So there we were tuned in last week as we always do in the mornings to Perth Racing Radio’s The Big Breakfast Show and on came a regular segment where emails etc from listeners are read out.

(Source: Oz Bet)

To the credit of host David Shortte, he read out a missive aimed at co-host and form analyst Wes Cameron.

We hate the term “tipster” the same way we loathe the term “consultant” which is usually someone without a gig.

As for the spray, it was about Cameron’s quaddie suggestions.

(Source: Evil Editor)

Jeez, what’s happening to the world today? Too much time on our hands?

Too little importance placed on the priorities of life and uninterested in doing our part to right so many wrongs?

(Source: Z Cache)

With what’s happening to our world- religious wars which makes a mockery of religion, human beings cruelty against fellow human beings, corruption by those whose schtick we bought and elected into office, mad gunmen protected by the NRA, endangered species of everything, a bleak future for our children and some  find the time to criticize someone about their quaddie selections???

(Source: One Step 4ward)

Have we become a generation of bastard children of the Stepford Wives- robotic, brain-frozen and unable to think for ourselves and easily led down the slippery slope by every shady pied piper of Hamlyn and Willie Wonka that has something to sell- even if it’s a dose of empty promises? Seems so.

(Source: Hey Guys)

As for Wes Cameron and other professional form analysts paid to name their selections and other form analysts in racing who have made this their business, well, it’s surely a matter of opinion and punters adopting a horses for courses attitude.

If their work- and it is work for many professionals- don’t work for you, stop going to the well so many times.

(Source: Accurate School Figures)

It’s not about throwing a wobbly and blaming these people while stamping one’s feet and talking through one’s arse and pockets.

(Source: Amazonaws)

No one’s really twisting anyone’s arm to follow anyone especially in a game of chance as racing with so many variables.

Everyone has those good days when the stars are aligned and off days when nothing goes right.

Usually, that first “good thing” crashing and burning is an ominous warning to pull it in and wait for another day.

(Source: Pic DN)

Do we follow “tipsters”? No. Despite knowing many jockeys extremely well, trainers and others in the game, we adopt a Don’t Ask, Don’t Talk attitude. It helps make friendships last.

(Source: Dont Ask)

This is especially true in Australia, where everyone seems to be an expert with most “tips” being horses any seasoned punter would pick for themselves. It’s over-supply for the demand.

(Source: UK Horse Racing Tipster)

The one person we trust when it comes to guiding us is a jockey who is an excellent judge and an old school form analyst who has a handful of loyal clients and helps out a rider we know  by accurately describing what every other person in that race might be doing. His thinking and formulating his recommendations is racing’s Art Of War.

(Source: Tumblr)

We have seen his “riding maps” and they are works of art and not some random numbers with zero reasons given as to why they should matter.

(Source: SOD Ahead)

As for “celebrity tipsters”, well, again, it’s up to punters to accept them or check them into the Paris and Perez Hiltons and never let them out.

(Source: Sofyazulkifffli)

“Celebrities” in racing who are not great jockeys or exceptional trainers, perhaps big swinging dick owners, are like “celebrities” in the entertainment industry: Windbags famous for being famous and the times spent in rehab.

(Source: Maxim)

Yes, racing has the similar species and who we run a mile away from when they waffle on and are paid for guiding people to the obvious with a few freakish outsiders thrown in for shock value.

(Souorce: Abstract Dynamics)

But think about this: Someone has made these people “racing celebrities” for various reasons and they have been able to parlay this into creating new business opportunities by being guest speakers, making public appearances etc. Good for them.

(Source: Sun Rise To Astmasters)

It’s again, not unlike the music industry where someone like a middle-aged American music blogger named Bob Lefsetz, who cannot do anything when it comes to the creative process is still paid to fly around the world, stay in five-star hotels and paid to share his dim-witted views on the industry to fawning lemmings taken in by the hype and the personality he has created for himself for being “controversial”.

(Source: Doktor Snake)

Being controversial and being a pretentious dullard go hand in hand in any industry and the racing industries in the UK and Oz, especially, have their own equivalents of Bob Lefsetz who whistle a happy tune and carry on regardless ‘cos, well, they can, unless shown up for what they really are: Wankers.

What we are seeing in Hong Kong is a very swift demise in “tipsters” as there are just way too many- especially in the all-important China media.

The hardcore punters have their own systems that they have followed for decades whereas the rookie punter is on information overload and looking for a simple app that gives them this: Racing- simplified.

(Source: Canadian Gaming Business)

For a very straight-forward sport, gawd knows there are many who wish to make it as confusing as possible which is a quick turn-off to the new generation of racing fans who want the basics so they can make their own minds up and not have to go through those Mind Games John Lennon sang about.

(Source: Empower Network)

From where we sit, the days of punters, like many Johnny Come Lately bookmakers, are numbered because of over-supply and demand. This will become more and more streamlined and, because of this, will be very quickly made extinct.

(Source: Jeffrey Hill)

In its place, we see more and more partnerships being made, more service-oriented products, more new business revenue streams, apps for saps like all those Dummies books appearing in new forms as the biggest market- the newbies- are yet to be successfully tapped.

(Source: Forward Now)

Why not? Too much navel gazing and a herd-like mentality where the sheep too close to the sport refuse to see the forest for the trees and don’t venture out to understand the wants and needs of different customer segments.

It’s like opening a bar or restaurant with no plan, no theme, no USP and thinking it will be a success.

(Source: Apollo Kidz)

Until these people are convinced that racing is not some ball of rolling confusion and FIRST understand the real BASICS of horse racing, the same old same old will get older and older and radio form analysts like Wes Cameron who are doing the best they can with what they’ve got, the sport will continue to attract the angry armchair critics and become as extinct as the pink dolphin.

(Source: UH)