This is a brutally tough game on an average day for punters. But getting absolutely no run for your money is the most bitter pill to swallow.
The first race at Fairview on Monday was also the first leg of the popular Bipot bet.
Gavin Smith’s Bollywood Babe looked the right horse in the modest eight horse field and she started a hot order favourite – and a popular Bipot banker.
The problem is she never started.
Hollywood Babe was withdrawn a few moments before the start with a swollen fetlock joint.That is the rub of the green when we are dealing with flesh and blood.
Tote rules mean that exotic punters got the new tote favourite. Which in the end landed up being Grant Paddock’s National Emblem filly, Patent Of Nobility – who ended up confirming her last poor run and finishing a dirty fifth 6,80 lengths behind the winner.
The Bipot minimum dividend after leg 1 was R4-60. Add the takeout, and calculate the amount of unhappy combinations after that!
But should we moan if we play the game where we know the rules in advance?
Probably not. But this brain game should be about creating winners – not customers who feel done in.
With the tote link from Fairview to Joburg failing in those crucial few moments before the off, there were punters who were able to get on and cancel tickets and restructure their bets.There wasn’t a helluva lot of time left to react, to be honest.
And what about the guys who work for a living and loaded or took their bets earlier – and took the option of banking the favourite? They are the good customers – and they got nailed six love.
Maybe it is time for Saftote to revisit the rules – possibly an exotic first leg scratching rule that voids the whole bet may be a better option?
In that way at least one doesn’t feel cheated – and the money is bound to be reinvested in another bet on the day.
And at least then both Saftote and the customer are winners.
Or are we wasting our breath?
