Can a bookmaker be a gentleman or, to put it another way, can a gentleman be a bookmaker? Either way the questions are redundant. Faceless corporates and the 'machine' betting exchanges hold sway. Those of us of an age can decide for ourselves whether the likes of William Hill, Cyril Stein (Ladbrokes), Joe Coral, Victor Chandler, John Banks et al were gentlemen. "Courtesy, civility and integrity" graced Hill's rails boards; "Never a quarrel bet with Coral": John Banks "Betting shops are a licence to print money" (Err, perhaps that last one isn't the best example).
You can judge whether Stephen Little was the last of his ilk (he gave up his pitches in 1998) with the help of entertaining, informative and trenchant opinions expressed in his memoir "From Bicycle to Bentley"*. Rare books and manuscripts are best handled with 'kid gloves'. My conceit is that From Bicycle to Bentley should be thumbed in soft white-gloves, such as worn by the tic-tacs of yesteryear signalling odds, in a flash, around the betting ring. Stephen Little belongs to that era.
He and I go back a long way. In the Sixties' as he was scrupulously ticking off the racecourses of Britain on his Raleigh Tourer 'sit up and beg' bike, I was taking the student's route, cadging lifts hitch-hiking. We didn't bump into one another until a decade later. I was a day tripper compared with Stephen's peregrinations though unknown to either of us we were among the masses at the last Manchester November Handicap in 1963; at Cheltenham the next year, overrun by the Irish for Arkle's first Cheltenham Gold Cup; and not long after, Team Spirit's Grand National. In 1970 we were both in the Doncaster crowd for Nijinsky's historic Triple Crown St Leger, a day which confirmed, mutually, that racing was our future.
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CAL'S UP TO TOP SPEED
John Anthony keeps close watch on the top ranking track fliers
ACTION REPLAY
Graham Buddry recalls the exploits of legendary hurdler Large Action
SHADOW IN THE LIMELIGHT
lan Heitman follows the fortunes of next year’s leading Classic prospects
GONE WILDE
Rolf Johnson fears the effects of a thoroughbred market bubble’
DIGGING OUT THE JUMPERS
The former Sky Racing frontman is all geared up for the change of codes and clothing
MORE AMO FOR RALPH
Dave Youngman shares the joy and gossip from the Newmarket gallops
GO COSMIC NEXT YEAR
Andy Ayres shares his pick of punting prospects from the autumn action
NICO'S CAREER LEAP TO GLORY
Nick Townsend talks to Nico de Boinville about his life-changing choices
ALL SET FOR FRESH START
Karl Hedley is on the spot for the new season action across Ireland
DAN'S GRAND BID DAWNING
Paul Ferguson tracks a route for Skeltons from Carlisle to Aintree