Ladbrokes reveals the biggest winners and losers from the 2024-25 racing season
Melbourne Cup winner Robbie Dolan was the biggest pal of punters, stripping more than $11m from the betting agency's book which was mainly thanks to the Cup win of $91 longshot Knight's Choice.
Punters also filled up by backing Sydney star hoop Tim Clark, who was a $2.3m loser for Ladbrokes over the racing season, while underrated Victorian hoop Jordan Childs was a $1.6m loser for Ladbrokes.
By contrast, backing Victorian champion jockey Jamie Melham was a wipe-out for punters with the bookie winning $5.5m from her rides during the season.
Kerrin McEvoy, Joao Moreira and William Pike were also major winners for the betting agency.
Punters have to pay the so-called 'J-Mac tax' to back the mounts of superstar Sydney hoop James McDonald who was a $560,000 winner for Ladbrokes during the racing season.
Chris Waller might dominate Australian racing but the legendary Sydney trainer was a big winner for Ladbrokes who were more than $11m richer from punters who backed Waller's 2393 runners during the season.
Other big names such as Ciaron Maher and James Cummings were also major winners for the betting giant.
Melbourne Cup legend Sheila Laxon, who trains with husband John Symons, was a major punters' pal as punters who backed her runners during the season scooped more than $12m.
It was a figure inflated by the Melbourne Cup fairytale of Knight's Choice, the roughie who became the first Queensland-trained winner in Melbourne Cup history.
Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker has been airborne in 2024-2025 and bookmakers don't want another season where punters score a total win of $2.8m from his 756 runners in the just finished racing season.
Victorians Grahame Begg and Matt Laurie were also strip outs for the Ladbrokes as punters scored more than $2m in profits from each.
In terms of horses, Blue Army warrior Zardozi was the biggest loser for Ladbrokes punters who dusted off a combined $1.79m from backing the mare during the season.
Buckaroo wasn't far behind, producing a $1.69m loss for punters, while Giga Kick backers contributed a $1.2m profit to the betting agency's book.
Knight's Choice was a $12m stripout for Ladbrokes, while superstars Via Sistina, Bella Nipotina and Treasurethe Moment were also major winners for punters.
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WINNERS AND LOSERS FOR PUNTERS ON THE LADBROKES BOOK IN 2024-25
JOCKEYS
LOSERS
1 – Jamie Melham -$5,581,866.93 (361 rides)
2 – Kerrin McEvoy -$4,492,367.27 (676 rides)
3 – Joao Moreira -$3,864,933.11 (74 rides)
4 – William Pike -$3,212,143.34 (696 rides)
PUNTERS' PALS
1 – Robbie Dolan +$11,054,451.36 (461 rides)
2 – Tim Clark +$2,374,223.91 (541 rides)
3 – Jordan Childs +$1,664,016.45 (594 rides)
4 – Clint Johnston-Porter +$1,106,652.31 (817 rides)
TRAINERS
LOSERS
1 – Chris Waller -$11,675,709.76 (2393 runners)
2 – Ciaron Maher -$8,601,700.53 (2422 runners)
3 – James Cummings -$7,864,110.95 (680 runners)
4 – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr -$4,934,186 (873 runners)
PUNTERS PALS
1 John Symonds & Sheila Laxon +$12,220,406.60 (98 runners)
2 Bjorn Baker +$2,800,614,27 (756 runners)
3 Graheme Begg +$2,153,303.56 (338 runners)
4 Matt Laurie +2,096,996.61 (338 runners)
HORSES
LOSERS
1 – Zardozi -$1,799,934.96 (12 starts)
2 – Buckaroo -$1,699,687.77 (9 starts)
3 – Giga Kick -$1,371,569.77 (6 starts)
4 – Vauban -$1,204,264.96 (4 starts)
PUNTERS PALS
1 – Knight's Choice +12,406,829 (5 starts)
2 – Via Sistina +3,078,463.52 (9 starts)
3 – Bella Nipotina +$1,814,001.59 (5 starts)
4 – Treasurethe Moment +$1,792,389.19 (9 starts)
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