No more six to four 6/4?

Sorry no 6/4 you can have 15/10

Decimal odds trial receives positive reaction


BOOKMAKERS could be ready to embrace change to the way they do business in the racecourse betting ring after they indicated on Tuesday they would be receptive to the introduction of decimalised odds and standard each-way betting terms.

Even though betting in fractions has been a long-standing practice in the betting ring, bookmakers accepted introducing decimal odds was a positive way forward as they gave a favourable reaction to Racing For Change initiatives aimed at modernising horse racing.

Robin Grossmith, chairman of the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers, and Channel 4 betting pundit John McCririck said decimalisation has become inevitable, while a strawpoll of layers at Southwell supported recommended changes which feature among ten trial initiatives drawn up by the RFC project.

An experiment with a dual system of odds, allowing traditional fractions to be returned as well as their decimal equivalent, is being lined up this spring, but resistance within the ring to change, 39 years after currency was decimalised, may not be as strong as anticipated, though at some potential cost to punters.

"The comments made by some people about why change because people are used to it are somewhat valid, but I do accept the argument that a generation have moved on," said Grossmith.

"On the racecourse now quite a few bookmakers bet 9-5, 13-10, 15-4, so it is creeping in slowly anyway. It is probably inevitable."

McCririck said: "They are inevitable. People still come up to me on the racecourse to ask what is the better price, 15-8 or 7-4? I always knew this would come but hoped it wouldn't in my lifetime. Part of the traditional and colour would go, but it is the way to go forward.

"Off-course bookmakers will welcome it but it's a loss for punters because they won't get the full 4-1 or 5-1."

RFC's goal is to have trialled the initiatives by the end of June with a number to be introduced on one day, though no date has yet been scheduled. Producing standard each-way betting terms on the racecourse is more complicated, though bookmakers appear prepared to offer a quarter the odds for a place only in handicaps of 22 runners or more.

Yep this is one of their great new iniatives to get racing moving again..

Wouldn`t like to be a Tic Tac man though!!!

No more Berlington Bertie, here its ten to three and they wonder what McCirrick is saying and cant get it to rhyme

lol

Big Mac caused a bit of a stir yesterday when he said he wanted to get more "ethnicks" and even "women" involved with racing..


Wonder if the bookies are going to have set prices they use?

Now when a horse gets pushed out from 7/2 it becomes a 4/1 shot,so will the bookies now offer it ip at 3.6/1 then 3.7/1 ?

Probably the Betfair effect.

Jack its one of the "Racing for Change" boards findings i posted yesterday,to improve the image of racing..