| Greg Wood: Does the Tote sale really matter? Following a decade of false dawns does the Tote sale really matter for racing when pool betting is so difficult to sellDoes the ownership of the Tote matter? If you are one of the 650 staff at its Wigan HQ, or work in one of its 540 betting shops or behind a window on racedays, then clearly the answer is yes, very much. But is it still of over-riding importance for racing? After 10 years of broken promises and false dawns, does anyone still care?There are plenty of people in the bookmaking industry who do, and yesterday's announcement that the government will, to put it crudely, flog off the Tote for the best bid it gets will flush them out. Never mind that the business was only taken into state ownership in the first place so that it could be passed on to a racing trust. The government needs the cash, and the plans and promises of the last administration are worthless.Whether the racing interests who launched two previous bids for the Tote will get involved this time remains to be seen. They always seemed most interested in the pool betting business, while bookmaking bidders would see that almost as an irrelevance, and focus instead on the shop estate, which will be worth rather more. You could pay for it all and then sell on the shops, but what amounts to a distress sale is not going to realise their true value.Of course, the reverse is also true, and if a bookmaking chain acquires the Tote, it is entirely possible that it could sell on the pool betting arm to racing interests for an awful lot less than the ÂŁ320m that the government turned down for the entire business a couple of years ago.Given the structure of the Tote, and the fact that different parts of it appeal to different potential bidders, there is surely a deal to be done somewhere. But simply acquiring the pool business would do nothing to address the almost instinctive resistance of British punters when it comes to pool betting.This is one reason why the presence of Tote management in the most recent, failed racing bid was so important. Freed from the dead hand of state control, they could, in theory at least, start to market and grow pool betting like a normal business.But could pool betting ever make a significant contribution to the funding of racing? If so, the Scoop6, or something similar, remains the only hope. The takeout on straightforward win pools is never likely to drop to a point where the returns offer serious competition to the bookies' prices, never mind the 100.5% markets on Betfair.Millions of punters around the world bet into pools with penal takeouts all their lives without a second thought, because they have no alternative. They can only dream of the tiny margins that punters in this country enjoy. But the way they react to the situation is interesting. Many focus squarely on "exotics" – trifectas, Pick6s and so on – which offer the only realistic hope to beat the percentages.In simple terms, you can place six single bets with 15% skimmed from the pool each time, or a single bet on all six winners with a takeout of 25%. Exotics are the only territory on which pool betting stands a serious chance of competing with the alternatives.For racing, getting its hands on this side of the Tote's business could yet be the easy part. Getting enough punters switched on to pool betting to make all the effort and expense worthwhile would be a much more daunting challenge.Horse racingSport bettingGreg Woodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
McKinley found dead in Colorado • 23-year-old may have taken his own life, say authorities• Broncos coach Josh McDaniels speaks of 'tragic loss'Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels led the tributes to Kenny McKinley today after the 23-year-old wide receiver was found dead at a house in Colorado.Although investigations are ongoing, authorities have suggested McKinley may have taken his own life."Deputies discovered a male in the second-floor master bedroom of the home and determined that male was deceased," the Arapahoe County sheriff's department said in a statement."Although the death of Mr McKinley appears to be the result of a self-inflicted gunshot, the investigation into this matter is ongoing."McKinley, who had been placed on the injured reserve list before the start of the current season with a knee injury, was a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and played in eight games with the Broncos as a rookie.McDaniels said he was distraught at the news."Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great team-mate whose smile and personality could light up the room. This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."Broncos team president Pat Bowlen said: "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley."He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organisation. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."NFLUS sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Europe regain the Ryder Cup • McDowell holds nerve as Cup goes down to final pairing• Montgomerie's team hold off US fightback at Celtic Manor• Read Scott Murray's hole-by-hole reportCometh the hour, cometh the man and for Colin Montgomerie there was no better man than Graeme McDowell, who today won the point that brought the Ryder Cup back to Europe.After a day of thrilling golf and swinging fortunes, McDowell's victory on the 17th hole at Celtic Manor over Hunter Mahan in the last of the 12 singles matches was enough to give the home team a narrow 14½ to 13½-points victory over their American opponents.It was a second great personal triumph for McDowell, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in the summer but this meant more and to many more people.All around the green there was bedlam as the European players engulfed their hero of the moment.McDowell was in tears afterwards, and he was not alone. "I have never felt so nervous in my life,'' he said afterwards."For the European captain Colin Montgomerie, there was the pride of being able to add a victory as captain to his distinguished record as a player in this event. He said: "Graeme McDowell was put there for a very good reason. He's full of confidence and that showed. That birdie on 16 was quite unbelievable."I'm very proud. It's a very proud moment for us all here in Europe. They all played to a man magnificently, they all gave 110% and that's all you can ask. I want to talk about every player playing how well they did. They did magnificently. I knew I had a great 12. I just had to rely on certain people at certain times."At one stage there were eight blue names on the board and it was over. But they weren't two, three up, they were one up. It's a dangerous position to be in. They [the US] came back extremely well. All credit to them. You played magnificently today. The three-point deficit was the reason why we won."Asked about his own achievement, Montgomerie said: "I didn't hit a shot so it wasn't much of an achievement, but it's a proud, proud moment."No doubt there was relief too, because at one stage the European team was ahead in eight of the 12 singles out on the golf course and cruising towards an easy victory. But the tide turned in mid-afternoon as, first, Tiger Woods and then Phil Mickelson won victories for the USA.The Europeans replied with victories – Ian Poulter, who was superb in defeating Matt Kuchar, and Miguel Angel JimĂ©nez, who defeated the American rookie Bubba Watson.But gradually the margin between the two teams narrowed, with Rickie Fowler birdying the last four holes in his match against Edoardo Molinari to win a crucial half-piont. Suddenly, memories stirred of Brookline in 1999, when the USA overcame a four-point deficit heading into the singles to record a famous victory.It then came down to McDowell and Mahan, until finally it came down to McDowell. "We wanted to win it for Seve Ballesteros,'' the hero of the moment said afterwards.Ryder CupGolfLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Sachin Tendulkar reaches 14,000 Test runs landmark as India fight back • 'Little master' notches another milestone in Bangalore• Marcus North century puts Australia in strong positionSachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to pass 14,000 Test runs as India fought to gain a foothold on day two of the second Test against Australia in Bangalore.Tendulkar reached the landmark with a cut off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz, bringing spectators and team-mates to their feet at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.The 37-year-old, playing in his 171st Test, finished the day unbeaten on 44 as the home side recovered from 38 for two to reach 128 without further loss at stumps in reply to the tourists' total of 478, to which Marcus North contributed 128.Virender Sehwag got the home side off to a bright start in their reply with 30 off 27 balls before he was caught by Mitchell Johnson at deep square leg off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus.Johnson then took Rahul Dravid's wicket for one, caught by North at third slip, which brought Tendulkar out to the middle, where he and Murali Vijay set about rebuilding India's innings.Earlier North, under pressure to retain his place in the Australian line-up for the Ashes, had compiled a fine century which featured 17 fours and a six.Alongside half-centuries from the captain Ricky Ponting (77) and Tim Paine (59), it put Australia in a strong position to square the two-Test series after suffering defeat in the opening match in Mohali.Harbhajan Singh was India's most effective bowler as he dismissed North and then wrapped up the Australian innings when Peter George was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off his bowling, leaving him with figures of four for 148.Australia resumed this morning on 285 for five and reached lunch 99 runs further on without losing a wicket.North progressed to his century in the afternoon session before Paine was stumped by India skipper Dhoni off Pragyan Ojha after a partnership of 149 and with the score on 405.Ojha struck again to trap Johnson lbw for a seven-ball duck before Harbhajan finally dismissed North as he holed out to Shanthakumaran Sreesanth at deep midwicket.Hauritz added 17 before he was unluckily run out by a direct hit from Cheteshwar Pujara after the batsman lost his bat as he attempted to slide it into the crease, before George's exit at the hands of Harbhajan left Hilfenhaus stranded on 16.Sachin TendulkarIndia Cricket TeamAustralia cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Giants, Rangers meet again, play for World Series By BEN WALKER 2010-10-24T04:22:23ZWhen the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants met the first time, it was a novelty. Now they're set to tangle for much, much more.... hosted.ap.org |