Favourite punting stories

sometime during the mid to late 1980's

wendy is a clerk for Vivvian De Villiers
standing at turfontein
I am the payout clerk
Frikkie pencil
Vivvian writes the tickets
Wendy takes the cash..

her brother, a jockey at the time was tipping her
she tipped us.
later we started paying her bonus..sometimes like Frikkie would say..a monkey
one day she said, her brother want to see me.

off I went to the jockey room
back DEVIL MY CARE in the LAST..he is riding it..(what a name for a horse)
I know they are going to back AUTUM LEAVE (J Lloyd)
why you tipping me...
you always give my sister R500..these other guys give me R1500 if I ride a winner

last race
standing behind Junior's stall
Derek and the other lebs..all backing AUTUM LEAVE
each time they take R10K, I take R10K of DEVIL MY CARE
I then do my round at the other bookies..taking R5K..or R10K..
eventually AUTUM LEAVE is fav 18/10

DAVID ABROMOWITZ CALLS...andre you want R100K to R20K
I already had R135K of the horse..
OK..I'll take it


300 to go...and AUTUM LEAVE...
200 to go...and DEVIL MY CARE is flying...

RESULT : DEVIL MY CARE wins by +2 lenghts..

and today...
I cannot get myself to put R20 on a straight win bet...
will play Quartets..for R1000's

1st time I've written on this forum but have been involved all my life in horse racing, I've got many a story that would join the ranks and the most recent occurred just a few weeks back. A father of a very good friend of mine had colon cancer and passed away rather unexpectantly and I had to fly to Joburg for the funeral. I had 5500 rand languishing in my TAB account and at 430am on the morning of my flight i tried to log on as I had worked out a Pick 6 for 3 grand for 38%. Needless to say the TAB link was off line. Jumped on a Mango flight and drove to Randburg to collect my sister from work to accompany to the funeral and asked if I could put my bet on from her office computer. No problem she said and I furiously typed in the tabonline website only to be barred from the system administrator as no "gambling" sites were allowed.

Feeling rather disgruntled we passed by a Nandos on the way to the church and as we were early we stopped for a bite. Imagine my surprise when I saw a Postnet next door and while waiting for our grub I dived at the final chance I would have before the Pick 6 kicked off.

On walking in I was informed that their server was down but they assured me to come back in 15 minutes which was fine as there was 20 minutes to go before the start of the 1st leg.

After wolfing down the burger and chips I returned to the computer shop, server was still down, met my sister in the car who assured me it was a sign and that I was probably saving money I agreed , however there was something niggling at me throughout the afternoon.

I flew back to CT that night and logged onto the results from Scotsville for the day, of course I had got the Pick 6, it paid a million and 50 and I would have got 38% of thereabouts.

The worst part is I havent come close since and It wasn't like I didn't try to get on!!!

I've since started using the phone to call in bets....

When visting the clan in their box..
I got reminded of the escapades...

Wednesday afternoon..about 3:30pm..at Newmarket racecourse..
Down at the restaurant next to the jockey room..
Scott& William organised the cheese platters..olives..pepper dews...1/2 Italian
we started early..bored..
lots of red wine..merlot..

and we are making a noise..as usual..
Ronald..Phumelela security guard..later became my driver..is keeping watch..
calling the waiters to fill the glasses...making sure that we dont fall off the chairs..and if we do..he picks us up..

no punting..only a P6...

RACE 7..suddenly a bee in the bonnet...
Me..enroute to the bookies..glass in the hand..Ronal follows..bottle in the hand..to top up my glass...
also to pick me up...if I fall...

from a distance I see the betting..MR MILLIONARE...he is going to win..

around..and around..and around I go in the ring..backing MR MILLIONAIRE..
Ronald topping the glass up..
the LEBS's..they think I know something..so they pile in too..

back to the table at the Restaurant..Ronald following..
MR MILLIONAIRE WINS...
I got a handfull of tickets...

RACE 8...cannot remeber the horse..fav..about 5/2..
must be 3 bottles by now...
off we go..me with glass..Ronald with the bottle..
back the fav...round..and around..and around..and around..
The LEB'S..pour the money down on the fav..
Scott calls..the stipes are complaining...the commotion down at the bookies..
Ronald is not allowed to walk with the bottle..me..no glass..

back to the restaurant..
The FAV wins..
more redwine....and much more...
pockets are full of tickets..some have fallen out..but it's ok..its all on account..we settle next week tuesday..the bookies keep track(we like to believe it)..

RACE 9...
MADAM WHEELS.....12/1..raymond sham likes the horse...
don't ask me why..bee in the bonnet...MADAM WHEELS is going to win..
by now I walk in circles..should have drunk railroad red..would have stayed on the track then..

now we pile in..R20K,R10,R5k...whatever you want to lay..call the bookies in town on the phone..same story..
HABIB (if I remember correctly was riding)...so the LEB's are finishing the lot off...they think I know something..
backed the horse to 4/1 or something like that...

PHOTO FINISH...
MADAM WHEELS wins...STRYDOM on the fav 2nd...


by now..all the LEBS are at the restauant..wanting to buy me a drink..

how much did I win..who knows..the tuesday settling..received money from guys I did not even remember taking bets with the wednesday night..

It's bad if the clan remembers you by your escapades....

What an interesting thread couldn't stop reading
Will post a few a stories I also have later

A few years ago, 1 month before the MET, I dreamt of my late grandfather.. He was lying on the beach and chatting to me. He was horse racing crazy, but our conversation was never about horses in that dream. Towards the end of the dream, as he stood up to walk away, I yelled back "What do you like for the Met this year??"

He responded "I dont really know, but whatever Aldo Domeyer rides, will win". And that was the end.

I told my dad of the dream, and he laughed. He said Aldo probably wont even get a ride in the MET (He was still a "new kid/average" jock back then going up against the big boys). Needless to say, I waited until Jockey declarations were out. And there it was; sitting on a 100/1 shot for 1st time MET Trainer, Yogas Govender - Martial Eagle.

"Naah.." I thought to myself. No chance of this happening. But the more I found reasons to convince myself not to punt it, the more I felt like I was betraying my grand dad. 2 weeks before the MET, I convinced myself that this horse was going to win. I told the whole world, mates, friends, family and some laughed, but some listened with intent.

I placed my bet a week before the day. R100k/R1000w and R25k/R1600 places. I couldnt sleep for the entire week. Even begging my grandfather to come back and visit me in my dreams to confirm that I wasn't just hallucinating the other night. But nothing...

The big day arrived, and I got my entire family together. Including my elder sister who has no interest what so ever in the sport. I think this was more about what grand dad told me, as opposed to horse racing. It was something that brought the entire family together, and got us reminiscing about him and his drunken yet funny moments in racing...

CRASH, the gates open and from draw 18 Aldo parks Martial Eagle in 4th. Everyone shouts collectively "Where is he?? Where is he??"... I get up and touch the Big Screen and show them where he is. Now everyone is focused.

Ambling along easily, I nudge my dad and softly say "He is doing it too easily. If he is good enough he may just stay on and run 4th".

They swing for home and Stryker sets Pomodoro clear in front, Hill Fifty four tracks him and the Eagle stays 1 paced in 3rd. Aldo hasnt moved yet. I stand up and I start to shout "Go Aldo"... In my mind, I just want him to finish in the first four. And just like that, Aldo hears the shout, and so does the Eagle. He moves into second in the middle of the track and past Pomodoro. My entire family is now standing and shouting. What exactly they were saying, I cant say because it was all a blur.

I can hear the commentator calling the big guns names now, BEACH BEAUTY switches, JACKSON on the outside, and all I am doing is pointing at the Eagle on the TV and in Tandum now, my entire family and I are screaming at the top of our lungs, GO ALDO, GO ALDO!! Almost melodious and perfectly in sync. He hears us again, and the Eagle hits the front.

At this point, something happened that has never happened to me before. Tears began to pour down my cheeks and my voice was gone. My lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. I could hear everyone else, but not myself anymore.

They cross the line, and all I heard was "Martial Eagle causes the UPSET"! I recall looking around as everyone went dead quiet. Men, women, all alike, were in tears. We were silenced. No, it wasn't about the money (although we did party like released jailbirds that night). It was the presence of our beloved grandfather that was there.

The funny thing is, we always fobbed him with his "one out" stories when he was alive. But this time, he wasnt 1 out. He was IN. He wasnt there in true life to know what it finally feels like to back a 100/1, but he certainly made it possible for us.

I will never forget that day, and neither will my family and friends. I dont care where this sport may end up in this country and all the crap going around, but its the platform that allowed my late grandfather, my father and I to become best friends, and then only, family members.

Its been years since this day, but even as I type this, I have tears building up in my eyes. A special story to share with my fellow mates on ABC.

great post thanks for sharing press

Had MARINARESCO won last year's July i could have won about 180k, close but no cigar.

press


awesome story

Great story Press
a few years ago(2014) I started looking for the July winner in May and my Selection was Wylie Hall, at the time 50/1.
I backed it, R100 here and there. I stood a chance to win R40 000.
On July day me and my family went to Turffontein and booked a table.
While in their the master of ceremony Rod gave people chance to mention their fancies so I stood up and preached Wylie Hall to all.
So we all stood there watching the race and when WH passed the finishing line first we all went wild, jumping for joy.
Well we all know what happened, it was one of my biggest disappointments.
Not only did I lose the bet. I also bankedhim in a quartet with a few horses for second and F X F for a full ticket

On the positive side I also backed BILATERAL 50/1 and
also had a % of the P6.

avataar wrote: Had MARINARESCO won last year's July i could have won about 180k, close but no cigar.

Ouch... i feel your pain. I was so confident going into the big day. I remember on the day he drifted from 8/1 to 20/1. Nobody gave him a chance from that draw. As they turned for home, seeing him last and that far back I thought he'd be lucky to get into a 4th or 5th. I'm still in awe at his finish. It is outstandingly rare to see a horse make that ground up in a grade 1 on a short straight. If only Grant kept him a little closer or made his move around the turn, he may have got there :dry: never seen a more unluckier loser for quite awhile but that's racing and why we love it. Anyway, he did redeem himself in the Champions Cup.

but hoping he can get his revenge this year

The background to my most of my stories is as follows.
My dad went to his first race meeting in 1974 @ the old Bloem track
Unfortunately he won the day and he was hooked
Soon afterwards he was transferred to JHB and bought a house in Alberton, South Crest.
Now my dad was a medical rep. He knew medicine.
He wanted to became a pharmacist but never had the money to go to university. but he did self study, he read the the bible of pills called the MMIS diligently and studied it , I don't know if i still around today,he also worked in his off time in a friend pharmacy.
So he had a friend (co worker) in Cape town, Dick Bosman.
Dick had had to horses Nun of Kent and MY Swallow, my Swallow was a half sister to in Full Flight.
Dick wanted to move to Johannesburg and asked my Dad if he could recommend a trainer so my dad referred him to Jean Barnard, who at that stage just started training.
One day he and Dick visited her stables and she mentioned something about a horse who had a certain illness and she was batting to get the horse over the sickness so my dad said he will do a bit of homework and see if he could put together a mix and see if the horse improves.
He consulted his MMIS and put a mix together.
They gave the horse the mix and the horse improved and won three races in a row.
From there on he delivered to her on a weekly basis.
She then mentioned it to other trainers and they started phoning him for the same.
So he got to know a lot of trainers.
Just want to mention that My Swallow went to win quite few races.
Dick later became the owner of a horse called Flower Power, who at one stage held he record @ Turff for a 1000m.

Bad luck,costly,but with a happy ending..
I was on the phone to my brother in law,relaying the race of our Blue Warrior (70,000 sterling).
When I said to him "it had gone in", he thought it had won,not gone in the lake.
Was never the same after that and was retired,he lives near me with a fantastic lady who loves him.