news that fell out of the BetEasy bunker last week.
The rumours that BetEasy has jumped into the cot with James Packer’s Crown gained traction with a report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday that they will become partners in Crownbet – yet another online betting operation.
Not all news is good however – and you might wonder just ‘how good’ or ‘what benefit’ Crownbet will be for an industry that is already struggling under the plague, some might say scourge of off course bookies.
The SMH reported that “Packer's Crown Resorts has secured a new betting trademark, fuelling speculation that a tie-up with bookmaker Matthew Tripp will be revealed soon.
“Although the trademark may be used for general casino operations or promotions it comes after Fairfax Media revealed that Mr Tripp and Mr Packer were in talks to create a new online bookmaking venture.
“Recently Crown paid $10 million to buy the half of betting exchange Betfair that it did not already own. Although Betfair's exchange model is popular, it is yet to make sustainable profits. Crown has yet to explain its strategy for Betfair, but it is understood the company wants to tap into the growing popularity of fixed odds betting.’’ the report said.
Packer has a reputation of letting on the high rollers in his swank casinos around the world. Let’s see how he handles the higher rollers of racing who are being shunned by the big betting houses currently operating on these shores.
‘TIME WILL TELL’ WHETHER WORKSHOP FOR NQ PARTICIPANTS WAS A SUCCESS
FROM all reports the workshop for racing participants of the far north, held in Cairns last Thursday, was a big success.
Most of the problems endured by stakeholders in the far north were discussed and RQ’s Darren Condon and Country Racing manager Col Truscott were there on hand to answer all the queries.
Cannon Park trainer Fred Wieland, an outspoken critic in the past hailed the meeting a success. “We will see what happens now.
“We had a good hearing and were able to sort out many of our grievances” – a view shared by Condon who said: “we had good open discussion”.
“I think that was the best thing to come out of here,” said the CEO.
He also hinted – but didn’t commit – on the contentious issue of subsidies for northern trainers when Cluden closes next month.
Condon did however commit to efforts to relieve the jockey shortage in the north with moves afoot to fly young apprentices in from Brisbane on race days.
Col Truscott told the meeting it was time the area from Mackay to Cooktown was regarded as one racing district (as it was in the era of North Queensland Racing Association).
Since the Bentley days the NQRA, which once covered all meetings from Mackay to Mt Isa and north to Cooktown, is now chopped into three associations – Leichardt, Far North and North West.
Truscott said this created problems when 67 clubs wish to race on a Saturday.
But there are only 52 Saturdays in a year.
He also told the gathering that Clubs did not wish to race on Sundays in the bush.
“They claim it is not viable so it’s difficult to avoid clashes as many of the clubs rely on the same pool of horses and most of all jockeys”.
What Truscott didn’t spell out was the feeling of many – the fact that there are simply too many clubs racing on too many days at a cost to RQ of around $40,000 for every meeting.
This obviously cannot be sustained.
THIS SCRIBE WOULD RATHER BE LABELLED ‘NEGATIVE’ THAN NOTHING AT ALL
APPARENTLY your scribe also got a mention or three at the gathering in Cairns.
But that’s OK.
Better to be labelled ‘negative’ than nothing at all.
But if, for instance, branding Toowoomba’s preferential treatment by RQ as shameful – and its new track a disgrace is ‘negative’ – well, you be the judge.
What I believe is negative is the Australian Racing Board which is badly in need of a bloke like Jeff Kennett at the helm.
For reasons unbeknown, ARB launched the new track definitions last week.
What a wank.
The ratings to most are simply good, firm, slow and heavy.
It is not a numbers game and ARB should be fiddling with far more serious matters such as stewards in all states singing from the same song sheet, interpreting the same rules the same way. That would be a start.
And what about the crazy idea now of barring treatment to horses 10 days before a race. It is, as Anthony Cummings said, all but useless.
AND by the way – we just wonder if Christmas cards will be exchanged between Chris Waller and Donna Logan, the trainer of NZ stars Telepathic and Rising Romance.
Just a rumour!
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
