The Graeme Hawkins Interview On Tellytrack

James Goodman conducted a very interesting and entertaining interview with Graeme Hawkins on Tellytrack. Clan members should make an effort to see it when next it is flighted as many of the burning issues in South African racing were discussed.

Hawkins is widely respected and an individual with racing very much in his DNA. But he slightly spoiled his performance by ending with a 'wish' expressed with such breathtaking over simplicity that I almost fell out of my chair.

At the conclusion of the interview James Goodman asked Graeme if he had a 'wish' regarding one particular aspect of racing that he would like to see change. Hawkins unhesitatingly stated that he would like to see the demise of the 'open bet'.

He then went on to suggest that the ( estimated ) R60 million 'lost' to the open bet might be applied to stakes. That would be a first! Give any corporate entity a turnover increase of ANY amount and they suddenly apply it to one sector? I don't think so. I fancy much of the bonsella would be soaked up by other operating expenses with stakes possibly enjoying a marginal increase.

Upon reflection I was left wondering if the 'wish' was more for the restoration of a former monopoly.......

And let's not even MENTION Betfair!!

garrick he is right about the open bet, it is bad for racing. Please tighten up on your grammer. "an very interesting interview"? Um er er um um i believe an "n" after a is only appropriate before a vowel. Tighten it up old cock mmm er um mmm

Mike ...glass houses.... grammer... or grammar?

um er er um i am not sure element. But i dont do the throwing um er um um we still await the garrick presentation on tellytrack er er um um

adios you bring up an important point about uncashed tickets..yesterday was sitting at a table with 5 other punters and 4 out of 6 didnt know that you got a refund if only one leg of exotic was run..refering to cape jackpot yesterday where only first leg run and many bankered elley coupling

adios i dont understand yr post again. You can tell your guru he is clueless if he think the open bet does good for racing. He must be a parasite bookmaker?

Bookies are part of the industry mike ,get over it and move on...

i have no problem with fixed odds hibernia just open bets?

Thanks, Mad Mike. Duly corrected. Well spotted.

I am not quite sure why you appear to want me on Tellytrack as - given my complete lack of broadcasting and/or presentation skills - I don't see how I would enhance the viewer experience.

open bets are enshrined in provincial legislation - they are completely legal. whether they are good for racing is a completely different question. but there are a lot of things that are legal and also bad for racing.

my solution on this one would not be to ban the open bet - to restrict competition would be unconstitutional. rather zero-rate it for punter tax and make bookmakers pay 30% of their profit on the open bet to stakes. suddenly it becomes just as good for racing as betting through the tote.

good stuff AB. my way the stakes pot is in the same position as if the bets had gone through the tote. your way, the contribution gets recycled into the pools, which ought to attract yet more money and both P and the stakes pot are potentially better off.

........ R60 million 'lost' to the open bet

there is .....no ADDITIONAL R60 million.... in the bookmaking/punting industry over any 12 month period......

if you shake the punters at any venue...ie let them put all the cash on the table...you would be luck to find R20,000 at each respective venue..

you can see this at turfontein.......
when the 1st 3 races are won by outsiders..the course is empty...marble arch too..

when you shake all 104 GOBA (gauteng bookies) members...would you find R10 million cash...including O/D facilities at the bank...

books are open for inspection at the gambling board..as they should be...looking at that...surely not...

If, and if it was possible that one had to take R100 million out of the bookmaker/punter industry over a 12 month period...racing will stop..

It's the same money traded over and over on the tote..
It's the same money traded over and over on Interbet..

sure we look at tote turnover
but only about 27% per day is new money comming into the system from employees in other sectors of the economy.

the +27% is the cut the totes takes from the tote pools..
the tote pool are not growing..been at these levels for years..
the odd occasion will we find..with a carry over..

its only the extra R10 on the soccer bets...that makes one believe the industry is growing...


its not a sustainable business