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My dear old dad first introduced me to the punt back in 1963 , when he took his 13-year-old son to the red-hots at Harold Park Paceway to see the great Cardigan Bay in the flesh .
Can ’ t remember the name of the race , but the Kiwi champion started further back than Walla Walla yet stormed around the field on the last lap to get the bikkies ahead of a top-class field .
Dad did the punting that night – I think his only win was putting four bob on Old Cardy at long odds on – just to savour a winning bet . It was only when I joined the Daily Mirror as a copyboy on March 8 , 1968 , that I truly learned about having a punt ! Everyone on the Mirror sports staff bet – all the racing writers , which included Tommy Brassel , Ken Callander , John Holloway , Harry Pearce , Jeff Collerson and a man who loved a bet more than a bonk – Bill “ Blue Gum ” Mordey .
My punting preference was for the thoroughbreds and my first few years as a young journo were spent on the Mirror Sport and then Sportsman racing staffs .
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I had to go to the races , which thankfully back then were only on the Saturday and Wednesday city meetings and at the provincials on a Thursday .
So t ’ was impossible to give the punt a rest !
Many ’ s the times I got on track , determined not to throw the rent money the way of the bookies , when I just had to dip into my kick after getting a bit of “ oil ” from a trainer , jockey or just an urger .
As you mature of course , off goes the pumpkin and on comes a head , and these days , my betting is confined to Saturday afternoons or if I spot one of my Blackbookers racing on another day .
During my formative years on the punt , the general public ’ s betting was restricted to the gallops , trots and dogs .
Of course , if you were really desperate you could find a game of cards , a two-up ring , an illegal casino or a couple of flies climbing up a wall .
Which finally brings me to what gets my goat . And that is how State and Federal governments have allowed betting to
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become a cancer . And talking of cancer – lung in particular - it was one the main reasons why a national ban on cigarette advertising became law on September 1 , 1976 .
Saving the lives of a multitude of folk who believed smoking wasn ’ t good for your health ! Also is not good for your wellbeing is doing your dosh on the punt .
With the advent of growing number of betting agencies in Australia - there ’ s 84 at last count – punting is on the rise , as is the number of people with the backside out of their pants .
Making a major contribution to this punting pandemic is advertising .
Crikey , I reckon a big percentage of television channels ’ advertising revenue comes from betting agencies . So , methinks it is high time governments around the country banned betting advertising . Those bloody ads ! Each , and every one of the advertisements shows people winning , clapping each other on the back and waving winning tickets – not a loser to be
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seen ! Mmm ! Just had a thought !
What about producing advertisements showing people blowing up when their selection loses , when they get home and tell his or her better half that the renttucker-electricity bill money has gone down the gurgler . Or watch a child eating a stale bread and dripping sandwich because there ’ s no other tucker in the house – mum and / or dad knocked off the grocery money on the punt !
Oh yes ! And ban betting agencies from putting their names on sporting venues .
The Brisbane , Cronulla and Panthers ’ stadiums are all named after betting agencies .
Fair dinkum , old Penrith Park has had more name changes than the number of times Donald Chump has tucked into a Big Mac .
Slight exaggeration !
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34 ISSUE 168 // MAY 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT