WOLVERHAMPTON AW Racecourse Template (Monday 7 October 2024)
October 5th, 2024
Welcome to The Racing Horse. My name is Paul Moon, the founder/author of this website. Aged 16-years old, I ran away from my home in Bath to Australia, when I naively fell for promises made by the Big Brother Movement. I had hopes of becoming a jackaroo (young inexperienced cowboy) and a better life. |
On my arrival 'down under' I was unceremoniously dumped and given away free of charge to a farming family best described as hillbilly. There were no considerations for my safety and well being. My living conditions were damp, dire and cold, with little to poor food I had no access to soap or hot water, I received no pay. The farm was 10km from Mittagong so about 121km from Sydney, and certainly not conducive to learning Australian farming methods with a big brother as promised. Apart from two conspirators within the BBM hierarchy (Sydney), no one had a clue where I had disappeared too and there was no duty of care to a minor.
The whole experience at the farm bordered on madness. I was physically and mentally harmed, then in serious and impending danger from the owner, I had no choice but to flee! Unwashed, penniless and starving, I angrily confronted the BBM team back at their offices in Circular Quay, Sydney and threatened to expose their negligence and total disregard to the relevant authorities.
Not a single promise made by the BBM materialised and I was never introduced to a big brother (someone to look after me whilst I adjusted to my new life). The organisation found me a job at Lowes Department Store in the centre of Sydney, and I found lodgings in Alison Road very close to Randwick Racecourse. It was there that I first watched racehorses exercise early in the mornings - a sight that thrilled! Watching something so beautiful when at my lowest ebb, captured both heart and imagination lifting my spirits - I was hooked and fell in love with the 'Sport Of Kings.'
From then on I rarely missed a meeting at the major Sydney Racecourses of Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm and Canterbury, and I also enjoyed travelling to all the provincial tracks. I discovered Harness Racing at Harold Park which widened my experience further. On many occasion I worked as a bookie's runner and quickly learnt the importance of fractions and percentages, and gaining the very best prices.
Many years later back in England, I was trained by Ladbrokes in settling and betting management. They were once a great company and their teaching first class, and that is where I honed my numeric and settling skills. Since then my mind sees everything in terms of percentages and probability.
Like most punters I suffered the ups and downs of gambling. Over a very long period of time and without realising it, my betting evolved into something more mathematical and mechanical. My strike-rate improved further when I followed predetermined criteria before placing a bet. Finally I brought under control everybody's arch nemesis - I managed to shackle the emotional and disciplinary aspect of betting. I use the word 'shackle' because the emotional and disciplinary never goes away, it is always there lurking! I then accepted the way one deals with the emotional aspect of betting, bridled with money-management, determines how successful one is at betting.
During my very long apprenticeship at the school of hard knocks I learnt that alcohol, guesswork, laziness have no place in a bet - they are saboteurs! Having the right mentality is absolutely critical. A mentality equipped with good information, attitude, determination, repeatable mathematical processes and probability are still not enough if you do not have the discipline, emotional skills and money-management to underpin them. I am still learning the emotional side even now...
These days I never place a random bet, I see it as a weakness and a disciplinary lapse.
Much later in life, I understood the true meaning of value. Value could be in a 4/5 favourite, a 7/2 or a 16/1 shot. It can exist in any price. I also learnt that whilst form is very important, the profile of a horse in a particular race, with optimum conditions at a specific time, more so. I only look for one result at a time and because of random factors beyond my control, my brain rarely accepts the concept of ante-post betting.
Although focusing on the next winning bet is the primary concern, keeping honest and accurate records of past bets (win and lose) is an invaluable source of information and a road map of where you have been. Make no mistake, memory tells lies and the reason why all professionals keep records. Although I have confidence of winning over a period of time it does not mean losing bets will not hurt, but losing no longer damages me, my wife and family. Most importantly, it does not affect my next investment!
Working for bookmakers has shown me the careless, uninformed way punters place their bets. Most play the game without knowing the rules - for example most do not understand what an overround is? Furthermore, there are those who bet with bookmakers who do not give best prices guaranteed whilst others do not recognise the advantages of the Betfair Exchange!
For nearly five years I was privileged to have written for Betfair as one of their number one writers on many sporting subjects. The experience was very rewarding. It opened doors for me within the racing fraternity, whilst giving me the confidence needed to express myself. Thankfully, Betfair have revolutionised and changed the face of betting for good.
I have since written for many publications including Geegeez, False Favourites, Race Advisor, Betting Insiders and On Course Profits as well as the press and The Racing Horse.
Please contact me if I have said anything of interest or if you would like a FREE TRIAL so you can witness our work ethic. Many thanks...