AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

BETTING ODDITIES: Read All About It (er, online)

BETTING ODDITIES: In his latest weekly blog, DAVID STEWART takes a sideways look at some of the stories making the news in the betting world and beyond.


READ ALL ABOUT IT (er, online)

I was saddened to read that Timeform have announced that their recently published “Chasers & Hurdlers 2019/20” will be the last in the series of printed annuals. The books date back to 1948 and the rarer volumes exchange hands for many guineas.

They are held by many in the same regard that Wisden is to cricket fans.

I know times change and digital marches on but I still like a physical publication. Call me old fashioned but I pretty much have ink in my DNA having trained in newspaper journalism.

From working on The Sun when it was still in Fleet Street to being at the Racing Post when the sadly missed founding editor Graham Rock proudly held aloft the first edition of the paper at the offices in Raynes Park, London.

As a teenager, transfixed by the sport, I also have fond memories of going to the indoor market in Darlington for the weekly Handicap Book and Weekender which included the essential pull out results sections.

Times have changed, so much better in an information sense but something very basic, yet special, has been left behind, on the shelf.


G.O.A.T RACE 20-20 IN 2020

At Roland Garros 19-year-old Iga Swiatek was crowned champion after beating Sofia Kenin in the final.

Two new stars in the women’s game for sure but the old guard in the men’s aren’t quite ready to move over just yet.

There’s the small matter of the G.O.A.T to settle. In winning the French Open for the 13th (thirteenth) time, Nadal drew level with Federer on 20 Grand Slam wins in the race for the Greatest Of All Time. Djokovic is close behind on 17.

When the race is finally run we’ll look back on this era as truly golden and a trilogy of dominance pretty unlikely ever to be repeated.


PARISH NOTICES

I observed this notice walking past a church in Esher. I wonder what the ‘object’ is. I guess stating a ‘wallet’ or ‘phone’ would attract ne’er-do-wells claiming ‘their’ property. Sad times.


JENGA CHIPS

Restaurants that arrange their chips like a game of Jenga…… it wasn’t funny the first time. Grow up.

David


DAVID STEWART is a freelance digital betting producer and journalist. His CV includes: The Sun, The Sporting Life, Racing Post, At The Races, The Sportsman, lead feature writer for Sky’s Betview magazine and senior producer Timeform Radio.


Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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