Betfair was a hot issue in Australia last week and lo and behold, Hong Kong's former chief stipendiary steward, John Schreck, entered the fray anew. Schreck appeared on the national racing station, Sky Channel, to continue the Hong Kong Jockey Club crusade against betting exchanges.
The sheriff was there to put the frighteners into everyone about the bootleggers and moonshine runners of exchanges, even as Betfair gains a decent hold and a warm reception in Australia.
Punter interest in Betfair operations on Hong Kong seems to have been quite lukewarm, its impact in Australia, where the culture is one of win betting rather than quinellas or other exotics, has been quick and significant.
And if you are wondering why Schreck would turn up in Australia to take the fight further, it does say something about the global nature of Internet betting and the nagging belief that yesterday's neighbour is tomorrow's pirate.
To what must have been the horror of the good neighbours at Sports Road, officials in Australia's most commercially aggressive state, Victoria, have openly embraced the concept of betting exchanges after representations from Betfair and the national body, the Australian Racing Board (ARB), has not sent the firm packing.
They have seen exchanges as 'an opportunity rather than a problem', though the ramifications of such a greeting for turnover in Australia and beyond are significant down the track.
Australian officials have already conceded that the good neighbour policy is not something on which they can sign off, given the fragmented command and control of racing there, and the response to Betfair is another example of that.