In 2009, horse racing returned to West Wales for the first time in 73 years with the opening of Ffos Las Racecourse. However, from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, horse racing was staged at various locations in, and around, Tenby, Pembrokeshire. Tenby Racecourse staged its final fixture in October, 1936 but, in the final years of its existence, suffered from the repercussions of a notorious betting scandal.
Described by Richard Lawrence, author of ‘The Rise and Fall of Tenby Races’ as ‘the biggest betting coup ever in history of the turf’, the events of Thursday, January 13, 1927 have been widely exaggerated over the years and need to be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt. Nevertheless, the coup revolved around the Licensed Victuallers Selling Handicap Hurdle, a fairly obscure race featuring eight runners, three of which – including the odds-on favourite, Bubbly – were saddled by local trainer David Harrison.
Bubbly was all the rage on-course at 2/5, with stable companion Oyster Maid, owned by former bookmaker, and professional gambler, Ben Warner, virtually friendless at 100/6, but the pair drew clear of their rivals from halfway. However, approaching the final flight, the unconsidered – unconsidered, that is, by on-course punters – Oyster Maid took the lead and drew away to win by five lengths.
Tenby Racecourse did not have a public telephone within half a mile and any ‘laying off’ of bets had to be done via a tic-tac man, who relayed information back to the betting ring. On a day of poor visibility, made worse by a snow storm sweeping in from the sea, this form of communication was nigh on impossible, so when off-course, starting price bookmakers received a glut of business for Oyster Maid minutes before the ‘off’ none of the money made it back to the track.
Participants in the coup may have netted between £10,000 and £12,000 in total, which equates to over £600,000 or £700,000 by modern standards. However, an earlier, unverified estimate suggested total winnings of £1 million, which equates to a thoroughly unbelievable £61.7 million in modern terms, with £60,000 or £70,000 contributed by a single, unnamed publican. Other unsubstantiated rumours to circulate following the victory of Oyster Maid included that all seven opposing jockeys were paid odds to £50 not to win and that the starting price reporter was paid, at the same rate, to return inflated odds on the winner.