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Who Am I ; Satchel Swinger Edition.

Harness & Greyhounds
Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
Harness & Greyhounds
I grew up with horses my father was a trainer/driver but I decided to take a different path and forged a highly successful career as a bookmaker. Some have said at one point I was the biggest trot bookie in Australia. As well as having the common touch with battlers I also dealt with millionaires and the occasional billionaire. Anybody attending Gloucester Park and Richmond Raceway throughout the 80s and 90s will remember me, a familiar face on my stand. After 25 years as a bookmaker I retired in 2001. During later years I have attended four World Trotting Conferences and chaired the Animal Welfare Committee at three of these. Who Am I ?
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Comments

  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    Is it Ross Cooper Riders?

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Ross's older brother John arguably the best football club administrator of all time.....Swans would have shut the doors decades ago if not for Coops. And daughter Chelsea (Harding) also trains a few.

    Gilgamesh, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    The Cooper family are legendary down at my beloved SDFC JJ & Riders. 
    John, Ken & Ross all played League footy for the Black & Whites whilst Ross's son Trent also played League for Swans.
    Trent has also done a marvellous job as our Colts coach over the last few years with a Premiership & a Runner Up over the last 2 years and Finals footy again this season.
    Chelsey is also married to our current League coach Greg Harding.
    Fingers crossed we have a better year next year and some decent luck for a change!

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Good on you VK, I have the pleasure of hosting Coops and Toddy each year in Manjimup for the annual Todd - Cooper Cup between Deanmill and Imperials. Toddy of course started his juniors at Deanmill and Coops played for Imps during his 3 year spell in the Commonwealth Bank in Manjimup. Don't think I've met a finer pair of gentleman, absolute champion blokes.

    Ridersonthestorm33, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    Ross Cooper got a big whack of mine one night..in the 4 figure amount..but that was when I was young and stupid. Now just stupid. b-(

    loose_goose, Gilgamesh, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • OffthebitOffthebit    617 posts
    Ridersonthestorm33 said:

    Ross Cooper got a big whack of mine one night..in the 4 figure amount..but that was when I was young and stupid. Now just stupid. b-(

    Ditto

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    Was well into the 4 figures on a horse named...Lady Galewood..funny thing though she wasn't much good..probably could have bought her for less. Although a month or two later she did win at Richmond Raceway at about 33/1 but that night was at home eating Vegemite sandwiches.
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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Lady Galewood raced after Richmond Raceway closed down  .....must have been somewhere else as she was foaled in 1991, raced through to 1998 for 8 wins form 78 starts and about $39k.
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    May have been a meeting conducted by the Fremantle Trotting Club at GP after the closure of Richmond Raceway.
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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Quite possibly October 10th 1997, Race 9, a $10k mares only 1700m race for Ross Olivieri/Craig Goldfinch. Was the only race she won conducted by the Fremantle Club at GP
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    edited August 2016
    Thought it was Richmond Raceway but I wasn't there must have been GP..memory playing tricks..it was 100% definetly 1997 and October is very close to the mark...about 2 to 4 weeks before the win she ran about 5th at GP..leading into the straight...was a massive headwind and she hit the proverbial brick wall soon after turning for home. Thought a guy called Vella drove her. Was only on for the place too!
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    Ross Cooper must have been thinking...come in spinner.
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    edited August 2016
    Did have $10 on Microfiche @66/1 in a heat of the Pacing Cup against Village Kid...just took a little set against the Kid and backed a few in the race including Microfiche who was more than handy and had been a little unlucky in the proceeding heats. Village Kid was enormous run about 3 wide the whole race he worked liked a trojan should have bolted in..ran 3rd form memory..he made amends in the final with Microfiche finishing well back I think. Loved the bookies however was more of a tote bettor but Lady Galewood and Microfiche are 2 I recall for different reasons.

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    edited August 2016
    JayJay said:

    Good on you VK, I have the pleasure of hosting Coops and Toddy each year in Manjimup for the annual Todd - Cooper Cup between Deanmill and Imperials. Toddy of course started his juniors at Deanmill and Coops played for Imps during his 3 year spell in the Commonwealth Bank in Manjimup. Don't think I've met a finer pair of gentleman, absolute champion blokes.

    As a kid following Swans both JC & JT were the President & Coach respectively of my beloved SD & I was in awe of both and as you say they are both outstanding blokes.
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  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    Ridersonthestorm33 said:

    Did have $10 on Microfiche @66/1 in a heat of the Pacing Cup against Village Kid...just took a little set against the Kid and backed a few in the race including Microfiche who was more than handy and had been a little unlucky in the proceeding heats. Village Kid was enormous run about 3 wide the whole race he worked liked a trojan should have bolted in..ran 3rd form memory..he made amends in the final with Microfiche finishing well back I think. Loved the bookies however was more of a tote bettor but Lady Galewood and Microfiche are 2 I recall for different reasons.

    I remember that race well Riders it was a massive upset at the time and as you say Microfiche was a smart type on his night. The Harlem Boy winning the Pacing Cup a few years after at cricket score odds was another (though I didnt back it I had Zakara instead). A horse called Racy Return won a race one Friday Night at GP in the 1980s at close to 100/1

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    edited August 2016
    When Lady Galewood won at massive odds I'm pretty sure I read about it in the result page of the West Australian...and my only thought was..you've got to be f%€!ing joking.
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    Some of those Racy horses were real one pacers , they kept on finding ,recall a few of them grinding away up the straight.

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,341 posts
    Who was that bookie - when they brought in the dual code fielding

    He was fat - allways had a big cheesy grin - had a beard - youngish - say mid 30s

    I can remember walking past the back of his stand and him and his clerk were counting the money - holding up the notes - and saying this is feucken beautiful  - it was like they had struck oil

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Racy Prince was imported to WA by Chris Hodgson and was a huge success. Only a little horse but he was an excellent out cross to existing sire lines as he carried Good Time blood through his sire Race Time. He wasn't a hugely performed racehorse but the astute Hodgson made a great contribution by standing him at Mundijong. Some were tough grinders, some were very sharp sprinters, nearly all were pretty good lookers with attitude and the few that I had anything to do with could kick the eye out of a needle without warning....handler beware....placid, enjoying a pat but if another horse or human invaded their space, look out, ears laid back, explosive both barrels coming at you. Yet Race Ruler, which Phil trained for Chris and Margaret was an absolute gent and a very genuine high class horse. Some of his best progeny are, Zakara, Valley Champ, Vero Prince, Sunshine Forever, Pardon Me Boys, Prince Of Princes, Race Ruler, Tommy Steel, Classic Prince, Racy Rate, Smooth Prince, Mortoray Jac, Smithdale Lad, Kanny Go, Seattle Prince etc 234 winners from 316 starters winning $5.25 million from just over 500 live foals. Top stats for a WA based sire.

    Ridersonthestorm33, Offthebit, Chariotsonfire likes this post.

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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Markovina said:

    Who was that bookie - when they brought in the dual code fielding

    He was fat - allways had a big cheesy grin - had a beard - youngish - say mid 30s

    I can remember walking past the back of his stand and him and his clerk were counting the money - holding up the notes - and saying this is feucken beautiful  - it was like they had struck oil

    George Truscott comes to mind but it could be someone else.

    JayJay, Markovina likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Has to be George...the beard gives it away and his portly stature. Don't think he became a rival for Shell!!!
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    What about the old currency too...all the notes were massively bigger than they are today..those old pineapples had some size to them..the jaffas or crayfish too. The days when cash was king.
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Try another "Who Am I".

    Followed my father into a bookmaking career at the trots and eventually transferred to the races when dual licenses were not allowed.

    Did come back to the trots for another stint under a dual licence. Was very flamboyant and loved a punt and was also a very keen two up player sometimes driving to Kalgoorlie after the last race at the trots with a prominent trainer/driver.


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  • jumjum    3,582 posts
    Lucky Kaleaf ??????
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Met most criteria but no father bookmaker but a real character in his own right.

    jum likes this post.

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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,341 posts
    Chariotsonfire said:

    Markovina said:

    Who was that bookie - when they brought in the dual code fielding

    He was fat - allways had a big cheesy grin - had a beard - youngish - say mid 30s

    I can remember walking past the back of his stand and him and his clerk were counting the money - holding up the notes - and saying this is feucken beautiful  - it was like they had struck oil

    George Truscott comes to mind but it could be someone else.
    Thats him - now you  have mentioned his name - i can remember a big punter ( who used to wear a Ray Murrihy type hat - a bit more casual looking than Rays )  sayin " i will have $2000 on that George " - and George replied - " you can have $1000 on it "

    He was allways smiling that bookie - i can picture his face now

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Denis Martin would have been the punter, also known as "The Bobbing Hat".

    Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    edited August 2016
    Got to know Dennis about 6 or 7 years ago at the tab..he was constantly on the phone to different places getting bets on...acting as an intermediate for someone else I think. He told some funny stories..always happy to share his info.
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Chariotsonfire said:

    Try another "Who Am I".

    Followed my father into a bookmaking career at the trots and eventually transferred to the races when dual licenses were not allowed.

    Did come back to the trots for another stint under a dual licence. Was very flamboyant and loved a punt and was also a very keen two up player sometimes driving to Kalgoorlie after the last race at the trots with a prominent trainer/driver.


    Come on boys, not that hard, also had a brother, an uncle and cousin who were bookmakers.
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  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,951 posts
    The Mack family. ?
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