Betting on Kolkata racing - Value for your money
By Cyrus J. Madan

Mar 28, 2007

Midweek Racing on Tuesday, 27th March at the RCTC may have lacked appeal in that three of the seven races framed boasted of 3 and 4 runners. True enough and you don't have to be an expert to point that out. But how about looking at the other side of the coin. After all every picture has two sides and allow me to present the RCTC side of it which few people seem to want to highlight - THE COMPETITIVE ANGLE- which allows you to get a shot at getting a winner from a small field and at a reasonable return, In other words, its true value for your money.

Let's look at Racing on Tuesday, 27th March, on a Race to race basis. The 1st Race of the day had just 3 runners. The Odds offered - 11/10 - Clockwork. 11/10 - Active Asset. How's that for competition in a 3 horse race ?

The second race had 4 Runners. Universal Prince at 6/4. Grand Ceremony at 2/1 Chitralekah at 3/1. The verdict was a three horse photo finish.

The third race also had 4 runners, but with Red Apache from outstation in the fray it was obvious he would be odds on and duly obliged at half money. Red Apache, incidentally, was the only On Money runner in the day.

The 4th Race had just 6 runners. Three of them at 5/2 and one at 4/1. Obviously even the Layers of Odds felt that it had an open and competitive look to it.

The 5th Race saw the number increase - 8 to be precise. Modee Roch and Rainbow Run were joint favourites ay 16/10 a piece while Shining Example came in for strong support at threes and duly obliged in a hard fought finish just edging out Modee Roch.

The Midnight Cowboy Cup - A Terms Race for 4 year olds and over saw Aristotle the favourite at 6/4 while Mr.Darcy was at 2/1 and then three others in the line up at 5/1 a piece. The Western India import Get Fresh at the age of 7 picked up his second win at odds of 5/1 (9/1 on the Tote) to give his trainer Richard Alford an emotional victory.

The last race of the day with the largest field of 11 witnessed the most open race of the afternoon with the field at 3/1 and more. The Robin Corner trained King Cole won at 5/1.

So the so called lack lustre afternoon with three and four horses gave all and sundry one hell of a run for their money and it had competition and excitement stamped all over it. Just THREE correct tickets on the Jackpot Pool and 43 Consolation tickets drive home the fact that whatever the number of runners in a race, nominating the winner is a taxing and tough job when racing is clean and fair and Calcutta despite certain limitations can boast of advocating good clean and competitive fare. And Tuesday the 27th was not the only day that one saw this. Its been happening right through the season and its time people looked at it from that angle.