Even though punters\’ attention was focused on the early stages of the World Cup and, in particular, England\’s opening match against Paraguay, betting industry estimates suggest that Frankie Dettori\’s Goodwood five-timer on Sarturday cost bookmakers in excess of £2 million.
“We won\’t have final figures in from the shops for a couple of days yet, but I\’d imagine we\’re talking about at least £2 million,” said Coral Eurobet spokesman Simon Clare.
“Without the World Cup, and if Frankie had made a better start to the season, it might have been a lot worse, perhaps upwards of £5 million.”
“Plenty of punters still follow him with multiples on the strength of his Magnificent Seven, and if he really got going and notched anything like a five-timer at Royal Ascot, it would be absolutely catastrophic.”
William Hill, which claimed that the Italian\’s exploits cost them a seven-figure payout, said liabilities were only a fraction of the millions of pounds that Dettori\’s “Magnificent Seven” at Ascot in September 1996 cost the betting industry.
“Although Frankie got five out of seven winners on a Saturday it was not as bad as it could have been,” said rails bookmaker Barry Dennis. “The offices, particularly Ladbrokes and Coral, were plunging on Frankie\’s mount in every race putting thousands on to reduce the price but it was never going to amount to as much as 10 years ago.”
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