Fifty Years In The Betting Jungle - Confessions Of An On-Course Bookie
The first racing book I read was John Francome’s ‘Born Lucky’ in the mid-eighties.
I loved reading about horses such as Pendil, Midnight Court, Wayward Lad, and Sea Pigeon and Killiney and the escapades in and out of the saddle of the ‘greatest jockey’ as Big Mac would consistently refer to him on Channel 4 Racing.
I recently read ‘Fifty Years In The Betting Jungle’ which is less an autobiography more a nostalgic look back at the wonderful career of the evergreen bookmaker and former Sky Sports greyhound/BBC racing presenter Gary Wiltshire.
When I put it down, after just two sittings, I immediately thought Born Lucky would have been an appropriate title for Gal’s reminiscences and stories irrespective of the incredible lows - to go with the wonderful highs - he has “stomached” in the last fifty years.
I must hold my hand up straight away and admit I am biased. Gary and Paul Jones - who co-wrote the book with Gal - would be two of the friendliest and warmest people I was fortunate enough to meet in the short time when I was a regular on track during my time working as a tipster/correspondent for talkSport and latterly as a bookmaker’s representative.
I remember Gal ringing me when we were both on track at Bangor-on-Dee before the last at one of their summer evening meetings.
‘Charl I’ve just had some geezer say you fancy this horse in the Bumper, and he wanted £20 each way at 40/1.
I said yes that’s right Gal, I thought it was the best long-term prospect in the field. What did you lay him?
A score each way at 50s!!”
I can still hear him crying with laughter before he put the phone down!
Anyway, it was the last race, so they didn’t have to delay the next race while they sent out a search party for my not so astute paddock pick!
“Fifty Years In The Betting Jungle” is a must read for all with a passion for racing, betting and nostalgia with coups such as the successful “Nice One Sirrell” Cheltenham Gold Cup gamble of 2000 when Gal trousered – and they were big trousers to fill in those days - £500,000 having backed Norton’s Coin at 200/1.
A quarter of a century on can you imagine a Carmarthenshire dairy farmer with a permit licence to train just his own horses (3) lock horns and beat the Willie Mullins trained, or JP McManus owned battalions in jump racing’s Blue Riband event?
I was aware that Gal had won a nice few quid on Norton’s Coin but not the sum or the story behind the gamble.
Other notable successful betting coups explained include bribing the groundsman at Oxford Dogs and being part of golfs original Hole-In-One gang while he fondly recollects the one sporting occasion of the year that he has “always done his bollocks.”
Gary will always be remembered for Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven when the Italian went through the card at Ascot on the equivalent of what is now Champions Day at Ascot in September 1996.
While the penultimate chapter of “Fifty Years In The Betting Jungle” revisits Dettori Day this is so much more than “Winning It Back” which Gal wrote in 2011 and describes the challenge of successfully paying back every penny of the £1.4m he owed after Fujiyama Crest made all in the not so lucky last having been backed all rates down from 14s to 2/1 although he would likely go off nearer 1/3 than Evens if the situation ever arose again.
This book offers so much more with so many beautifully described tales from the betting ring and beyond and features so many rich and colourful characters of, arguably, a bygone but much missed era.
As well as the highs there have been extraordinary lows over fifty years, and I do think the Prologue is my favourite chapter if that is not a contradiction of terms. Without giving too much away it shows the best - and I’m sorry to say the worst - in people in the face of such extraordinary adversity.
Born Lucky?
You bet and at fifty not out can I say your innings well played sir. A fantastic read which will resonate with anyone who enjoys a punt and can still have a smile on their face whether they win or lose.
