Here is an interesting e-mail we received from one horse owner and punter's experience with Adelaide bookmakers.

Original Message
From: Tony Messenger
To: NEIL
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 1:12 AM

"Neil,
I find your articles about Adelaide bookmakers very interesting. At last, you have exposed the 130% -150% market disgrace that is happening in that State.

I would like to relay a quick story to you that would verify your concerns. I am a Melbourne punter and would bet $1k to $2k per race when I believe the market warrants my attention. I own a few horses and caught a flight to Adelaide to watch one of my fillies race in a Listed event in early March. 

On Saturday 2/3/2002 I attended Victoria Park races. At that meeting I attempted to place a bet of $1,000 on Russian Caravan in race 2 at the price of 7/4 (the tote in all states was showing 6/4 or less). The bookmaker accepted the bet, called it to his clerk, waited about 20 seconds and decided that he would decline and proceeded to shorten the price to 6/4.

After checking the minimum bet rule I decided to complain. I was told that I did not call the bet correctly, had not handed over the cash (although he clearly had the money in his hands) and was then ignored. 

I have not been treated in such a manner in many days punting, and although the bet I wanted to place was a winner I was disgusted in the way I was treated. And believe it or not the market tightened up substantially by my "phantom" bet. In Melbourne I would have spoken to the bookmakers' supervisor and ensured that my bet was honoured.

 

I am only relaying this story to highlight the inept, weak, non-form analysis behavior of a bunch of out of dated old suits in a backwater called Adelaide.

 

Fortunately my horse was paying 20/1 on all totes and was only 10/1 in the ring. I didn't have to deal with the ineptitude and simply rang Darwin All Sports on my mobile.....pity she ran 4th.

 

Please keep up the good work to expose this bunch of no hopers. (I don't suggest you catch a plane to Adelaide to watch them in action. The betting ring looks like a picinic at a retirement lunch and the members facilities are better at Geelong!!!) 

Regards, Tony Messenger."

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Get $3.80 Sunline?

It is just about impossible to get a high enough strike rate backing short priced tote favourites and the poor value tote horses to make up for the big unders on the tote.
If you regularly get poor odds you must lose.

Did you back any of these winners recently?
If you did, see the minimum prices you should have received. Make sure you do!
Remember short priced tote favourites
are losing bets.

Horse	Get these prices?	Or these prices!!	Extra percentage won	Extra Profit $100 bet
Henderson Bay	6.50	8.50	36%	$200
Alibarber	2.50	3.70	80%	$120
Republic Lass	2.20	3.20	83%	$100
Sunline	2.90	3.80	47%	$90

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