13/2/2004 edition

Best Betting Odds

Does "the tote always beat the bookmakers"?

Many punters often turn a blind eye to facts. They don't record details of their bets, conveniently remembering their wins and forgetting about all their losses. Similarly, plenty of punters who just bet on their local tote like to think the win odds they get don't make a difference to their overall results. They say things like, "Bookmaker odds are useless these days. The tote always beats them." Those sort of comments have even been posted on the forum on this site. But they are not correct.

For metropolitan racing in Melbourne and Sydney, where there is the biggest betting turnover, bookmaker odds for the most popular horses in the market are superior to tote odds. This is particularly true on Saturdays. The exception would be races where there is minimal form available, for example a 2YO race full of first starters. That doesn't worry smart punters - they're usually not interested in betting in races like that.

Many punters don't even get the best tote odds, but just the price available on their local tote. Yet these same punters will say, "Tote odds always beat bookmaker odds."

Here are popular winners from Rosehill last Saturday. Compare the top fluctuation bookmaker odds, which are easy to get these days, with the best tote odds.

Wager
Top fluctuation: $1.60
Best tote: $1.30

Taikun
Top fluctuation: $5.00
Best tote: $4.40

Charlie Bub
Top fluctuation: $6.50
Best tote: $5.70

Marcellin
Top fluctuation: $2.50
Best tote: $2.40

This edition of Punt to Win:
Lonhro is a champion
Do tote betting odds beat bookmaker odds?
Betting favourites in small fields
Money talks - Rosehill, Caulfield betting tips from the track
Handicapping tips - weight and class
Future winners - unlucky horses
Punt to Win 6/2/2004
Punt to Win index

Betting packages

Back Tote Longshots?

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