Hollywood setting the record straight

I’m writing this letter in response to the article on the front page of The Post on Wednesday 19th February 2020, titled: “All bets are off after ‘puzzling’ results anger Greyville punters” by Eshlin Vedan.

I appreciate that the writer, Eshlin, reached out to me at Hollywoodbets and our feedback/response was published on page 7 of the newspaper.

With regards to the comments shared by the punters, who chose to remain anonymous, there are a number of points that are factually incorrect in the article. I have indicated this to Eshlin, but he said I should provide feedback to the editor.

In the highlighted section of the article: "How can you explain a top jockey like Marcus Anton (his name is actually Anton Marcus) riding a favourite can’t get a place?” – A Punter”. I’m unsure if this is a direct quote from the unnamed punter or if it is an error by the reporter.

Eshlin further writes: “Holy Guacamole, the favourite in the first race, finished last…”

With regards to this, the reason why Holy Guacamole positioned last is because the horse sadly broke its leg, couldn’t finish the race and unfortunately had to be euthanized. It did not finish last because it “ran a bad race” or was “ridden badly” as might be perceived by readers.

Another interesting fact, which was left out of the article, is that in Anton Marcus’ next 5 races on the card for that Wednesday, he rode 2 winners and two 2nd places. The previous race meeting on the Sunday before, Marcus had 5 rides, winning 3 and 1 place finish. Marcus currently has the highest strike rate of any jockey in South Africa, an incredible 30.4%, meaning he has three winners for every ten rides.

One of the punters then commented: "In the last few months, I have been monitoring the situation. More and more favourites are not winning. I'd say only about 20% of the favourites are winning. Eighty percent of the time, favourites don't win." Whilst this is a quote from “another punter”, an interrogation of this statement would have revealed the actual statistics which are:

At KwaZulu-Natal racecourses, Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville:
Since 1st August 2009 (Last 10 years)
3399 out of 9716 – 35.0% of the favourites have won

Since 1st July 2019 (since Hollywoodbets started sponsoring):
194 out of 534 – 36,3% of the favourites have won

Anton Marcus Statistics on Favourites
Since 1st August 2009 (Last 10 years in SA)
1217 winners from 3189 rides – 38.2% of the ANTON MARCUS favourites have won

Since 1st July 2019 (since Hollywoodbets started sponsoring):
46 out of 119 – 38.7% of the ANTON MARCUS favourites have won

The statistics and facts speak for themselves i.e. the number of favourites winning to date has been level according to the averages and has actually increased since the commencement of Hollywoodbets’ racecourse sponsorship. The nameless punter’s comment is unfounded, unsubstantiated, and patently incorrect.

The cynic in me would say “Why let the facts get in the way of a good story”, but it is essential and crucial to the exciting sport of horse racing that false perceptions be put right. A disgruntled punter’s comments cannot be taken for absolute fact!

It is important for us to make you aware of this, as the comments mentioned in the article are incorrect and misleading to the reader.

I believe that it is crucial that these facts be made known to the racing public, to prevent the misperceptions created in the article.

Regards
Devin Heffer
Hollywoodbets
Brand and Communications Manager



Please see the the article posted on The Post www.iol.co.za/thepost/community-news/hol...of-interest-43136451

If Hollywoods where not making a fortune they would not be giving money to give to these incentives and the naming rights to the KZN courses.
No matter what percentage of favourites win they will always be on top because bookies limit good gamblers and take the bad punters money happily.

Hi Devin, I haven't posted in more than 2 years. However your response has forced me to offer some comments. Would you be able to put up stats for the last 2 months. I believe that would show where our frustrations come from. Recent results have been shocking. Many exotic carryovers. Anton Marcus is a great jockey but he too had had some shocking rides. To be fair to most other jockeys, Anton rides far more favourites and quality horses. His strike rate should be even better.

I thought Dev already stated the stats

Marcus has landed more winning favourites the last 6 or so months ( statistically) .Than the previous 10 years

And that’s without the Jooste bombs 💣

One way to check us to open Formgrids or Racebook ( they both have betting in results ) and search Anton Marcus and do your own research

KZN Racing Stats for Dec, Jan, Feb in KZN:
191 races
63 winning favourites
33% winning favourites

Anton Marcus:
118 Rides
36 winners (31%)

Anton Marcus Favourites:
87 favourites ridden
30 favourites winners
34% winning favourites

74% of all Anton Marcus rides are favourites

Facts don't care about your feelings! Fantastic post by Dev.

Unfortunately, Marcus is being a scapegoat for punters losing their money. Either he is not as good as some might think, or he's a participating in some nefarious activities. I don't believe the latter.

Having said that, the ones in the spotlight always get the praise, or the criticism....ask any Utd fan.

durbs wrote: If Hollywoods where not making a fortune they would not be giving money to give to these incentives and the naming rights to the KZN courses.
No matter what percentage of favourites win they will always be on top because bookies limit good gamblers and take the bad punters money happily.

👏👏👏

Bookies will always be on top because their books are always over-round in the long term.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When a favourite gets beat ... The Bookies are bent

But when a coup is landed after a horse loses form then miraculously wins after being punted we applaud

And when the graft is landed in PE with no effort from jocks on the also rans.. we applaud

Or when a gamble is landed on debut, with secrets being kept from the regular punter (no transparency) we applaud this

Disnae make sense

I am writing this letter in response to two articles in the post over recent weeks. The first article on the front page of The Post on Wednesday 19th February 2020, titled: “All bets are off after ‘puzzling’ results anger Greyville punters” by Eshlin Vedan and the second a letter published in the post in response to the former article, written by Devin Heffer of Hollywood bets.
I appreciate that both writers have taken the time to inform the public, especially the racing public on the subject raised.
With regards to the comments shared by punters, who chose to remain anonymous, and the response from Hollywood bets, who chose to respond on behalf of betting companies, I wish to candidly address the matter raised through a different lens; arguably the correct one.
A narrative that is deliberately postured around Anton Marcus and bias interpretation of racing statistics is canvassed by Hollywoodbets in their responding article. To substantiate:
• Anton Marcus is a much loved and well-respected individual in the racing fraternity. I must admit; it was a well thought and lucid move to strategically draw attention to Anton and paint him as an isolated victim in this matter in order to appeal to the sentiment of the reader. The main point punters are making is simply? Favourites are being rolled over at an alarming rate – why? Betting companies shouldn’t be sponsoring trainers and jockeys due to the potential for “conflict of interest” – a pole in this regard would overwhelming confirm that the punter makes a valid point.

• The introduction of statistics to substantiate an argument is always an effective tool; when applied unbiasedly and impartially – to simplify, let’s flip Hollywoodbets narrative:
o At KwaZulu-Natal racecourses, Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville:
Since 1st August 2009 (Last 10 years)
3399 out of 9716 – 65% of favourites have lost.
o Since 1st July 2019 (since Hollywood bets started sponsoring):
194 out of 534 – 63.7% of the favourites have lost
The above statistics and facts do indeed speak for themselves i.e. the number of favourites losing to date is alarming – even with the introduction of hollywoodbets as a sponsor, only a marginal decrease in this percentage has been observed.
Through their chosen response Hollywoodbets posits the following - 65% of the time, the trainer has trained the horse perfectly, the jockey has ridden the same perfectly – unfortunately the horse fecked up.
Would Hollywood care to comment on the following examples (as some of the concerns regularly raised by the punter? :
o Shocking displays of poor riding witnessed regularly.
o How do trainers ‘manage” their horses merit rating?
o Why did gold circle decide to autocratically change the race-card, further confusing the racing public? - Which would be deemed more important, the draw or the merit rating? Incidentally, if memory serves me well, this happened around the same time that Hollywoodbets became major sponsors of Gold Circle.
Taking into consideration the many scandals that has plagued this once great sport of kings (google will confirm that this is factual), it is hardly fair to brand “nameless punters” comments as unfounded, unsubstantiated and patently incorrect.
Ps: This writer strongly condemns any form of violence and abuse.

Acknowledgment:
Anton Marcus is my Favourite Jockey and one of the best jockeys in the world
Hollywoodbets, Springfield Park, makes the best Bunny Chows

Regards

Proud Nameless Punter (Federico)
CEO
ALL THINGS BEING FAIR AND EQUAL
“Without Prejudice”

Fred

Name one top racing country where more than 35% of favourites win

Federico wrote: I am writing this letter in response to two articles in the post over recent weeks. The first article on the front page of The Post on Wednesday 19th February 2020, titled: “All bets are off after ‘puzzling’ results anger Greyville punters” by Eshlin Vedan and the second a letter published in the post in response to the former article, written by Devin Heffer of Hollywood bets.
I appreciate that both writers have taken the time to inform the public, especially the racing public on the subject raised.
With regards to the comments shared by punters, who chose to remain anonymous, and the response from Hollywood bets, who chose to respond on behalf of betting companies, I wish to candidly address the matter raised through a different lens; arguably the correct one.
A narrative that is deliberately postured around Anton Marcus and bias interpretation of racing statistics is canvassed by Hollywoodbets in their responding article. To substantiate:
• Anton Marcus is a much loved and well-respected individual in the racing fraternity. I must admit; it was a well thought and lucid move to strategically draw attention to Anton and paint him as an isolated victim in this matter in order to appeal to the sentiment of the reader. The main point punters are making is simply? Favourites are being rolled over at an alarming rate – why? Betting companies shouldn’t be sponsoring trainers and jockeys due to the potential for “conflict of interest” – a pole in this regard would overwhelming confirm that the punter makes a valid point.

• The introduction of statistics to substantiate an argument is always an effective tool; when applied unbiasedly and impartially – to simplify, let’s flip Hollywoodbets narrative:
o At KwaZulu-Natal racecourses, Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville:
Since 1st August 2009 (Last 10 years)
3399 out of 9716 – 65% of favourites have lost.
o Since 1st July 2019 (since Hollywood bets started sponsoring):
194 out of 534 – 63.7% of the favourites have lost
The above statistics and facts do indeed speak for themselves i.e. the number of favourites losing to date is alarming – even with the introduction of hollywoodbets as a sponsor, only a marginal decrease in this percentage has been observed.
Through their chosen response Hollywoodbets posits the following - 65% of the time, the trainer has trained the horse perfectly, the jockey has ridden the same perfectly – unfortunately the horse fecked up.
Would Hollywood care to comment on the following examples (as some of the concerns regularly raised by the punter? :
o Shocking displays of poor riding witnessed regularly.
o How do trainers ‘manage” their horses merit rating?
o Why did gold circle decide to autocratically change the race-card, further confusing the racing public? - Which would be deemed more important, the draw or the merit rating? Incidentally, if memory serves me well, this happened around the same time that Hollywoodbets became major sponsors of Gold Circle.
Taking into consideration the many scandals that has plagued this once great sport of kings (google will confirm that this is factual), it is hardly fair to brand “nameless punters” comments as unfounded, unsubstantiated and patently incorrect.
Ps: This writer strongly condemns any form of violence and abuse.

Acknowledgment:
Anton Marcus is my Favourite Jockey and one of the best jockeys in the world
Hollywoodbets, Springfield Park, makes the best Bunny Chows

Regards

Proud Nameless Punter (Federico)
CEO
ALL THINGS BEING FAIR AND EQUAL
“Without Prejudice”

This reply is embarrassing and the biggest pile of dog poo 💩 I have ever read on this forum