Dickie and ‘Boo ars’ only
Dickie was a brickie – except he wore coveralls (overalls to us), a white shirt and a tie, often a tweeded coat with a Saville Row label which he showed you if you asked, or challenged him about it. I never did, neither. That coat had pockets outside and inside. I saw them often when he folded his earnings, winked, tapped himself outside of the money holding pocket and marched off. I mean he held an imaginary cous cane (like British Generals had) and he marched off swinging the right arm out and up to the horizontal. If you knew him, had seen him, then it probably didn’t phase you. Seeing him for the first time, then, most stopped to watch, pivoting as he paraded up to and past.
He was difficult to talk to, stand offish they said, cranky said someone, tapped said a few, a consensus uttered aloud and in his presence. I never said it, and while it is true I didn’t talk to him much, I listened more often, listened and looked. When he spoke it was Kentish English, he said, so free became fwee, and three became fwee too.
Before the next race, and then only sometimes, in that 8 minutes between settling and writing new business, Dickie sat opposite me on the jarrah bench around the tree near our ring. He spoke and I listened. He asked about the workings of the stand, and it was then I learnt he couldn’t read, he knew numbers alright but he never learnt to read. Pity.
He did smoke though, mine, and he was a barrowman to three layers, taking the mud to them after mixing it, and keeping up the brick numbers, loading them 4 at a time on the horse near the bricklayer, at a little below hip height so that production went on all day, and they got paid on production, he didn’t, he got a wage and worked like three men for that he said. He seemed to have built most of north-eastern Melbourne. That barrow had a load of mud and ‘on the plate’ on the handle he carried 16 bricks, 2 loads of 8 each to each man in turn, non-stop. He may have been in his 60s then.
What Dickie did was back four in handicaps, numbers 2 3 4 5, or the first four if the toppie or some of the others were scratched. But no Jills, only ‘booars’ (booars are boars, hedgehog males, he says ‘boo ars’, there is a breathe in the middle there).
His reasoning he said was the top weight was often an over the hill horse who got the number from past deeds, deeds from 4 or more years ago often, and now it was weighted out of contention.
2 may be likewise but if it was less than 5 years, actually 5 or less, then it had earned its position off recent form, inside 12 months (he said ‘Yar’). Similarly the 3, 4, 5 numbers would have form commensurate with their standing, they had earned the right to be there, good form in recent times being the benchmark. There was an age clause although it seems he ignored that more often than using it, 5 years or less of course.
At smoko on Friday he had the Truth and Barrett his Boss went through the Melbourne form with him, ticking this and that, circling some, putting fences around others with a pen until the form of each was shown to be an underline, a circle, a rectangle or a hash or some other agreed descriptor. The margins of the field page were alive with lines and drawn bubbles with numbers inside them.
Dickie kept the form pages and the rest of the Truth with the picture of a girl, a horse or a truck or advice for the lovelorn went with someone else to their home after work.
He was always alone, always marching, truly, and if he was with you and another sat for a chat, off he went, military style, as I have described leaving the new arrival perplexed until I explained it wasn’t them, it’s how Dickie was.
He bet in quids, and called the bets as numbers. His quids were dollars of course, but you called it back to be sure, then you turned to read horse 2, horse three and the remaining so that the penciller Stewart didn’t have to research too much (he would know them anyway).
Llew rarely spoke, just wrote, and may have had the opinion of most about Dickie.
It’s how Dickie was, perhaps it’s where he really wanted to be, militaristically inclined with that march of his, and that voice that a stage director would die for, even a whisper wasn’t.
His race day attire was what he wore at work, with gummies (wellington boots) – he cheated on the immigration form, he said, to get here, ticked a box or something when it inquired about your education level, and anyway the whole family came here and everybody went back, except him, the dog and the cat, and he continued living in and paying the mortgage on the cottage/cottich.
He might not have been in front betting with us. His method came from a suggestion from Barrett, his boss of many ‘yars’. When Barrett got sick, ‘poisoned’ for a month, Dickie caught the tram to his house for tea on Friday and Barrett did the figuring out for him then, ‘marking his card’.
He said if he had a win on the day he bought a ‘lobbie’ (lobster) at Spencer Street on the way home, wrapped it up in his form page just to be sure.
A JILL in Dickie’s world is a filly or mare, it’s a hedgehog thing.
7/02/2026 – Caulfield – results
MR 1 – 2345, 3 WON – 1.60,1.30
MR 2 – 2345, 3 WON – 1.80, 1.50 – 2 PLACED 2.00
MR3 – SET WEIGHTS – NO BET?-PLACED
MR4 – SET WEIGHTS – NO BET?- WON,PLACED –JILLS!
MR5 – 2345, 0 WON – 3 PLACED 1.80
MR6 – 3456, 5 WON – 4.70, 2.10- 6 PLACED 3.20
MR7 – SET WEIGHTS –NO BET? WON
MR8 – FILLIES – NO BET, 2 WON – 3.70, 1.70
MR9 –SET WEIGHTS – NO BET, FAIL
MR10 2347 – 0 WIN, 4 PLACED 4.80 –WINNER DELETED –JILL!
Caulfield still – what’s going on? 3 wins when you could bet, and some others bypassed because of the rules.
Sydney R 1 was an example of the rules working in your favour, a happenstance though.
Runners 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained JILLS, mares, 3 was scratched and 5 and 6 were mares, 7 and 8 came in to make up the four runners – 2478 and 7 won 16.00/4.00 fixed.
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You are choosing 4 runners in each race. I don’t use the scheme. I don’t recommend it.
Pick runners from Tab 2 , 3, 4, 5 or some greater Tab numbers to get four (4) runners (all male).
Some times the chosen runners are near the bottom of a field (Ballina R6 – Tab 15, and 16)
These results are from Dickies version of the scheme. Originally it had an age component (age 5 or less) but that is not used in this or these results.. Originally it had a weight component – if a chosen runner shared a weight tier with an unchosen runner, move on eg both on 59 kgs both male horses, but only one is chosen as the first 4, move on, next race thank you. That weight aspect is not used in this or these results. The races are handicaps where the handicapper (the person) has applied some knowledge, constancy and choice. The runners are weighted as they should be, they should all finish in a dead heat (no, really). Set weight, WFA, etc are excluded, races where first uppers appear are excluded (never raced anywhere previously), Cox Plate Day R5
In the last race listed here Tab 3,6,8,10,12 are scratched – Tab 4,5,7 are Jills (female) and excluded- Tab 2 9 11 13 are selected – 13 WON read on, last entry.
Cherry picked results follow. 4 horses every race, 4 races a program maybe
23032026 BALLINA R7 2 KEY LEGEND W33.90/P6.20
23032026 BALLINA R6 15 KYOGLE KID W31.00/P5.75
23032026 BALLINA R6 16 BARRON W00.00/P5.00
21032026 CAULFIELD R2 3 ZULU ANGEL W52.00/P7.10
21032026 CAULFELD R5 2 MERIDIUS W12.00/P2.70
25032026 CANBERRA R2 7 INTO THE FIRE W17.50/P4.50
25032026 RANDWICK R5 3 CROSSBOW W42.80/P8.30
26032026 WARRNAMBOOL R3 3 COUNT ZERO W15.50/P5.60
26032026 CAIRNS R7 6 NORDIC INVADER W14.40/P4.10
26032026 IPSWICH R7 6 CASANOVA MAN W11.80/P3.40
27032026 MUSWELLBROOK R7 4 MAGNA TEAR W13.60/P3.60
TOOWOOMBA R7 had W61,W147.90, W25.10 amongst the 4 picks – they didn’t, no.
27032026 WINGATUI NZ R3 7 MEGLAMANIAC W18.70/P6.80
28032026 DOOMBEN R5 5 ZOOLOGY W32.50/P5.60 (I backed it!!)
28032026 FLEMINGTON R9 6 CORNICHE W12.50/P3.00
28032026 MORPHETVILLE R6 6 HIGH ON SUGAR W19.10/P4.50
28032026 KYNETON R7 3 RAMPAZETTO W20.20/P5.10
29032026 AVOCA R8 RAGING MONKEY W23.30/P5.20
29032020 PORT LINCOLN R6, 6 CULLEN SKINK W32.90/P7.10
29032026 ARMIDALE R7 13 MAD HARRY W126/P10.00
This is a wonderful piece of storytelling. You’ve captured a true “character” of the turf with such vivid detail—from the Savile Row coat over the coveralls to that distinctive military march. It’s a nostalgic look at a time when the track was filled with unique personalities like Dickie.
It is also fascinating to see how his “Boo ars only” (males only) system actually held up at Caulfield! Avoiding the top-weighted “past deeds” horses in favor of those with recent form (numbers 2-5) is surprisingly logical for someone who couldn’t read the form guides.
Thanks for sharing this slice of racing history; people like Dickie are what give the betting ring its soul.
Summary of the February 7 results mentioned:
Successes: Clear wins in Race 1, Race 2, and Race 6 using the 2-3-4-5 logic.
The “Jill” Rule: Saved him from betting on several races that didn’t fit his criteria, showing a disciplined (if quirky) approach.
Big Win: The Sydney example proves that sometimes sticking to a strict rule—even when scratchings occur—can lead to a massive $16.00 winner!
A great read!
2nd Part -‘cherry picked’ somewhat – not every win is shown (you can do that)
CARE: The FIXED dividends are usually different than those at close, for commercial reasons? The FIXED PLACE dividends are different.
Results shown were scraped after the event and probably after tea
01032026 SAPPHIRE COAST R8 6 FIRE AND GEMSTONE W16.90/P5.30
02032026 YORK R1 2 WUIGI FIXEDW81/P21 SP W14/P2.70!
02032026 YORK R4 6 POWER TO RULE FIXED W61/P16 SP W20.20/P6.00
04032026 TOWNSVILLE R4 NORTHERNONTAP FIXED W18/P3.50
06032026 NEWCASTLE R8 6 COSMIC AVENGER W29.20/P5.40
06032026 DUBBO R7 3 CRUSADER KINGS W12.60/P2.90
06032026 IPSWICH R4 2HEROIC CHIEF W27.60/P3.80
07032026 BUNBURY R9 8 AVOIDANCE FIXED W31.00/P8.50 (TAB SP=16.40)
07032026 GOLD COAST R7 2 YOSHINO W11.70/P2.80
07032026 MURRAY BRIDGE R8 3 ROYAL MILE FIXED W41.00/P11.00
07032026 EDENHOPE R6 3 SETHACCHIO W15.10/P3.70
07032026 EDENHOPE R7 6 CORAGGIO FIXED W51/P1060
07032026 HAWKESBURY R7 5 KING KIKAU FIXED W21.00/P4.70
08032026 CANERRA R2 7 SAMURAI FIXED W16.00/P3.20
10032026 GOULBURN R1 2 KING EDWARD W11.40/P4.80
11032026 WARWICK FARM R8 3 HANAU FIXED W19.00/P5.50
12032026 BEAUDESERT R7 14 FIXED W31.00/P6.40
12032026 NEWCASTLE R5 10 BENAMERA FIXED W31.00/P6.60
12032026 NEWCASTLE R8 4 GENERAL SOHO FIXED W41.00/P11.00
13032026 CRANBOURNE R6 2 BERGASUN FIXED W13.00/P3.20
13032026 GERALDTON R5 5 LUCKEE FLORAN FIXED W18.00/P5.20
13032026 GERALDTON R7 6 KENTUCKY BLUE FIXED W16.00/P3.50
13032026 SUNSHINE COAST R5 2 WEONA REDWOOD FIXED W18.00/P5.20
13032026 SUNSHINE COAST R7 3 OUR TURN NOW W13.50/P4.30
14032026 GOLD COAST R6 4 SWIFT DRAGON FIXED W31.00/8.50
14032026 GOLD COAST R10 4 ENCODER FIXED W16.00/P4.70
14032026 MORPHETVILLE R10 CORK HARBOUR FIXED W13.00/P4.00
14032026 GOSFORD R8 2 MOGUL MONARCH FIXED W21.00/P6.00
14032026 TOOWOOMBA R6 4 MISTER MIGHTY 4 FIXED W18.00/P3.50
15032026 YARRA VALLEY R4 2 SUPERSET FIXED W12.00/P4.20
16032026 PORT MACQUARIE R5 3 FIVE RINGS W14.10/P2.70
17032026 HAWKESBURY R5 5 MAGIC ICON W16.80/P3.70
17032026 KILCOY R6 3 MICHIFUKU FIXED W21.00/P4.10 – that name is so suss!!
18032026 ASCOT R4 5 BILLIONAIRES ROW FIXED W15.00/P4.50
18032026 ASCOT R7 4 HIGHLY SPOKEN FIXED W13.00/P2.90
18032026 DOOMBEN R7 2 ALPHA BRAVO W17.30/P3.60
19032026 ALBANY R4 6 ARAFISIO W90.10/P11.40
19032026 ALBURY R3 6 CARRAMAR FIXED W13.00/$42.40
20032026 LAUNCESTON R7 NICCO THE GREEK W100.50/P11.40
Boo ars only page 3
Hcp races only. Male horses only. TAB 2 TAB 3 TAB 4 TAB 5 or some other bigger TAB to get 4 picks.
In this series it was necessary to go down to TAB 11 to get a qualified runner. This is not all winners only those with significant dividends are shown (several $41.00)
06042026 OAKBANK R5 5 EAGLELOU FIXED W14.00
06042026 OAKBANK R7 4 IMMANZOR FIXED W17.00
06042026 ROSEHILL R7 7 SHROPSHIRE LAD FIXED W19.00
06042026 ROSEHILL R6 2 NO DRAMA FIXED W19.00
06042026 ROSEHILL R5 7 POINT AND SHOOT FIXED W15.00
06042026 SANDOWN R7 7 FIRE TRIBE FIXED W18.00
06042026 SANDOWN R4 2 NATION STATE FIXED W17.00
06042026 YORK R7 5 TOSEN IMPACT FIXED W12.00
07042026 HAMILTON R3 3 FIELD OF LIGHTS FIXED W13.00
07042026 HAMILTON R7 3 CORRO FIXED W15.00
08042026 EAGLE FARM R6 4 MALECON FIXED W41.00
09042026 TAREE R2 5 CUTTING EDGE FIXED W18.00
09042026 TAREE R6 5 LOVE RATE W14.60
09042026 TAREE R7 11 TOOMUCHINFORMATION FIXED W16.00
09042026 GERALDTON R3 7 ENTICING W9.00
09042026 GERALDTON R7 10 VIVAROK FIXED W41.00
09042026 GERALDTON R8 3 ARCHENEMY FIXED W13.00
10042026 WELLINGTON R4 HARD CHOICE** W33.30
10042026 WELLINGTON R6 9 SEENI W15.40
10042026 WELLINGTON R7 8 TORENDSETTA W00.00/P13.40
10042026 TAMWORTH R6 4 Hinto W19.00 was a system selection but there was a first up in the race (not raced previously), favourite, so no bet –rules is rules. Hinto won – always the way, as they say.
10042026 TAMWORTH R6 2 KING KIKAU W18.00 – he’s been good to us *3
10042026 MURRAY BRIDGE R9 8 LOMAX FIXED W41.00
10042026 GOLD COAST R6 ODE TO BEAUTY FIXED W41.00
10042026 LAUNCESTON R7 5 SANDUAL W11.40/P3.70
10042026 GEELONG R6 3 BRAZENGA W9.00/P3.80
DICKIES 4
11042026 DOOMBEN R7 2 FLYING DESTINY W15.30/P3.00
11042026 DOOMBEN R8 6 RISING PACIFIC W00.00/P10.20
11042026 CAULFIELD R9 11 EMPIRE SONG W00.00/P6.40
11042026 MORPHETTVILLE R6 3 CHICAGO STORM W00.00/P6.90
11042026 RANDWICK R7 3 CHANGINGOFTHE GUARD FIXED W71.00
11042026 WERRIBEE R6 3 FOXY HEART W14.40/P3.60
12042026 ROCKHAMPTON R8 3 LONERGY FIXED W26.0
12042026 WELLINGTON R4 2 BOUNDING BON FIXED W15.00
12042026 GUNDAGAI R7 11 QUAMBY FIXED W21.00
13042026 LONGREACH R3 2 ECHO POINT W00.00/P9.10
13042026 LONGREACH R7 5 CALL OUT W28.00/P5.30
13042026 SCONE R6 8 SUPER FREDS W23.10/P5.10
14042026 BALLINA R6 AUREATE FIXED W41.00
14042026 BALLINA R4 OUTSMARTED FIXED W13.00
15042026 WARWICK FARM R4 5 AUTUMN WINTER W16.00/P6.10
15042026 DOOMBEN R6 8 RETAINER W11.00/P3.20
15042026 BALKLAVA R8 6 WINNING AURA FIXED W81.00
15042026 DOMBEN R8 10* GLENFINNIN W00.00/P12.10
15042026 DOOMBEN R7 3 JETT SMASH FIXED W13.00
16042026 ARMIDALE R4 2 SENSATIONAL REWARD W20.90/P4.30
17042026 LAUNCESTON R5 ZALAU W00.00/P7.00
17042026 CANBERRA R8 2 BODE AKUNA FIXED W13.00
08122024 ARMADALE CUP R7 7 RING AHOY W7.20
06012025 MORUYA CUP R7 6 CHARLEMAGN W11.60
23022025 MUDGEE CUP R7 3 OSMAN W8.90
31032025 WELLINGTON CUP R6 6 AIM POINT W5.20
11042025 ORANGE CUP R7 3 CAMPALDINO W1.90
24042025 TAMWORTH CUP R7 7 NAME DROPPER W4.80
03052025 HAWKESBURY CUP R8 5 PUNCH LANE W2.30
16052025 SCONE CUP R7 5 TAVI TIME W6.70
13072025 NARRANDERA CUP R8 4 HOT BANDIT W4.50
13072025 GRAFTON CUP R6 8 BOYS NIGHT OUT W4.40
01082025 COFFS HARBOUR CUP R7 5 TIME QUEST W9.20
24082025 GOULBURN CUP R7 10 RUBY FLYER W12.10
05092025 WYONG CUP R6 4 SALT COATS W1.80
12092025 TUNCURRY CUP R7 8 LUGH W2.70
14092025 BATHURST CUP R4 2 AIX EN PROVENCE W2.30
19092025 NEWCASTLE CAMERON HCP R7 3 HEADLEY GRANGE W7.10
28092025 DUBBO GOLD CUP R9 4 CRISTAL CLEAR W3.10
10102025 PORT MACQUARIE CUP R7 4 AGE OF SAIL W3.40
12102025 COONAMBLE CUP R7 3 JUST A DEEL W6.20 (previous runs in Melbourne – Keen?)
The last run in these sequences was at Randwick – Vivy Air (a mare) won, drat.
As nonsense an all up on those Cup runners comes out 2billion 817million with enough change for a home on 13 acres at the end of the lane here! But you took 4 runners, so reduction using permutation principles (wha?) it rounds out to 421 million. You wish.
Mechanical betting systems seek to use race results as if they are
causes.
Systems operate generally on the premise that yestedays results will
cause todays results in terms of yesterdays conditions.
There are limits to how systems can work. Perhaps some cleverly researched and
designed systems do succeed, but most fail.
Systems must fail because they are pale and inferior examples of
rating methods, which generally fail also.
However, there are amusing and instructive anecdotes in the racing
literature on the claims and methods of systems.
The patois utilised is that of positivity of purpose with your
method.
If it succeeds it is expected.
If it does not succeed there is a reason in the rules.
An Answer
Yes Dickies 2 3 4 5 plan selected these. There were winners today, every day less than $11.00. Just not those over $11 too much.
Seemingly the win dividend is about $3 nowadays. I don’t know what the average win dividend might be!
Dickies 5
20O42026 WODONGA R5 3 CRAZY TOWN FIXED W17.00/P 4.10 TOTE
20042026 WODONGA R7 2 BEFORE THE WAR FIXED W15.00/3.20 TOTE
20042026 WODONGA R8 5 SARGEANT STAN FIXED W9.00/P3.10 TOTE
20042026 MUSWELLBROOK R7 FLAMBOYANT LAD FIXED W8.50
20042026 MUSWELLBROOK R8 SMOKE ON THE WATER FIXED W12.00
21042026 SWAN HILL R5 2 PRINCE PINOT FIXED W10.00
21042026 SWAN HILL R6 8 SHAL EXCEED W00.00/P6.50
21042026 TOWNSVILLE R4 2 MISTER DOOBEE W15.60/P2.50
21042026 QUEANBEYAN R3 8 BIG TIME CHARLIE FIXED W26.00/P4.80
22042026 MURRAY BRIDGE R9 9 THE TRUE BELIEVER FIXED W71.00/P13.00*
22042026 MURRAY BRIDGE R8 4 EXPLICABLE W00.00/P7.60
22042026 GEELONG R7 3 AMPHACTOR W00.00/P6.70
22042026 ASCOT R8 3 MUST BE NICE W10.00/P3.00
22042026 DOOMBEN R5 5 CHILLAXING W00.00/P5.70
22042026 DOOMBEN R4 5 WATERMELON W00.00/P5.60
24042026 ROCKHAMPTON R7 7 DETERMINATION FIXED W10.00
24042026 ROCKHAMPTON R6 4 BUNGARIBEE LAD W00.00/P6.90
24042026 CRANBOURNE R7 5 COUNT OF TOULOUSE W00.00/P8.40
25042026 DOOMBEN R2 2 BUNDELLA W7.50/P2.80
25042026 DOOMBEN R6 3 CLOUDLAND W9.20/P2.20
25042026 DOOMBEN R9 16 KRONENBURG FIXED W91.00/13.00
25042026 ALICE SPRINGS R6 4 HEBEL W32.80/P6.70
25042026 MOE R5 6 GAMBU FIXED W34/P5.00
25042026 MOE R7 6 FASHION FIGHTER W19.00/P3.90
25042026 DALBY R4 8 KOJA NINJA W00.00/P6.00
26042026 SEYMOUR R5 4 BRING ME POWER FIXED W26.00
26042026 PORT MACQUARIE R4* 3 ROCKBARTON MARSHAL W9.10
26042026 SHA TIN R5 How about $90,$135,$199,$345 for selections.
This was Ka Ying Rising race – we got 15/8 Place return on the 4 – $2.95
Last post
This concludes two months of toing and froing for Dickies 2 3 4 5 scheme
Hcp only
Male horses only
Tab 2 Tab 3 Tab 4 Tab 5
No mares or fillies ( Dickies No Jills clause !)
There are 4 runners in each race selected, mostly, thus 3 losers off win betting. Superlative place dividends are shown, they didn’t win but placed at odds.
Every winner is not shown, consider the same number as wins (that’s a guess) – it will take you an hour or so to get the exact data. Let us know what you find.
I don’t use the scheme/plan. I don’t recommend it.
cheers
27042026 WINGATUI R5 5 MEGLAMANIAC FIXED W31.00/P7.00
28042026 QUIRINDI R7 6 UNDER THE COLLAR FIXED W17.00
29042026 IPSWICH R4 7CLICK CLICK BOOM W15.70/P3.30
30042026 BALLARAT R6 7 HODDYS HORSE FIXED W0/P19.00 IT WAS $251
30042026 WYONG R7 2 NORTON ROAD W26.20/P5.60