I’ve met many people through blogging.
My horse racing interest has spread across a number of websites related to horse trainers to in depth analysis about two-year-old horse racing.
That’s how I met Lowestoft pro gambler Jerry Banks.
Jerry started writing about his horse racing interests on the Blogger platform. I guess compared to the likes of WordPress it’s seen as a poor relationship. But it was a place many true horse racing bloggers started. They followed their passion rather than thinking about pound signs via affiliate links or running ads. In fact, there used to be a lot of horse racing fans on this platform from across the world. Little by little they disappeared. Most bloggers don’t last more than a couple of years. However, Jerry started back in 2010, almost 14-years ago. He has always specialised in high-class racing, from Listed to Pattern class.
I’m not exactly sure when I first contacted Jerry or he messaged me. It was most likely about exchanging links which bloggers did back in the day. I added him to my blogroll which updated whenever he made a new post. So I’d see what he had to say and tipped. Without question he knows his subject. He is a known face in Lowestoft and a good judge. I guess it was only a matter of time before we met in person. I’ve always been a bit slow out of the blocks so we probably had 10-years chatting via email before deciding to meet up at our local racecourse at Great Yarmouth. It’s about a 20-miles for the Suffolk man. He made me smile because he said he’d get the bus rather than the expense of the taxi. The only problem being the bus had about 50 stops. I’m pretty sure Jerry could have walked faster.
I’d make my way from the windswept Fens by train which saw me change at Ely and Norwich, and about three hours later I’d arrive.
As usual, we would meet at the Troll Cart, Market Gates, have a quick pint at the local Wetherspoons and get a taxi to the course.
Looking back it was the 19th April 2022. I was excited to see a two-year-old fillies’ maiden on the card (3:05) over 5f on good to firm going. It always seems the case I never have a fancy at the course and this was one of those days. Jerry wasn’t in betting mode so we just chat about the racing and plans for the season ahead as he always goes the Craven meeting at Newmarket along with York, Sandown and often a trip to the Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe.
Anyway, it was a good day at the course. Although I get so used to working from home that I struggle to concentrate on track. I am more of a statistical backer so I have to keep an eye on the betting markets which isn’t so easy when I am halfway through a conversation. You have to compromise, hey.
The two-year-old maiden saw a late non runner [Adjani] with a 25p in the pound deduction (so a quarter of the odds vanishing before our eyes) and worse still bringing the race down to seven runners which put pay to an each-way bet (as I prefer to bet three places rather than two). It was all happening far too quickly and the next moment the race was off. I didn’t bet. Jerry watched. The race continued. David Loughnane’s filly, Carmela, ran out a comfortable winner at odds of 8/1 [backed from 11/1]. With the deduction, backers enjoyed a 6/1 winner. Carmela, a lovely daughter of Tasleet, looked a picture. Ridden by Richard Kingscote for owners The Many Saints she won by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Karl Burke’s Jungle Time. It looked a classy performance and she wasn’t disgraced when competing in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot [finishing 8th but beaten less than six lengths]. Sadly, she was fatally injured when racing as a three-year-old at Leicester.
A very sad day for connections and all who followed her career.
Jerry and I always finish off a day’s racing with a meal at the local Savoy Tandoori down Regent Road. Like our betting he’s a little more adventurous with a mutton madras while I opt for a chicken tikka masala.
The pints slow and the shorts begin with a rum or two. Conversation turns to the good old days when bookmakers were bookmakers and Lowestoft was a place where punters liked a bet. Stories of individuals turning up with shopping bags of money and a day’s betting ahead where a brave independent bookie wasn’t afraid to take a bet. I could listen to Jerry’s stories for ever detailed in a soft Suffolk accent, mixed with mine from the Fens.
At around 9pm it’s time to make way for home. A shake of the hands and a smile. We know it won’t be long before another race day comes along. I generally stay the night at one of the local hotels as it’s too much travelling back which takes at least a couple of hours each way. Instead, I say I’m going to the Grosvenor Casino on Marine Parade but by the time I get to my hotel room I just rest after a long day.
If you ever get the chance to go to the races with a professional gambler you’ll have a good time but don’t bank on coming home with lots of money because the chances are a bet won’t be placed. It really makes no difference.
It was a good time had by all.