Hi LeTissLeTiss 4pm wrote:JollyGreen,
I'm not a racing fanatic, but what happens with on-course bookmakers these days?
Do they have people watching the exchanges & informing them of movers, or do Betfair prices reflect or react to what the bookies are offering?
If they are shortening a selection on track, is there not a window where you could back it on Betfair, before traders sat at home knows it's even changed?
If I visit a track I try and chat to the rails bookmakers and get a sneaky look at what they're doing
They have Betfair on a laptop usually and will take a look at what is happening.
You can get a headstart on prices but you have to be aware that it can also bite you. I have seen horses drifting on Betfair and getting smashed on course. It depends on how strong the market is as some days there will be 1 man and his dog at the course.
Generally you find it easier to catch a real steamer or drifter when it is caused by a "word" at the track. Bookies may be lots of things but they are not fools. They use a good network for information and once word is out they will usually be one step ahead.
The interaction between Betfair and bookmaker markets has been steadily changing over the years! IMHO I think Betfair has a bigger influence now whereas a few years ago it was the opposite. Admittedly that doesn't work carte blanche, there will always be markets where the bookies have the whip hand.
