Bookies fail to see decimal point
The day was generally a success for Racing For Change, a body charged with modernising and increasing awareness of the sport, with free entry to the Berkshire track more than doubling the attendance from last year.
Racing For Change (RFC) wanted to try updating the traditional fractions on the bookmakers’ boards in the betting ring, but there was little enthusiasm from several of the five decimal layers involved in the experiment.
Barry Johnson, who stood at the far end of the large grandstand, said: “It has been an absolute disaster to be honest. I wanted to take part in the initiative but it has been a waste of time for me.
“I have been outdone by the bookmakers on either side offering the usual odds and I haven’t made any money.
“There has been so much confusion. It has been in the right spirit but I wouldn’t do it again.”
Geoff Banks, on a more prominent position on the rails, added: “It has been a failure and we have very much struggled against the others alongside.
“I have spoken to a few traditional racegoers and they were unequivocally against it, and even experienced customers have been coming up to me and asking whether the decimals were 5-2, 11-8 or whatever. People like tradition.
“I think far more important, and something I have been working with along with Racing For Change and the other major bookmakers, is the standardisation of each-way terms and that is something we hope will be coming in soon.”
Nick Attenborough, the PR supremo of RFC, was grilled by At The Races presenter and former bookmaker John McCririck about the merits of the trial.
He responded: “We need to see if it is something we all want, is it good for racing, or let’s give it a bit more time.
“We should go at these things slowly and carefully, I think rushing into things is more dangerous. We are not rushing ahead with something until it has been properly looked at.
“I think there is a long way to go. The cost alone is a worry but with the betting exchanges going decimal, it will start to be the way people bet so we’ve got to be brave and look at the options.”
Attenborough added: “The bookmakers have taken a big risk today but we are very grateful for the support. We will have discussions after the meeting and see what comes out of it.”
Jim Donnelley, spokesman for the Starting Price Regulatory Commission said: “The SPRC are very happy to have participated in the trials and all the people involved in the trial – Racing Enterprises Limited, bookmakers, betting operators and technical support – have been very helpful.
“The SP returns for all races have been carried out in the normal way and those bookmakers taking part in the decimalisation trial were considered for inclusion in the sample in the normal way.”
