The Racing Game: Odds Against (ITV 21 Nov 1979 with James Maxwell)

In Odds Against, jockey Syd Halley is badly injured in a fall (so bad that he has to be given a prosthetic hand) and is forced to give up the racing game, descending into an alcoholic stupor he is asked by his ex father in law (mainly in an attempt to give him something to do) to look into a series of racing accidents. Teaming up with old friend and karater expert Chico Barnes he tracks down the bad guys and decides to set up a private inquiry service with Chico.

Great introductory episode with bitter Halley being unwillingly asked to investigate simply because he has time on his hands following the accident and of course he gets a lot more than he bargained for. The first part is pretty much scene setting and character introduction but the whole vibe is like an episode of Minder really.

UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 21 November 1979 @ 9.10pm

Writer: Terence Feely / Director: Lawrence Gordon Clark

Series: The Racing Game / Episode 1 (of 6)

guest cast
JAMES MAXWELL as Charles Roland
SUSAN WOOLDRIDGE as Jenny Halley
RACHEL DAVIES as Doria Graves
GERALD FLOOD as Howard Graves
ROGER MILNER as Captain Oxon
MAURICE BUSH as Fred
HOLLY DE JONG as Wendy
DAVID SCASE as Mr Dysart
ROSALIE WILLIAMS as Mrs Dysart
MICHAEL TURNER as Surgeon
ALLYSON REES as Annabel Hatton
PETER LAND as Geoffrey Bynge