Great podcast of days gone by, and sadly of the end of the great era that was Australian racing. Never coming back either, but was very Sydney centric which i understand, but you missed the smartest punter of them all, and decades before his time. Billy O'Callaghan from Melbourne, lived opposite Caulfield racecourse in Kambrook road, was leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the pack and died with plenty, most don't. Despite who claims to have been the first, Billy was the first to walk the tracks on the day/eve before a meeting in town. A great human being and an absolute genius.
As mentioned pounds per length etc was a methodology prior to Don Scott. Rem Plante wrote a book 'Australian horse racing and punter's guide' in the late sixties. I know because when I was eleven in 1971 and wanted my dad to put a bet on for me, he handed me the book and said "I'll put bets on for you only if you read this". (still got it). Rem Plante would use some of the same principles that Scott went on to develop but took a relative handicapping perspective. He would analyse and assess runners based on the races they previously competed against each other or times when runners in a race previously raced against the same opposition but in different races. Don Scott changed the analysis to analysing the idivudual runner through class ratings with a greater inclusion of things like improvement and decline. He also popularised the concept of value and the methods used to translate relative ratings into a probability of success.
Guys this is probably the best piece of content about Australian Horse Racing that has been released in the last 10 years. I think both your guests deserve to be in the video title. It was awesome work listening and hearing about both of their memories of the old-school racetracks and betting rings. This is better than anything released by the mainstream outlets. Well done. My Poppa Duce was an SP bookmaker, and I hear a lot of stories from my father about these days, as a punter myself in the modern era, exposed to all the A.i. and sectional databases, the old-school era sounds a lot more romantic and engaging. May the big bets loom and the winners flow. Good luck to the Den.
Yet another quality podcast ! Its articles such as this with two terrific historians of the racing industry that differentiate your quality from others. Congratulations
I remember listening to Max on Saturday mornings in the 70s. About 5 radio stations in Sydney had racing pundits and covered the races then, with their own callers on course. I particularly liked Des Hoysted, 2UE. He was a gentleman and even apologised to punters if he called the wrong winner. Once someone said, "Des would you take 15/1 on about a horse?" He replied, "Mate, I wouldn't take 15/1 on about the sun coming up tomorrow let alone a horse". But Max was great, often wearing loud lairy check jackets. He said on a show he was walking in a shopping centre out Western Sydney and someone shouted the not very original, "Presnell, ya can't pick your nose let alone a $$%**** horse!" He laughed, waved at the guy, and said, "True mate".
The legal eagles were legendary. They backed a horse in the 1963 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick called Fine And Dandy, the experts said this horse couldn't run 1,600 metres down hill. The horse won at 33-1 and was backed off the map. I think it ran an Australasian record for the mile. 1 min 34.6 roughly. And they backed another horse in the Sydney Cup called Gallic Temple that Peter Cook rode and it won at huge odds. I think it was 1970.
Some valuable and illuminating material here - spoiled by the complete lack of production. Disgraceful effort by Max with his coverage of Zeljko Ranogajec. Why can't he even be bothered to read his colleague Kate McClymont's articles, to prevent himself becoming a complete laughing stock to the many of us familiar with Zeljko's antics!
Might And Power's record was only poor when trained by Anthony Cummings earlier in his career. His career is better judged from when trained by Jack Denham. Injury shortened his career, too. At his best, he was a great horse and was also rated number 1 in the world at his peak. I'm a bit biased, though as I was working at Jacks at that time. Excellent podcast, keep them coming.
Max is indeed a true legend. So it would've been nice to have to the host do some more research rather than a cursory interner search.. But worst of all....the constant interuptions from the other bloke really ruined the interview
What a legend Max is. Fond memories reading his articles, listening to him on 2ky with Shelley Hancock and watching him on Sportsworld. Thanks lads!
Loving the podcast (training my youtube to store this)
Well done to all 3 contributors. All played their parts perfectly. We need to learn from this rich history to move the game forward !
on ya mate, thanks
Games only going backwards. You’ll never see the great days of the 70’s and 80’s ever again!
Great podcast of days gone by, and sadly of the end of the great era that was Australian racing. Never coming back either, but was very Sydney centric which i understand, but you missed the smartest punter of them all, and decades before his time. Billy O'Callaghan from Melbourne, lived opposite Caulfield racecourse in Kambrook road, was leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the pack and died with plenty, most don't. Despite who claims to have been the first, Billy was the first to walk the tracks on the day/eve before a meeting in town. A great human being and an absolute genius.
As mentioned pounds per length etc was a methodology prior to Don Scott. Rem Plante wrote a book 'Australian horse racing and punter's guide' in the late sixties. I know because when I was eleven in 1971 and wanted my dad to put a bet on for me, he handed me the book and said "I'll put bets on for you only if you read this". (still got it). Rem Plante would use some of the same principles that Scott went on to develop but took a relative handicapping perspective. He would analyse and assess runners based on the races they previously competed against each other or times when runners in a race previously raced against the same opposition but in different races. Don Scott changed the analysis to analysing the idivudual runner through class ratings with a greater inclusion of things like improvement and decline. He also popularised the concept of value and the methods used to translate relative ratings into a probability of success.
Top class podcast yet again lads, That was epic! Any plans to have Steve Fletcher on??
Guys this is probably the best piece of content about Australian Horse Racing that has been released in the last 10 years. I think both your guests deserve to be in the video title. It was awesome work listening and hearing about both of their memories of the old-school racetracks and betting rings. This is better than anything released by the mainstream outlets. Well done. My Poppa Duce was an SP bookmaker, and I hear a lot of stories from my father about these days, as a punter myself in the modern era, exposed to all the A.i. and sectional databases, the old-school era sounds a lot more romantic and engaging. May the big bets loom and the winners flow. Good luck to the Den.
Thanks mate
Yet another quality podcast ! Its articles such as this with two terrific historians of the racing industry that differentiate your quality from others. Congratulations
always appreciate your support, Nick
I remember listening to Max on Saturday mornings in the 70s. About 5 radio stations in Sydney had racing pundits and covered the races then, with their own callers on course. I particularly liked Des Hoysted, 2UE. He was a gentleman and even apologised to punters if he called the wrong winner. Once someone said, "Des would you take 15/1 on about a horse?" He replied, "Mate, I wouldn't take 15/1 on about the sun coming up tomorrow let alone a horse".
But Max was great, often wearing loud lairy check jackets. He said on a show he was walking in a shopping centre out Western Sydney and someone shouted the not very original, "Presnell, ya can't pick your nose let alone a $$%**** horse!" He laughed, waved at the guy, and said, "True mate".
Interesting mate. Thanks for watching
Can’t get enough of this stuff. I was born in the wrong era.
Great stuff, enjoyed it immensely.
Well done gentlemen.
Really enjoyed this .
Hope this type of content continues.
More to come!
This is the best, thank you!
The legal eagles were legendary. They backed a horse in the 1963 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick called Fine And Dandy, the experts said this horse couldn't run 1,600 metres down hill. The horse won at 33-1 and was backed off the map. I think it ran an Australasian record for the mile. 1 min 34.6 roughly.
And they backed another horse in the Sydney Cup called Gallic Temple that Peter Cook rode and it won at huge odds. I think it was 1970.
great content
Great to hear Max’s stories, the other guy, not so much
Some valuable and illuminating material here - spoiled by the complete lack of production.
Disgraceful effort by Max with his coverage of Zeljko Ranogajec. Why can't he even be bothered to read his colleague Kate McClymont's articles, to prevent himself becoming a complete laughing stock to the many of us familiar with Zeljko's antics!
Might And Power's record was only poor when trained by Anthony Cummings earlier in his career. His career is better judged from when trained by Jack Denham. Injury shortened his career, too. At his best, he was a great horse and was also rated number 1 in the world at his peak. I'm a bit biased, though as I was working at Jacks at that time. Excellent podcast, keep them coming.
Max and Kenny were the last of the real honest racing media men.
Good to get glen pollet on. Funny stories.
Glenn is a must. The good catholic boy from St Pius who knocked up his girl in 12th form. He can tell ya the rest…
Go Legends! 💪
That compere bloke in the chair looks like Mexicos best boxer.
would be better if the voulume was turned up a bit more
The question is did the ABC consult guys like this when they ruined the Les Norton books on TV?
nope. we could do a great TV series if they wanted authenticity
@@WolfdenApp worth considering
Max is indeed a true legend.
So it would've been nice to have to the host do some more research rather than a cursory interner search..
But worst of all....the constant interuptions from the other bloke really ruined the interview
our podcasts are not for you then. We press on.