KEY POINTS:
Paul Lally quite enjoys being the most-abused man in New Zealand racing.
While trainers and jockeys have to cop the occasional insult from a losing punter, TAB head racing bookmaker Lally is in a unique position - he gets abused even when he's right.
As the public face of the TAB's bookmaking operations, Lally gets scolded by punters when they think the fixed odds prices are too low on a winner. When the bookies are wrong and offer more than the tote on a horse that wins, they get called mugs.
"It is a strange relationship we have with the punters because either way they think I'm a dickhead," admits Lally. "But it's great fun. We love it when we have a win, and you get a thrill, although not quite as big, when a punter gets a big win."
Lally wasn't that thrilled though a few weeks ago when one punter turned $1600 into $262,000 with a bet boxing three horses, one of which only won by a nose. "Yeah, that wasn't a lot of fun. But you have to smile and get on with the job."
Lally and his band of experts will be at all Alexandra Park and Ellerslie meetings next week, as well as offering odds on the major greyhound races. And they will take an extra risk at the Call Of The Card luncheon at Alexandra Park on Sunday, a new addition to the week's social calendar.
The Call of the Card is a popular fixture at Melbourne Cup week where punters try to barter for the best odds with bookies, who for a few hours will often relent and give better odds than usual. "We will be taking bets on all three Auckland Cups at the luncheon and we are happy to take punters on."
The luncheon, which starts at noon, will also feature Australian league legend Peter Sterling as the guest speaker, with tickets available from the three main racing clubs.
