The 15 November 2008 was an interesting punting day for your columnist. I’ve punted £48 Million in my life but one needs to keep on learning in order to stay in the game. Heard of the “Bookies in Rollers punters on bicycles” one………? 

With the falling of the autumn leaves come the passing of one Flat racing season and the start of the National Hunt season. The National Hunt season has been going for a few months but the better horses do not tend to come out until November.

The yearling sales are the breeders’ harvest. Breeders come in many forms. They are either self-made business people who love to keep a few mares at their country home or are commercial stud owners who may have other people’s mares boarding.

Bet void, Rule 4, Balloted out, Non-runner, no bet. Are you confused?

Bookmakers make much money out of ill-informed punters who are unaware of the refunding of bets that often takes place. 

Many English racing folk would still say the most famous race in the world is the Derby at Epsom in June. Parliament used to be closed on Derby day when it was run on the first Wednesday in June.

When the placepot was first introduced to the UK some years ago, it became the casual racegoer's most popular bet. The placepot is a pool bet run by the Tote which operates both on course and in the high street.

The betting ring lost its biggest individual bookmaker, by the name of Freddie Williams in July 2008.

Bookmakers drive Bentleys and punters ride bicycles – Not always true. I know a number of broke bookies!

When on 20 May 1989 I won £250,000 on a Thirsk tricast, exotic bets were not as prevalent as they are today. Win, Each Way, Doubles, Trebles, Yankees, Lucky 15s, Lucky 31s, Canadians, Heinzs, Jackpots, Placepots, Scoop 6 are all now regular bets.