Biggest Betfair loss ever

OK. Well I doubt the punter who lost £237,000 in one bet recently is the poor sod who holds the unenviable title of biggest Betfair loss ever. But I wouldn't mind a small punt his £237k loss is the biggest accidental fuck up. You see, our unfortunate friend layed at 1000, perhaps instead of backing it. And in the flash of an eye wiped nearly quarter of a million quid from his account. Doh!

Our man met his Waterloo in the 7.30 at Wolverhampton on November 18. By all accounts he either intended to place a bet at 1000 (999/1) on the pre race favourite Peregrine Falcon. Or more likely was lining up a lay of 1000 and submitted it too early. Whatever, he definitely did his bollocks to the tune of £237k and left 3 other bemused Betfair punters staring at their onscreen balances wondering what the hell was going on. One of them made a staggering £214,000 from the mistake.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "It looks as if the layer simply made a mistake, as all prices matched have to be confirmed before they are traded.

"The only alternative I could imagine is that the layer was using an automatic trading system, and that there was some kind of problem with it.

"Nothing untoward is considered to have taken place, other than a genuine error on someone's part."

Well I guess anyone who can accidentally lose nearly a quarter of a million pounds that is laying around in their Betfair account can afford to. But it's got to hurt. And then some. Going to take a while to claw that lot back!

Anyway, of course attention on the Betfair horse racing forum turned swiftly to the identity of the big loser. Warwick Hunt, the big banked in running 1.01 er was an early favourite having fessed up to big losses in the past. But it appears he's not our man this time.

However, he did post a great video link about the loss. All about forumite Alf Hukker. (Geddit? For both the names?!) Now I barely read the Betfair horse racing forum and don't pretend to know or understand all the shenanigans, wind ups and private jokes on it but I always thought these were the same guy?! What the fuck do I know though. Alf Hukker says it wasn't him that lost and makes another suggestion in a thread all about it on the racing forum. Whatever the truth, whoever did their bollocks, the video is well worth a watch anyway.

Quality stuff I'm sure you'll agree! Anyway, I guess the serious Betfair players all know the identity of the £237k loser. Something that a small timer like myself will just have to wonder about.

Either way it puts my recent losses into perspective and makes me feel a whole lot better about them!