Ken Payne - The Coup

[Terry Winter]

Thanks once again to Beastie for organising the Grand National Sweep and
Roger Standing and Endless Fine Art for providing my prize, The Coup, an
autobiography of trainer Ken Payne. A jockey, cum window cleaner, who had
the breaks and the bottle to rise to the top of the training tree (spurred
on my countless betting coups, either based on manipulation of the betting
ring, or use of steroids as part of his training methods, or both).

Although I am a bit young to recognise many of the references, Piggott,
Hannon and Easterby were about as far as I got, I have to admit that it was
a fascinating read. I don't know how many of the holes in the system that
Ken and his peers were able to take advantage of have now been plugged, but
it really makes you think.

Whilst being a total wide boy, the bloke came across as very likeable and it
was difficult not to cheer his successes and feel sorry at his ultimate
downfall

Thoroughly recommended

Terry

[Roger Standing]

"Terry Winter" <terry....@bigfootnospam.com> wrote in message
news:aas7gn$kcb$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...

Thanks for our comments, Terry, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I don't know
that Ken rose to the top of the tree, he was generally known as 'King of the
selling races'. With that sort of specialisation a trainer needs an income
from punting as his charges won't be picking up the big prizes.

I think that many of the holes remain unplugged. It's still possible to give
a jockey inappropriate instructions, run a horse over the wrong distance,
put up an unsuitable jockey, run a horse partially fit except on the big
day, etc.

The book certainly makes you wonder if much study of a handicap really helps
one pick a horse with the 'edge'.

Roger

Endless racing prints on
http://www.findit.co.uk/pictures.htm

[John L]

"Roger Standing" <rog...@bluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:3cd2b...@news.bluewin.ch...

> "Terry Winter" <terry....@bigfootnospam.com> wrote in message
> news:aas7gn$kcb$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > Thanks once again to Beastie for organising the Grand National Sweep and
> > Roger Standing and Endless Fine Art for providing my prize, The Coup, an
> > autobiography of trainer Ken Payne. A jockey, cum window cleaner, who
had
> > the breaks and the bottle to rise to the top of the training tree
(spurred
> > on my countless betting coups, either based on manipulation of the
betting
> > ring, or use of steroids as part of his training methods, or both).
> >

>

> Thanks for our comments, Terry, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I don't
know
> that Ken rose to the top of the tree, he was generally known as 'King of
the
> selling races'. With that sort of specialisation a trainer needs an income
> from punting as his charges won't be picking up the big prizes.
>

That is not quite as true as it used to be now that strings are bigger.

> I think that many of the holes remain unplugged. It's still possible to
give
> a jockey inappropriate instructions, run a horse over the wrong distance,
> put up an unsuitable jockey, run a horse partially fit except on the big
> day, etc.
>
> The book certainly makes you wonder if much study of a handicap really
helps
> one pick a horse with the 'edge'.
>

I think it significant that the jockeys were never involved in these plots.
Perhaps that would surprise some cynical punters, who seem convinced
that every loser they back is down to the bent jockey pulling it.

John.