Wise words from Patrick Veitch
Professional backer Patrick Veitch talks sense about modern day racing & being a better punter
There’s an expression in business that you don’t ever want to be the smartest person in the room.
I’ve been in the same room as Patrick Veitch.
I certainly wasn’t the most intelligent person present.
If you’re not familiar with his story then do check out his book (Enemy Number One) but I got to work with Veitch back in the 1990’s when I was at The Winning Line.
As sharp an operator as you’re likely to meet within the betting game.
And so when I watched this video of his interview with Nick Luck – one where he makes a number of interesting and intelligent points about the state of UK racing and what it takes to be a better punter – I thought it well worth sharing.
Enjoy…
The interesting thing is that whilst Veitch is talking about the saturation of racing in terms of its long-term viability as a sport…
The same applies to us as backers. We should not demand, expect, or even welcome, the current high levels of racing in the UK.
It drives down the quality, lowers liquidity as an average across the board, and opens up the sport to all sorts of issues both on and off the track.
All things which do not help us to become what Veitch himself is – a winning professional gambler. Even a winning amateur one!
OPINION: Veitch makes a number of key points. The main one I take away is that like racing itself, the backer needs quality over quantity. Too much racing overloads, too greater stimulation leads to a lack of focus… and to succeed there is a need to be organised, focussed and well-prepared.
