A hot topic of conversation on another web site I visit is that of withdrawn horses. Recently in one day there were 13 instances of horses being withdrawn and affecting the number of places the bookies had to pay out on.
Imagine thousands of punters betting in an 8 runner race (or a 16 runner handicap) expecting to be paid on 3 or 4 places. After the bet is placed, a horse is withdrawn and all those punters whose horse finishes 3rd don't get paid and the bookies pocket the lot.
The suggestion is that the bookies contact the trainer of a nag who has no hope of winning, get him to withdraw his horse and slip a brown envelope with a couple of grand in into his pocket and the trainers is quids in, the bookies are quids in and oncer again it's the poor old punter who is being robbed.
Just think about it, THIRTEEN times in one day. There were obviously lots more non runners but 13 times where it saved the bookie paying out on 3 or 4 places. It stinks, it's corrupt but no-one gives a damm.
Withdrawn horses - Bookies paying ???
could be genuine withdrawals. if the ground is not right for the horse, is it not right to withdraw. run some horse's on the wrong ground and you can harm them. i have no doubt that what you say does occur, but i would hope that most are withdraw for the right reasons.