PremonitionsI dare say there has been a lot of talk over the years about premonitions and physic abilities but I have a true story to tell relating to a premonition and betting.
OK I know we all have 'good feelings' about certain things like poker hands, particularly if like me you gamble on gut instinct but this is totally different and people who knew me at the time were involved and aware of what happened.
I have gambled since I was 15, I was an apprentice glass cutter for Pilkingtons from leaving school early after my mum and dad decided to go their separate ways.
4 years learning how to cut glass seemed a lot but as a naive 15 year old needing to work I plodded on with the rather boring work. One of the highlights of the day was fetching the older workers breakfasts from the local cafe and placing their bets in the bookies while the breakfast sandwiches were being made.
After a while I was tempted to have a bet myself and had 5s (25p) each way on a horse that duly won at 33-1. Well what a mistake that turned out to be backing a winner first time I bet as I was now hooked. Hell I only got £3.11.06 a week wages so £4.5 shillings was over a weeks wages in 1 hit.
Anyway I am rambling now, I even looked for the picture I have of me as an apprentice. I will have to scan it so will post it another time.
Many years and many thousands of pounds later, in the 90's in fact I found myself living and working up the north west on a local market selling toys, computer games etc. I nearly always had a bet each day and was in the bookies looking at the newspaper on the wall when I noticed this horse called Castlerea Lad which according to the form figures I saw had won it's last 3 races. Now this was on the 1st May 1993 and after looking at the other horses running that day I returned to look at this horses form in more detail. I like to follow horses and trainers in form.
Well I had quite a shock when I looked at the form again as the 3 firsts that I had seen were not there?
"Weird" I thought to myself.
Now it has not been unknown for horses to 'jump out' at me before and win and armed with the knowledge that this horse was now going to win it's next 3 races after my premonition I backed it. The bet I really like is forecasts and tricasts so I had £10 win @ 10-1 on Castlerea Lad and 2 x £3 f/c's and 2 x £1 tricasts and as bwtting tax was then in place the total bet was £19.
Obviously I returned to the market and went about telling everyone what had happened and how I was sure this horse would win today and the next 2 times it ran.
Commitment and conviction Now here is the part that still annoys me. Why only £10 win? I have always lacked the courage and the conviction to totally commit to my 'premonitions' so I didnt empty my pockets to bet this horse as after all it is gambling isn't it?
Well it seems it was not gambling as when I returned to watch the race it was obvious from 1½ furlongs out that my horse was going to win and Martinosky was going to give me the forecast. All I needed was for Lester Piggott to get a run out of Troon so I was shouting "come on Piggott get 3rd" at the top of my voice and the other guys in the shop also joined in as I had told them of my bet.
Unfortunately the racing post has now become a paid subscription to look up the race analysis but I remember drawing £2240 roughly for my £19 bet. The 0dds went to the staff and the rest came back to the market with me in a large brown envelope
Showing it around the market as I proudly went around saying " I told you so" the gamblers amongst the traders were rather envious
Now obviously I reminded them all that it would win its next 2 races but I think they just put it down to luck and forgot all about the horse.
The 19th May dawns and Castlerae Lad is out again. I am busy visiting my girlfriends son in lock up but managed to get a small bet on and my usual f/c and t/c.
This time it wins @ 7-1. No f/c or t/c this time.
The silly part about this is even now all the people I told didn't believe it would win a 3rd time.
The 26th June was it's 3rd run and win on the trot, the race was over 2 furlongs out as good old Castlerea came with a storming run to win @ 9/2 and I had a nice f/c as well with a 201- 2nd. I had been rather skint that day and it was quiet on the market so every time I took £20 I went and backed the horse so I had £80 on it in the end and £5 f/c.
Now my premonition had come true, the form figures of '111' were now true, I was a few quid and a good holiday better off and now everybody wanted to back the horse
"Go on" I said it wont win next time out. So a few backed it and it was actually a good 2nd to a Gosden odds on shot but as I told them all it didn't win...
The horse went on to win again but not until March and May 1995 and was then seldom placed until it vanished from the racing scene in August 2000.
This should have been my life changing premonition and although profitable didn't really make any significant changes to my life.
I still get odd horses jump of the page at me, Ammunition was 1 yesterday so I put it in my Jackpot bet and forecasts. I actually had 3 from the first 4 in the Devon National Handicap Chase 1st, 2nd and 4th, nice f/c and so near to the t/c.
Premonitions... have you had any? Do you still get them? Do you believe in them or think they are rubbish?
Post your thoughts below...
