Peter

Can you tell me about your background in Horse Racing and using the Betting Exchanges?

I have been interested in horse racing since my teens, and can remember my first bet. I had just watched an interview on the TV, I think it was ‘grandstand’, and the commentator interviewed a professional gambler, who in the course of the conversation said he had come to the racetrack to see one horse in the first race, and that was all he was interested in. He gave the name of the horse and I was off to the bookies double quick!! It romped home at 7/2 and I was hooked.

Then over the years I received life’s little lessons on loosing large amounts as well.

I still think to this day the best information you can get is watching the telly and picking up comments that are dropped in interviews, very often not even picked up on by the interviewer.

That was the way I made about two weeks wages on Troy in the 1979 derby, the week before Willie Carson had let slip on telly that, as he simply put it “Troy will win” and so he did at a very handsome 6/1.

These days I think many more people are betting, and the betting exchanges have taken a lot of the stigma away. Many women, who would never have dreamed of going into the high street bookies, now gamble from the privacy of their homes.

The Internet has also brought a lot more information to the average punter that has never been available before.

Just to illustrate this point, a single site can carry much more historical data of every consideration a punter could want to know about a horse, it’s jockey, trainer, the race track draw bias, etc, etc, etc, than a hundredweight of racing post issues.

I have recently become more interested with laying horses to lose, and have found a couple of internet sites with outstanding past results. It would seem that there may be more money regular profit there, although the risks are far greater.

Would you describe yourself as a Betting Exchange Trader or a Punter?

I would still call myself a punter, I don’t have the set up to be a Betfair trader. By this I mean a computer and TV screen in the same room, and betting software on my computer. Then you would have to subscribe for every race you want to be on. I can see the advantages but I think the initial outlay would be quite large.

Over the time you have been betting, would you say you have won more that you lost?

Definitely lost more than I have won I am sad to say. But I am getting the hang or this now, it has only taken 30 years.

Do you use any Betting Bots and which ones would you advise using?

No I do not currently use them but have witnessed them in action and I was very impressed. They are going to be the way to go.

What is the most costly lesson you have ever made when either betting or trading?

I put a bet on once and it was not matched immediately but I decided to let it wait, as I was sure it would eventually be matched. Needless to say it wasn’t, the horse won of course and that cost me £400 in winnings that I never saw!! OUCH!! Always make sure your bet is matched!!

What would you say to anyone who is just starting to bet or trade?

Always have a betting bank and set an amount as a percentage that you would place on any one bet. Stay within your means, and never, ever, try to recoup lost money on the next bet.

Have you followed any Horse Racing Tipsters in the past and what did you think of them?

Yes, I have tried loads of tipsters, and unfortunately it cost me a lot time and money to find out that they are virtually all useless.
Inside information is rubbish if stable hands, ex-jockeys, farriers etc really knew good info they would be driving around in Bentley Continentals, but they aren’t are they?

There are a few who give their full results and have them proofed to the racing post or racingindex.com. But a large betting bank will usually be required.  Then there are some real sharks out there who are con artists a quick look around the Internet and you will soon discover who they are.
I have however bought a couple of systems recently, and I am testing them at the moment  two of which look very promising. I will update you and your readers on these in the coming weeks.

I can recommend a site for stats for your readers though www.adrianmassey.com is excellent.

Do you have any further information or help you could give someone who has been betting or trading for a while or is just starting out?

Read as much info as you can, then if in doubt don’t!
It’s an old adage but still as true today as ever.

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