The King Island racing carnival is held over two months every year. The island has just one bookmaker and hapless punter Greg Clarke contemplates getting fleeced the ''Honest'' way.

By Greg Clarke

''Honest Howie'' is the only bookmaker at the King Island Cup Carnival. If ever a name was made to conjure images of a punter losing his shirt it is, fabulously, Honest Howie.

Australia's first true bookmaker (circa 1880) might have been Robert Sievier and surely at no time since the cavalier Englishman, known as ''Good Old Bob'', has there been a more appealing name for a bookie than Honest. That he has a monopoly only adds to the charm.

Picnic-style racing
The King Island Jockeys, Harness Drivers and Trainers Premiership is contested over seven race meetings spread across two months, from December 1 until the last meeting of the carnival on January 26 (2008). This is picnic-style racing in a natural amphitheatre and though the argument that gambling might be the work of the devil can have plenty of traction, the opportunity to place a bet with Honest has to alone be worth the price of the flight to the island.

There are a maximum of eight horses in each race, the modest-size field limited by the number of gates in the course's barrier. Each meeting is a mix of gallops and harness racing — there might be five gallops races then three harness races, which unusually are held on the turf track.

High stakes
Many of the jockeys fly in from Victoria on the morning of each race meeting as there is only one resident jockey on the island. Most of the horses though are local. There are about 50, four-legged racers on KI and the racing is keen. A good deal of pride rather than million-dollar purses is at stake.

There is about $1800 prize money per race though the King Island Cup has a $4000 purse. It's fitting then that most of the betting is just good fun. Wager anything over 50 bucks and you'll be super-sizing.

Punters can also bet on the Tote but place your bets with Honest and the risk isn't all with the punter. As Honest points out, ''If I get something wrong I can't lay off [have an ''insurance'' bet with another bookie]. I'm stuck with it''.

Rooms with views
King Island has a population of about 1500 people. The race-day crowd averages about 400 on Cup Day. The track is only about a kilometre from Currie, the island's capital and the place where most visitors stay. Almost every motel, restaurant and cafe comes with water views.

The Boomerang by the Sea motel has recently undergone a major renovation. It offers views not only of Bass Strait but also the golf course. The motel has a licensed restaurant and it's an easy cab ride to the course. The two self-contained cottages of Devils Gap Retreat are owned by a local artist. Baudins Accommodation has views of Sea Elephant Bay and Councillor Island.

Beyond the betting
As for experiences beyond the appeal of the gee gees and wagering a bet with Honest, two operators run King Island discovery tours. The cultural centre regularly holds exhibitions by local artists and while the island has enough uncrowded beaches for a beachcombers' convention, KI is renowned for its food — cheeses, seafoods, beef and even smallgoods from the local butcher. At the KI Bakery there are pies bulging with locally grown fillings or visitors can get to taste the best of the island's good food at eateries including pubs and a la carte restaurants. Looking for the inside word from the track? The steak sandwiches are a treat apparently.

Ghost town
If you should be in Currie on a Friday night get ready for the town's only form of commuting. Many of the locals seem to up and leave Currie for the pub at Grassy, in the south-east of the island. King Island is 28km wide and about 62 km long. Grassy is about 20km from Currie. It's not much of a commute.

Grassy was once a mining town but after the mine closed the population dropped as fast as the real estate prices. Grassy was heading for ghost-town status until a fella bought the town and set applying some spit and polish to the fast failing homes then re-selling them. King Island is only about 80 kilometres from Victoria's Cape Otway and the island is a holiday-home address for some Victorians.

More fun than fleecing
Turns out Honest Howie has a real job running a newsagent and some of the locals have even suggested he is far more into fun than fleecing. Shame really. I was looking forward to Honest Howie taking me to the cleaners, losing not only my shirt, but my suitcase and plane ticket, and having to swim Bass Strait to get home. It was going to be a helluva story for the kids.

Find out more:
www.discovertasmania.com or www.kingisland.org.au
King Island Tourism Inc: 1800 645 014