Bookmaker Lindsay Gallagher reports exclusively for Justracing what was backed and what wasn't last Saturday at Eagle Farm. He laid a horse to lose $80,000 in one bet - did it win or lose? Read on and all will be answered. Once again the Justracing preview on Sydneyracing about the horse in question was right when it stated "proven 90.5% losing strike rate, so you can't have him".

Eagle Farm conducted an eight race programme on a bleak and overcast winter’s day, where the track was rated as a “good 3” for the entire meeting.

I thought that the slender win of Fifteen Carat may have persuaded trainer Howard Wilson to set his sights lower than an Epsom Handicap, given he only narrowly beat Bold Glance who would hardly get hot in a Sydney Group 1 race over any distance. Deacon ran home strongly to run third to Fifteen Carat. Wonder did he in fact run a quicker individual last 600-metre sectional than Fifteen Carat? Guess the clients that get my report will find out the answer to that later in the week. If Deacon could run a faster last 600-metre split than Fifteen Carat that would be a concern for Fifteen Carat’s chances in an Epsom I would have thought, as Deacon is due to celebrate one year out of the winner’s list in the city on 8/8/10. In fact last Saturday was the first city placing that Deacon has run in the last 50 weeks. I could also mount a case that had Silver Spur settled in the race he would have been right in the thick of the action, but he just pulled himself into the ground and that bad trait told late. Anyone want to knock old ladies out of the road to get to a bookie with a fistful of $100 notes to back Silver Spur in an Epsom?

In the exclusives department, this week will be sad for myself, but interesting for readers, as Brisbane’s premiership winning trainer Rob Heathcote has sent me a damning email criticizing both myself personally and the website. Being the fair person that I am, I’ll put his totally unedited email from last Friday night up on public display tomorrow on Justracing, which he is happy for me to do, then I might formulate a response for Wednesday on Justracing. He seems very sure of his facts, so maybe a response to all his allegations is just a waste of time, but I suppose time will tell. The other big news that has broken over the weekend is that the Ballina Bracelet that was set down for last Friday in the town the race is named after will now be run at Murwillumbah this coming Thursday. All the relevant information about that venue switch is up now on the www.brisbaneracing.com.au website. On www.sydneyracing.com.au Brian Russell looks at the Muswellbrook meeting today, whilst on the www.melbourneracing.com.au website Brad Bishop looks back on Melton harness racing action for last Friday night – and there is a photo and relevant caption of every finish on the night, all snapped through the wonderful camera lens of Stuart McCormick.

On a sad note, I report the passing of well-known and highly respected harness racing driver Eldon Papworth at the age of 69. Eldon’s funeral will be held at The Chapel, South Burnett Crematorium (adjacent to Taabinga Cemetery), 24 Pioneer Avenue Kingaroy, on Wednesday, 28 July at 11am. The funeral directors are Virgo Funerals Kingaroy (Phone 07-41627988). Eldon Papworth’s most notable achievement was running second in the 1977 Inter Dominion driving Master Findlay. Stanley Rio and John Noble won the Brisbane grand final in question with Kevin Thomas and Sporting Son clocking in third. Eldon Papworth featured in the biography that I wrote on my late friend and harness racing trainer and driver John Bozier in my book. It probably showed what type of chap Eldon Papworth was when it was written “The irony of the Albion Park win of (the John Bozier trained and driven) Smart N Lucky was discussed by John’s friend Noel Brown during the funeral service when he stated that Smart N Lucky had been playing second fiddle on a number of occasions to the very smart Jazzy Joe who was driven by Eldon Papworth. One night after Jazzy Joe had narrowly beaten the unlucky Smart N Lucky – again – Eldon Papworth advised John that he’d 'like to drive him next Saturday night'. Papworth – regarded as one of Australia’s best drivers – didn’t nominate nemesis Jazzy Joe the following Saturday and drove Smart N Lucky to victory at 16 or 20-1 and made John the proudest man in Australia. It seemed even Papworth recognised that the Ipswich battler and his horse deserved to win a city race instead of running 2^nd.”

From the Eagle Farm betting ring leading rails bookmaker Lindsay Gallagher reported:

Race 1 – Fillydelphia $3.00, Igles Star $5.00 and Mossriver $4.00

This winner and favourite Fillydelphia, was well backed from $3.50 into $3 and was even shorter than the $3 at one stage of betting.

There was some specking for Igles Star, but not much money for anything else in the race, so bookmakers started the day with a bad result.

Race 2 – Yummy $4.80, Lucky Toss $11.00 and Eddie Rapido $13.00

This winner Yummy had some admirers and was $6 into $4.80 and there was general money on the ground for Shuffle The Cash which encountered traffic problems in the straight.

There was also money around the ring for Joyeux Joy, so we laid three in the race and it was generally a losing race.

Race 3 – The Sixties $6.00, Another Takeover $5.50 and Tisani Boy $7.00

The winner of this race, The Sixties, was unwanted in betting.

Poor Judge was sensationally backed. The biggest single bet I laid on the gelding was $10,000 amongst others and I was pleased to see him get beaten.

There was some money about for Miss Matari, but not much interest for anything else in the race.

Getting Poor Judge beaten got us back in business.

Race 4 – Lochiel $3.20, Fantastic Force $4.80 and Just A Piccolo $21.00

This winner Lochiel is a promising horse and just prevailed to win over Fantastic Force. Lochiel attracted general public money around the ring, but no big money on the phones for the gelding, however I still laid him heavily enough to lose on his win.

Tycoon’s Pride finished up being a bit of a saving grace, as I laid a $10,000 bet on the Tycoon Ruler gelding.

I laid Startling Pleasure to lose $20,000 in one bet, so it finished up quite a good betting race.

Race 5 – Sir Kingsford $5.00, Diago $4.00 and Malandrina $7.50

Sir Kingsford has been a model of consistency and just beat the favourite Diago in a close finish. The latter was always short on the tote around the $3 mark most of the time, but there was money for him around the $4 mark.

There was specking for Malandrina in the ring and there was also money for Loves A Challenge on the phones which saw that galloper firm from $7 into $5.

Tarrayoukyan also had admirers at $8.50.

It finished up quite a good betting race and generally a winning race.

Race 6 – Red Ferments $4.00, Monashee Warrior $4.20 and Tuscan Rain $7.50

This winner Red Ferments was well backed. An avalanche of money came for the gelding late in betting. I laid one bet to lose $30,000 amongst others and it proved to be quite a nasty result and a real wipeout.

The favourite Monashee Warrior was an easing favourite and actually started second favourite following that avalanche of money for the eventual winner Red Ferments.

I did lay one bet of $1,000 each way on Tuscan Rain early in betting at $7.50 and he ran a nice race.

There was some specking for I’m Ruthless at $5, but no big money for the horse and there was no money for anything else in the race.

Race 7 – Fifteen Carat $3.00, Bold Glance $4.80 and Deacon $11.00

Bold Glance was the best backed runner in the race and I laid one bet to lose $20,000 amongst others and there was some specking for Silver Spur who was the first horse backed and he shortened fairly quickly when nothing else had been backed.

The winner Fifteen Carat was an easing favourite, so even though the favourite won, it was generally a winning race..

Race 8 – General Purple $3.70, Equable $2.80 and Beyonce’s Star $5.50

This winner General Purple was backed from $4.80 into $3.70 and he was always going to box seat and hard to beat.

There was not a lot of money for the favourite Equable who eased to $2.80 and most bookmakers would have preferred it to have got the result.

Beyonce’s Star had no admirers, but I did lay Absent Friends to lose $40,000 in one bet.

There was some specking for Uncle Jan and I laid another roughie Use To Be A Dancer to lose $50,000 in one bet.

I also laid a $5,000 bet on Academy Magic late in betting at $17.

It finished up a good betting race, so whilst there was no great damage done on the race it was hard for bookmakers to finish in front on the day.

Lindsay will be fielding at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, Ipswich on Friday and then he’s in action at Doomben on Saturday and the Sunshine Coast the following day - Sunday.

Don’t forget if you would like to visit Lindsay on the web to read his latest rant, cop a free tip, or view his latest bonus offer to new clients, you can do all that and more by visiting him at www.thevipclub.com.au.