“Steamers” and “drifters” – a myth worth busting

It’s easy to ridicule the behaviour of betting shop punters, labelling them “mugs”, but this hive mentality is to be expected when so many in the racing media use the words “steamer” and “drifter” as short-hand for “certain winner” or “certain loser”. It’s become instinctive to view a shortening price as evidence of a well-planned betting coup-in-waiting, and to view a lengthening price as evidence of a horse that won’t be winning today.

And yet few pause to consider why, if this is the case, Willbrokes are so keen to announce these steamers and drifters over their in-shop tannoys. Surely, were the perception grounded in fact, they would do all they could to disguise such betting moves?

h/t: Jack Houghton betting@betfair

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