Bookies On A High As Skint Punters Are Stuffed Again

Jul 20 2008 Joe Punter

IT'S official - as if any punter needed confirmation - bookies have hit a six-year high in their starting price margins.

In other words, amid a credit crunch that is squeezing Joe Public until he squeaks the layers are cushioned against this by just skimming more off ... from your pocket.

But the Starting Price Regulatory Commission seem to believe it's a perfectly acceptable state of affairs.

Even worse, the SPRC have issued a report revealing the hike in margins based on their "analysis" of betting data supplied by .... major Irish layer Paddy Power!

With the drawn-out and badly handled sale of the Tote the picture is of racing being well shafted by vested interests. Just over a year ago the government turned down a £420million bid for the Nanny from a management and racing consortium.

Now they are trying to flog it off for a knockdown £280m. The Tote is a jewel in racing's crown but the powers that be are treating it like a cheap bauble to bolster depleted Treasury funds.

Opposition to the sale needs to grow now before it is too late.

I'M delighted Mark Wilson has been cleared of any wrongdoing over his slapping of the mulish Caprio at Brighton this month after the horse bit and head-butted the stalls handler at the gate.

Mind you, I doubt if Caprio will ever feel as frisky again at the start.

Tom Dascombe's three-year-old has had his tackle removed as a result of the bad behaviour and will now be free to concentrate on racing.

CALLING Andy Johnston, Glasgow. Frankie Dettori was champion jock in 1994 and 95 but Pat Eddery - whom he had taken over from - was the main man again in 96.

GOT a racing query? Write to Joe Punter, Sunday Mail Sport, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA. Or you can emailjoepunter@sundaymail.co.uk