We Bet Ya

06: From Scheffler's Masters Win to Greyhound Racing's Future

• Allan Hillzinger • Season 1 • Episode 6

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Things get kicked off with the week in review and Scotty Scheffler's Masters victory taking centre stage and shaking up the betting world!

Get the inside scoop on:

  • Punters who pocketed earnings by taking our top 10 finisher tips
  • The RBC Heritage
  •  The Australian Football League: Brisbane Lions' mighty win over Melbourne and its ripple effect on their premiership odds

Join host Allan as he sits down once again with Damian Harris, the CEO and founder at ChaseBet as they cover a major bone of contention:  the fluctuating prize money in greyhound racing!


And finally, they do some forecasting on the future trajectory of greyhound racing:

  • industry collaboration
  • slowing breeding numbers
  • the economic hurdles that could make or break the sport. 

Join us for these thought-provoking discussions.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to we Betcha, a betting podcast dedicated to providing comprehensive information, tips and education that will take your punting entertainment to another level. I'm your host, alan Hilzinger from Chasebet, sporting CEO, professional gambler and now bookmaker. Ceo, professional gambler and now bookmaker. Tune in as I unleash my sometimes unconventional approach and views on all the current sports and racing. Alrighty Rhino, we kick off episode six and we start with the Masters. Mate the Masters. How good was Scotty Scheffler?

Speaker 2:

I wasn't thinking that when I was sitting there, I've got a bit of coin on Adverg at $31 and tipped everyone into top 10 for Adverg. I was sitting there praying that we got the money. But no, scotty Scheffler's unbelievable. There's no denying it. He's a freak, isn't he?

Speaker 1:

Absolutely. He is, mate he is, and it was a real win for the punters as well. A lot of people wanted to back Scheffler. There was $5, a bit of $5.50 floating around and in the end it actually proved to be massive, massive overs. And I was with you. I thought Morikawa was some kind of chance coming into the last round. But just class, mate, just class. How was the betting in general across the whole Masters?

Speaker 2:

No, it was great. We had a fantastic hold. I think, like I said, we obviously had a wonderful promotion for our clients on for the Masters and, yeah, it was really accepted widely, which was great to see. And yeah, we back up from the Masters into the RBC Heritage this week and, yeah, hopefully some punters took our advice and took top 10 Ludwig Eber at $6.

Speaker 1:

They're very, very happy with themselves. Yeah, absolutely, mate. And with the RBC Heritage, have we got a quick overall winners there, or what markets are available there? I dare say that Scotty Scheffler is still going to be favourite as well.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, if he plays his partner is due to have the child, of course, so that's going to be interesting. He is currently the favourite, but I certainly wouldn't be diving in at short price on Scotty. This week. There's been a big history about players not backing up from a good performance in the Masters to the following week at the RBC Heritage. So, yeah, so I would think you know players like Scotty Scheffler, who's coming down from a high who you know might have other things on his mind, obviously with his wife being pregnant.

Speaker 2:

You're going to have Lovely Gayberg, who probably exceeded expectations, finishing second. They're probably players I'd be prepared to lay, but Scotty Scheffler's at $475. Ludwig Eiberg's at $14. I think the players to get around to be honest this week are players that are proven in this week. So people like Patrick Cantlay, who's finished second in the last two years Jordan Spieth won it two years ago. Matty Fetz Patrick won it last year, despite him playing poorly. He's obviously got to be a live chance, but I think someone like a Wyndham Clark, a Rory McIlroy, might be the way to play this week.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, nice, mate, I love it, and there's plenty of value. As you said, if you're working around Scotty Sheffler, there's some real value there to be found. And on with you, mate, I think history is something that you've really got to look at, and it's not just in racing but it's in sport and particularly in golf. So a couple of nice little value tips there. We'll see how they go next week, mate. We shift from the Masters and let's go to the AFL. Now we talked about this game prior and the Brisbane Lions were coming off their monster win over North Melbourne and it was a question of whether that was going to be the confidence booster to get them to actually get this season really on track. And they were impressive against Melbourne. I don't think 22 points even probably told the real story of the Lions' domination in that game. What have we seen?

Speaker 3:

Was that a win or a?

Speaker 1:

loss for Chase Baird. And what have we seen in the movement in the overall premiership with the Lions and other teams from last round?

Speaker 2:

So with that particular game the Demons versus the Lions it was sort of a break-even kind of thing. We had a lot of players betting Melbourne head-to-head, but we had a lot of people betting on Brisbane at the Lions. So it sort of was a bit of a break-even scenario and, as you did touch on, they were very impressive. This week's going to be a stern test for them. Despite them being back home, they're playing Geelong who are, you know, arguably one of the informed sides of the competition. So very, very interesting. They've firmed up into $8. We do see Sydney being slightly easy at the $6.50, which I think is getting to as we have suggested the last two weeks. We have both suggested and thought they were $6.

Speaker 2:

They're probably getting out to, I think they probably Brisbane Sydney roughly should be the same kind of price along with Melbourne on that sort of third line of betting. But yeah, we have seen Brisbane firm into $8 for the flag after their very impressive win against Melbourne last week.

Speaker 1:

And what about last week? Adelaide Crows beat Carlton? I don't think anyone saw that one coming and West Coast Eagles gave Richmond Tigers what I would consider a thumping.

Speaker 2:

They did indeed, and, believe it or not, I actually tipped West Coast last week to beat Richmond in the footy tipping, which I was proud about, except I got everything else wrong.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, west Coast very good against Richmond at home probably be one of their only wins of the year. Richmond have been poor, but yeah, as you touched on Adelaide, who we've been sort of spruiking for the last few weeks, expecting them to do something, have done nothing, and then the week we go off them, they go across to Melbourne and beat Carlton, so they've actually popped up as $1.45 favourites this week back at home against Essendon. The Lions 13.5, minus 13.5 Adelaide, plus 13.5 Essendon and off last week's performance. You'd think they'd be a good bet.

Speaker 1:

Very much. Essendon were impressive against the Bulldogs, though.

Speaker 2:

They were, they were. But obviously it's a different story away from home in Adelaide. Now that Adelaide have got a bit of confidence, you'd expect them to go on with it. You would expect them to?

Speaker 1:

Definitely, mate, and we've got some I would dare say this round here. I know we're only in round six. There's some critical games Like even if we start on Thursday night so Kilda West of Bulldogs. A loss for either of those teams really puts them out of touch, both teams. I think coming into this season all the fans and I'm a Bulldogs fan would have been thinking top eight is very, very realistic for both teams. A loss here and you're out of touch. Adelaide's found their let's just say, found some kind of form against Essendon, who are trying to stay in touch. Collingwood versus Port is huge. Carlton versus Giants is huge. Lions versus Cats is huge. You've got the West Coast rivalry with the Eagles and the Dockers. Even Sydney Gold Coast is massive. And then you've got the exciting Wooden Spooners clash of North Melbourne versus Hawks. So there's something on the line in every game this week, mate. It's one of I love my sport, but it's one of those rounds you just look at and go. I don't think there's a game that doesn't mean something here.

Speaker 2:

No, absolutely, those rounds you just look at and go. I don't think there's a game that doesn't mean something here. No, absolutely. And I think the highlight for me is looking at it certainly the Battle of the Magpies, collingwood versus Port Adelaide. And yeah, we know there's a bit of friction there about the black and white and everything like that. So I think that's definitely going to be a super game. Any money.

Speaker 1:

Has there been any money early for any of these teams or anything at the line, or what can we try to steer the punters into?

Speaker 2:

as far as the early money goes, yeah, no the money is predominantly on Collingwood to beat Port Adelaide, believe it or not. So they're $1.75, $2.05 Port Adelaide. The line's at minus 30, that's probably minus three and a half for Collingwood, plus three and a half for Port Adelaide, $1.90. They were as high as $1.82, you know, into $1.75.

Speaker 1:

Mate, we switch across to the NRL and I think last week had some just as exciting games as the AFL Warriors. See Eagles draw Well, the Eagles beat the Cowboys and bounced back. We saw the Titans Look they were gone and then they were home. Look, they were gone and then they were home, and then they were gone and then they lost. And Raiders scraping by one the Dragons were just too good for the Tigers, which I know you'll probably share, was not a good result for Chase Bet. There was plenty of good games across the weekend, mate. What have we seen? Well, what was the overall result for Chase Bet? And what have we seen as far as the premiership market goes? Many changes.

Speaker 2:

Well, it started off okay with the Knights Roosters game. So we actually had high hopes. The Storm were a good result for us because a lot of people were taking them at the line versus the Bulldogs. But then it went downhill from there. People were taking Broncos at minus six.5 to beat the Dolphins. They ended up winning by 14. We saw some really heavy bets, ultimately on the Eels Lake to beat the Cowboys, which was a bit of a chop for us. But the one that hurt us the most, as you just touched on, was the Dragons beating the West Tigers. We took several large wages on St George to beat West Tigers late in the piece and yeah, they certainly bent us over, that's for sure.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was very, very nasty that one mate Any changes. I know there weren't really any results, that you just go. Well, that's probably changed the premiership market. Anything really changed there. Panthers had the bye Probably much needed for them, with a couple of injury concerns, but they're still clear favourites.

Speaker 2:

They are the only ones that we continue to see firming up are the Warriors again. So we're seeing Penrith at $325, broncos $450, the Storm at $7, and we've got Roosters at $9, followed by the Warriors. So the Warriors are at $13, manly Warringah $15, and further out to the Cowboys, who have been easy out, to $17, along with Cronulla at $17.

Speaker 1:

As we shared in an earlier episode that we have laid a significant bet on the Warriors to win the premiership, we took that at $17. I think it was $2,000 at $17. Is that correct? Yeah, we did.

Speaker 2:

We took a bet at $2,000, another bet at $1,500, at $17. So, yeah, certainly our worst result the Warriors to win the flag in early markets. Yeah mate.

Speaker 1:

This week a couple of really, really good games coming up. The Roosters storm kick it off Thursday night football, but I think there's a few other ones there that are going to be extremely intriguing. You've got the Panthers-West Tigers game and I know the Panthers are going to start very, very strong favourites. However, you kind of sense that there might be a little bit of that, might be a bit of a fiery clash as well. And you've got the Broncos taking on the Raiders. Raiders have been in good form.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. And all the money early over the weekend is actually on the Newcastle Knights and their game against Canterbury. So we're seeing some really. We've actually seen a $2,500 bet on Newcastle Knights at minus one and a half, to beat the Bulldogs in early betting and we've also seen some other you know sort of five $600 bets on Newcastle Knights, $1.85 to beat Canterbury Bulldogs. So that's where the early money is at the moment. We've also taken a bet of $1,500 North Queensland Cowboys over the Sharks, which is over the Sharks, which is an interesting one. The Cowboys obviously are getting absolutely wallop. Last week that's the only one. And as you touched on the Panthers West Tigers, we are seeing some money coming in for the Panthers at minus $12.50, at $1.90 there as well.

Speaker 1:

And can we get a price on Souths who have got the buy, still losing this week?

Speaker 2:

Yeah well, you probably can. But I'll tell you what I'll give you, even money. As I say, I reckon there's a chance. I'll find a way. I'll find a way for sure, for sure.

Speaker 1:

What else? What else have we got? We would shift ourselves over to racing and last week Saturday was. Well, it would have to be. For those that were following the favorites in and the heavily backed runners, it was an absolute fill-up for the punters in that sense. Just take us through a few of them. Pride of Jenny was probably the one result that may not have been a fill-up for all the punters, but the Sydney Cup, so Circle of Fire winning, Zugoccia scraped in and I know Zugoccia was backed off the map late. Just take us through a few of those races, mate, and where the money was and what the overall results were.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, sure. So it started off bad after race one the favourite winning that broad siding we got absolutely hammered on it. So I think it was about $2.40 into even money in the two-year-old race and yeah, that wasn't good at all. We sort of bounced back race two. Race three was the average, I see, which was some really good bets on Territory Express, and it went well, and then it got even worse from there. So we saw some professionals betting up on the five and these are to defeat. Lady of Camelot ended up being a pretty ordinary result and the day just got worse with Chase Beck. We saw a jolly star win after that. So I think it was 550 into 460. Autumn Angel, the one that I actually potted last week and I ended up getting egg on my face after it was brilliant, winning the Oaks and defeating Zardozzi in orchestral 750.

Speaker 1:

Orchestral. We couldn't lay it. Could. We Could not lay it. No one wanted a bar of it.

Speaker 2:

No, could not lay it and once again it got worse because obviously circles of fire are heavily backed 750 into 550. Prior to Jenny, as you said, we sort of bounced back on there. There was so much money for Via Sustainer and I mean, what an unbelievable ride by Declan Bates. I mean it's obviously widely publicised. The question I've got for you, al, would be was it an unbelievable ride or was it a dumb ride from the other jockeys?

Speaker 1:

That's probably the question. Well, I think it's a bit of both. Yeah, it's a great. It's a topic in itself because it's funny that you asked me, because I was going to ask you something very similar. I think it's a combination, because Declan Bates was not going to like the horse wasn't obviously going to get 91 meters in front if declan bates wasn't going to, at least let it. But I I do think it's a combination. I think bates was too smart for it and I also think that every jockey was waiting for every other jockey. It was one of those ones where they didn't want to sacrifice themselves, because it would have taken a horse to sacrifice itself. In that situation, something needed to take them up to Pride of Jenny, and whatever horse that was going to be was probably not going to win the race, it was probably not going to run a place. So it was almost like they had just succumbed to the fact that they were racing for second.

Speaker 2:

Now yeah, it was really really odd. I think Declan Bates did his homework and the others did none. That's what it looked like to me, and I think you could even say, like Chris Waller was extremely disappointed after the race, and the thing that makes it probably more frustrating from a punter's perspective is Bia Sestina was last and beat the other pack clearly, so no knock on the pie to Jenny. Brilliant ride, fantastic effort by the horse. Despite her paddling over the last 100 metres, she was that far in front she was still able to win.

Speaker 1:

What about James McDonald's comment? When interviewed, he had one word.

Speaker 2:

At the end of the day, I think that's a fair enough comment. It was embarrassing, I think. Ultimately, declan Bates put the homework in and just completely outrode them and that was the end of the story, wasn't it really?

Speaker 1:

Do you think that's going to generate some more rides for Bates? Do you think he's going to start getting a few more of the top rides, or is this? He probably won't change things.

Speaker 2:

Well, he's got a good affiliation with quite a Jenny as it is and I think that will probably hold him in good stead for Kieran Marr's stable, who's obviously going extremely well anyway. But yeah, I think we'll see Declan on some better horses. I'd say probably after a ride like that, but sure.

Speaker 1:

Mate. So this week we shift. Well, we don't shift anywhere, we stay at Randwick, but the Champagne Stakes and Manal versus Linebacker.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, Manal are currently at $2.35, which I expect $2.70, linebacker $6.50, broadside in the one we just spoke. That's backing up after a very impressive win last week and then further out to a node at $7.50.

Speaker 1:

Is it a two-horse race?

Speaker 2:

No, no, I don't think it is. I mean, look at the end of the day. I mean Manal's. You know it's long into the prep now. It is very, very hard sometimes for horses to win the third leg of any crown. But yeah look, manow's been racing obviously extremely well, there's no denying it. You know, ran fifth in the gold and super obviously winning last time out and now backing up again. So look who are you with. Yeah, I think it's interesting that Broad Siding sort of skipped all that and now is they sort of saved it for last week, won last week, very impressive. I think that's a good sign. I'd probably be leaning towards Broad Siding, but linebacker's been very lightly raced, very impressive. A good race, isn't it?

Speaker 1:

I look forward to seeing what plays out.

Speaker 2:

Yeah a nice little race, that one Tricky one to work out just at the moment.

Speaker 1:

It'll be interesting in review when we have a look next week at what the money does too, as to which horse starts favourite, if it's a clear favourite and if they do back any of the others. Mate, the All Age Stakes a little bit more open, but Espionne and Sunshine in Paris are certainly the top two in the market in a little bit of a wider race. Just take us through a bit of the pricing there and your thoughts, mate.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so Espion a 380, Sunshine in Paris at 550. Then we go further out to runners like Private Eye, magic Time, Southport, tycoon. The one that I'm interested in actually here out is NCAP Absolutely no luck. A luck last start, in fact it doesn't get much luck in its racing just because of its pattern. It sort of gets off the pace and tries to run on. I think $15 or $20 a hole is an extremely good price. About the third-eight end cap it draws well and it's soft enough in barrier seven. Definitely worth keeping an eye on end cap for those punters listening out there for this weekend's all-age stakes. But yeah, clear favourite SB owner at $3.80 and deservedly so. But yeah, clear favourite Espionna at $3.80 and deservedly so.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I'm liking a little bit of value as well, mate. Well, not as much value as you, but I personally like Magic Time. I just thought right barrier probably gets the right run as well. But good, really really good race. And yeah, we're a little bit biased. We love our Greyhound racing probably even more so than anything else, as much as we love all our racing and sport. The Golden Easter Egg final well, it's not just the Golden Easter Egg, we've got the Association Cup final as well. Just take us through that market. Mate McKenna was ultra impressive and lines up as one of the shortest price favourites we've seen for some time. Off the top of my head, I think back to Fernando Bale. She's a pearl. Didn't even start odds on Will McKenna start odds on. And what price are we looking at?

Speaker 2:

Certainly, will and I think, as we've seen, deservedly so 29-29, winning in spectacular fashion and actually draws towards the inside for the Easter Egg final, which will be very interesting to see how quickly it can go. $1.75, mckenna, zipping Megatron at $4.80. Nadal Sheba was very good last week from Box 6 and comes up at $7.50 and All Natural at $11. I think they'll probably run outside of the favourites last week, but certainly Furness has now shortened into $13, and deservedly so. It was an excellent run, finishing second to qualify for the final. He's at $13. But McKenna clearly the one to beat the $175 still looks valued based on its recent performances.

Speaker 1:

Well, I was about to say it's really just a question of if you're going to back something else you're relying on, and this is no disrespect in any way, shape or form, to any of the runners. There's some fantastic dogs up against mckenna, but it really is. If mckenna does everything right, it wins. It's a little bit like she's a pearl. Uh, recently with the with the easter egg, it was just a matter of if she's a pearl steps clean, it wins, she wins. And I think it's the same here with mckenna. If mckenna steps, it's over. Yeah, I agree't step.

Speaker 1:

then you've got a very, very open race Not to say that McKenna can't win if it doesn't lead, but certainly becomes a lot wider and a lot more open. Mate, are we doing a market on the race caller Wentworth Park race caller Matty Jackson, throwing in a pun with the winner, or do you think he's just going to roll through and just go with the punches as it happens? Or do you think he's got a pun up his sleeve already?

Speaker 2:

Oh I think he's got a pun up his sleeve. You know, he probably.

Speaker 1:

You've got to find some rhyming words with Sultana, something to do with rainbows and unicorns.

Speaker 2:

I'll suggest.

Speaker 1:

Or can you find a rhyming word with Sultana? Yeah, well, he probably, I'd suggest, or can you find a rhyming word with Sultana?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we'll see what he can come up with. Yeah, he might be able to come up with something. He might just call it Sultana brand. Who knows?

Speaker 1:

The Association Cup as well. Mate, what's the market doing in the Association Cup? Interesting race, interesting race because everyone's got.

Speaker 2:

It's really odd. Everyone that I've looked at has Val Polichella as the favourite. We're a bit different with us.

Speaker 2:

We've got them each at $2, $2.50,. Palawar King, val Polichella, both at $2.50. Kenya, amy $6.00. Ours entity for the Sultana Thomas camp as well $11.00, was very impressive. Last week Zimrap exploded $31.00, has ability 41s and it just continues to go out from there. So it looks like a race in three or four with Palawa King and Val Polichella $2.50 a pop. Look, I'll be honest, I think Palawa King's just drawn to win the race. I'm surprised to see Val Polichella as the favourite. I don't know how you feel, but I don't necessarily like the box draw.

Speaker 1:

I don't necessarily like the box draw. Val Polichella, to me, in recent weeks hasn't shown that real put-em-away. Let's call it down the back. As far as the staying race goes, that it's been a grind and then it gets going late. I don't like if Val Polichella doesn't begin and sit in the first three or four and is behind Palawa King, who will be nailed to the rail. Al Zanetti, I think won't exactly. Yeah, won't be cutting the rail or hugging the rail.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I like Palawa King. I just think Palawa King comes up. I do think Kenya Aimee was an unbelievable run last week. A couple of phenomenal runs. I don't think Kenya Aimee is going to be as far back. I think Al Zanady is going to be right there. I think Kenya Aimee is going to be in the first three or four and it could be the dog that knocks them all out.

Speaker 2:

Interesting yeah. I think if you can get 250 Palawa King, which is what Chasebet is currently offering, I think that's a good bet and I'd certainly be encouraging punters to get around the 250 Palawa King with us here at Chasebet.

Speaker 1:

A fantastic race and we'll have top tote available as well on on all of those big finals. So it won't be just the fixed pricing and I believe we're the only bookmaker in Australia that offers top tote on the Greyhound races, on those big finals as well, mate, any other random we love asking you each week is there any other random tips? Or give us just how was your soccer tip last week? Draw Cash in the EPL Draw.

Speaker 2:

Oh, two, all chokers. But how good was it to see Rangers getting beat again? I mean, you know, I said last week I hate them. I hate that side with a passion. I tipped them the hook before I can sell. I think they drew I said no, I can't have them, they can't win, they're hopeless and they go and get beat by Ross County. That was fantastic. I was very, very happy to see that.

Speaker 1:

They have been binned.

Speaker 2:

They have. Oh well, I'm glad They've always been binned with me. I was just tipping them out of remorse, I think, more than anything. Yeah, this week I think. Look, we've obviously got our little multis up there and I'm pretty confident we'll get it this week. So I think for all the punters out there to hop on the Chase, bet multi for the soccer, I think that's the way to go.

Speaker 1:

Love it, mate. You're a champion. Always appreciate the insight into what has happened and what is coming up and look forward to seeing how it all plays out this weekend. Thanks, Rhino.

Speaker 2:

My pleasure, have a great one.

Speaker 1:

We shift to our Black Bookers Absolutely love this section and we have a couple in Victoria, a couple in New South Wales and one in Queensland for you this week. So our Victorian Black Bookers we have Little Venice and Smoking or Smoking Smoking Patty. So Smoking Patty is a dog that we've been waiting for and when it draws the inside it will be winning. It will absolutely be breaking its maiden tag when it draws the inside. In New South Wales we have Zipping Clampett Massive, massive run last week and Tiny Goldie heavily backed. It was, I think, somewhere around 10s into $2.50 and very, very good run. It'll be winning one very, very soon. And in Queensland we have Twisted you Now when this dog draws the inside, load up, it's drawn out of boxes, it's crashed to the fence, it's got checked and I think you'll be seeing it. It's been heavily, heavily backed both starts. I think you'll be seeing it winning when it draws the inside in our better betting section.

Speaker 1:

The one topic that I want to talk about today is it's something that's been like I get a few questions from different people throughout the week and I absolutely love it talking about reading the form and understanding the form and looking at first sectionals. Now everyone has their different programs or their different form guides that they want to use for first sectionals. Personally, I love the Greyhound Recorder. I love being able to see the Greyhound Recorder looking at the first sectionals, different tracks, comparing them all the rest of it. In particular, when I'm looking at maps, one of the things that I will do is look for dogs that are good beginners with slower beginners drawn around them, and that's often a great indication that the dog's going to get a good run to the first turn. Even if you've drawn a dog drawn box three that has fast beginners drawn in box two and four is not as good a prospect as if it was drawn in box seven with slow beginners in box six and eight. In my view, when I'm doing the form it might be drawn closer to the fence, it might even want the fence, but if you've got other fast beginners around you you are at greater risk than if you've got other fast beginners around you. You are a greater risk than if you are drawn in a space where you have slower beginners that are next to you. So something that I think is really really important as you continue to learn and and become better at reading form at betting is looking at the maps. And when we talk about maps, it's not just dogs that are going to crash to the fence, dogs that are going to run to the fence, dogs that are going to run wide, it's what's drawn around you.

Speaker 1:

So, really, really important, when you're looking at a race, and particularly a greyhound race, look at, yes, which dogs are going to lead, but look at what dogs are drawn around you. And in that as well, you've got to look if your dog's a general beginner or a slower beginner. If you've got dogs drawn around you that are fast beginners that are going to chop you off not a good thing. But if you've got dogs drawn inside you that might bring you into the race can certainly enhance the ability of your dog to win. Great example of something that I love seeing is a dog that might be a good beginner not great beginner, but you know it normally is sitting third, fourth, early on and it has a fast beginner drawn in box one and it's drawn box two and generally what'll happen is a fast beginner will begin, it'll trail straight behind it and get what we call a drag into the race or to get a run into the race. So really, really, you have a look at those things. What's going to lead, what's going to be the slow beginners, where are they coming from? And take the right price. As I say every single week, it's not necessarily about always getting the winners, it's about taking the right price about that particular runner, and if you can do that more often than not, then you're certainly going to enhance your chances of winning, particularly for me, as I share in greyhound racing.

Speaker 1:

The we bet, your podcast, is proudly brought to you by chase bet. For a comprehensive betting experience, download the chase bet app today. Think is this a bet you really want to place? For free and confidential support, call 1-800-858-858 or visit gambling help onlineorgau. All right, we switch to the bookies desk with our ceo and founder, damian harris. Mate, we're going to switch it up this week and talk about greyhound racing. You okay with that? To the bookie's desk with our CEO and founder, damien Harris. Mate, we're going to switch it up this week and talk about greyhound racing. You okay with that?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, all good. One of my favourite topics.

Speaker 1:

So for those listeners out there that don't know, damien has been involved in the greyhound racing industry pretty much his whole life and it is outside of bookmaking. It is his number one passion, it's a family passion, and Damien is also a director on the New South Wales Greyhound Breeders Owners Trainers Association, of which I was the former CEO and where I was fortunate enough to build a relationship with Damien, as we've shared in our very first podcast, mate. So Golden Easter Egg Finals on Saturday night I've already spoken about them with Ryan and obviously we'll be talking about the results next week, but I don't want to talk about that with you. So as much, although I do. What's your quick tip? Give us a quick tip.

Speaker 3:

Look, I'm with the favourite all the way. Daryl and Michelle will probably, probably uh, you know not be happy that I'm tipping them, but only bad luck should beat them mckenna.

Speaker 1:

Mckenna from box two, love it, mate. Let's talk about something else in greyhound racing, though, that is very relevant to wagering, and that is prize money. So prize money we've seen fluctuates significantly over the years and it's obviously on the back of whether wagering is flourishing or if there's a little bit of a softening in the wagering. And just to quickly put people into perspective before I hit you with some of the questions that I would love to know your answers to or your thoughts on that, wagering through COVID took off and greyhound racing as an industry decided to increase prize money across the board.

Speaker 1:

We saw the introduction of the Phoenix, worth a million dollars. We saw the introduction of the million dollar chase, worth a million dollars Well in excess of a million dollars. These races are worth the golden Easter egg, now still probably considered the most prestigious greyhound race in Australia. He's worth $350,000 and it is the eighth largest prize money at $350,000. The challenge that we now have is that, with a little bit of a softening and we call it a softening and we've seen GRV cut jobs, we've seen question marks around a whole bunch of different things when is it going? Is the prize money sustainable? Is it going to change. It's an open answer for you. What are your thoughts around where prize money is headed? And well, I'll call it a dilemma, because I do believe it is a little bit of a dilemma that the greyhound racing industry now faces.

Speaker 3:

Look, I think there's a lot in that question, alan. And look, firstly, I think that through the COVID boom, as we'll call it, greyhound racing really benefited. However, I think there may have been a structural overspend from relevant boards, be that GRNSW, grv Racing, queensland. I think in the next 12 to 18 months we're probably going to say, let's say, a moderation of prize money. We're not going to be going ahead in leaps and bounds. Look, with reference to the Golden Easter egg, two years years ago it was 250,000 of the winner. And look, I'll blow the New South Wales GBOTA's trumpet here We've put 50,000 in each year of our own funds to try and maintain the race at a relevant standard. Look, participants always want more prize money. But speaking from a New South Wales perspective, grnsw are reinvesting a lot of money in tracks and minimum standards and also greyhounds as pets program. So I think the team over at GRNSW need to have a pat on the back too that they're reinvesting in the industry to make it more sustainable long term it's such a balance too, isn't it?

Speaker 1:

because, as you said, everyone just wants more prize money, more prize money, and ultimately you need prize money going back to the trainers for the whole industry to cycle, do you think and yeah, for want of a better way of describing it, but it certainly felt through the covid period where the codes, the Greyhound racing codes in each of the states had a significant burst of dollars injected into them and it was almost like they just wanted to compare packages and just go. You know, I'm bigger than you and it was just this real ego kind of fight. Do you think that there is a greater chance that we'll start seeing a little bit more collaboration versus I need to be better than you and a little bit more of a national look at how things are done and how things are structured? Or are we forever in a space where each state will want to be better than the other state?

Speaker 3:

Look, I think always at a national level, there's always been a little bit of comparison between the states trying to do better than each other. I think as we go into in the greyhound industry lower breeding numbers we need to have more collaboration, especially with the group race calendar, and the better we get the group race calendar, the higher the quality of the events we'll get, which will also return better wagering incomes to the industry, and I think administrators have got to start looking at this as a national approach.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you know what. That's a really good point that you bring up, because I look at the field sizes in some of these events and the events that are on at the same time, the Sandgrope is virtually a week or two weeks. Well, sandgrope is this Thursday and we've got the Golden Easter Egg. I know we've got the later week, but it was still only going to be five days apart. So therefore the dogs that are in the Sandgrope either have to choose to miss the Golden Easter Egg or, if they're going to go to the Sandgrope highly unlikely that they're going to even have a look at the track before they go there. You've got eight heats of the golden easter egg, which is the lowest that I can remember. I don't think there's ever been less than 10 heats. I stand correct I.

Speaker 3:

I think that's a correct call. I think you're right, um, but we're coming into lower breeding numbers and new south wales is one of the breeding powerhouses of Australia and if they're struggling and you know we've got issues, you know, in New South Wales with you know lack of tracks in the Northern Rivers and the Central West, which are huge breeding grounds, which is a disincentive to participants and you know punters in general should be concerned that the next 12 to 18 months there's going to be a struggling of numbers.

Speaker 1:

And it's that whole cycle, isn't it? Because again, for those listeners out there that don't understand how gambling impacts the greyhound racing industry, for every dollar that is wagered on a greyhound race, where it is wagered, receives a percentage of that turnover, and then obviously the taxes that go to the state government. Some of that is divvied back to the sports as well. So if we don't have the amount of races, then we don't have the amount of turnover, which means you got less going back, and it's a spiral. It's almost like the reverse spiral that we saw in covid, where it was all going up and everything went up and it went down. So the big question is for you, damien do you think that it was mismanaged through COVID? I know we can always look back and do things better. Do you think there was mismanagement in COVID, or did they just not see that there was going to be a post-COVID correction? Because the reality is it's not like the gambling industry is falling. It's realistically more of a correction back to pre-COVID, isn't it?

Speaker 3:

Look, I think it's a tough question to put to the boards in any of the states that they've mismanaged things. Put to the boards in any of the states that they've mismanaged things. However, I think that the expenditure growth has matched revenue and, you know, has it been ideally done Hindsight's 20-20,. But I think the other thing that needs to be put out there, too, is that the reason they've been receiving more money is because they're getting paid higher RFLs from online bookmakers and not as much from the in New South Wales. So the Intercode Agreement, which is dramatically unfair to the greyhound industry.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and that's a you know what. That's actually a great topic in itself, isn't it? I've written down a few things here that I go. Wow, we could actually talk today for hours about this topic and go in all sorts of diversion ways, but that's a really, really good one actually talking about the intercode agreement and how that fits across. So where do you think we go demo? Last question for you on this topic and, as I said, we could talk about this for hours where is prize money going? Where is the greyhound racing industry going over the next three to five years?

Speaker 3:

okay, I think in the next 18 months I think um many, many jurisdictions prize money will be as it is today. I think we need to get through the what I'll call the structural impediment of lower breeding numbers. You know we've refocused the structure as an industry with re-homing and things like this. You know some of some of grnsw's greyhounds as pets over to the states and things like that has really helped. Are we there yet? No, but we're a long way down the track and once we get the industry sustainable and then also these huge infrastructure projects that especially GRNSW and GRV have been doing over the last five years, they're going to be great, aren't they?

Speaker 3:

It'll be great.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I like it, mate, and I'm with you. I 100% believe that right now it's more of a correction, it's not a. There's no panic stations. There's no anything like that. I think the greyhound industry is in a great space. There's some great people in the industry that are leading the way and I think in the next three to five years we'll probably see greyhound racing at the top of its game um bigger, better, as you said, safer and more structurally sound than it ever has been.

Speaker 1:

So thanks again, damo. As always, look forward to next week's chat. Thanks, brother, cheers. Thanks for joining us on the we bet your pod. Please follow the show so you don't miss a thing. If you know a mate that needs to hear this episode, make sure you share this episode with them too. Rating and reviewing the show makes a big difference, and I really respect the time and energy that takes. In return, I can guarantee I'll be showing up every single week with another action-packed episode. Chasebet encourages responsible gambling. Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free and confidential support, call 1-800-858-858 or visit gamblinghelponlineorgau.