Taken for a Ride
Francis Hyland(Author)
Gill & Macmillan Ltd (Publisher)
Published in August 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
326 pages
978-0-7171-4016-9 (ISBN)
Description
Francis Hyland's hugely entertaining book tells the stories of betting coups and scandals down the years. Ever since the earliest days of organised racing, there has been a non-stop battle between bookmakers and punters. As soon as the bookmakers close one loophole, clever punters respond - legally and illegally - to beat the system and win a fortune. Taken for a Ride has a cast of hundreds, many of them disreputable and most of them comic. Although not exclusively focused on Ireland, this is where the main emphasis of the book lies. He tells hilarious yarns, such as the one about the pig than beat the thoroughbred horse to land a betting coup, the famous story of the Gay Future betting scandal (Murphy's stroke as it is often erroneously called), and the day the bookmakers went on strike and refused to pay out. Here is a cast of rogues, villains, spivs and chancers, all happily trying to beat the system and make a killing.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Dublin
Ireland
Publishing group
Gill
Illustrations
Illustrations
ISBN-13
978-0-7171-4016-9 (9780717140169)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Francis Hyland is a former stockbroker and current bookmaker based in Bray, Co. Wicklow.