The biggest bets you ever........

bookielover · August 2025

I thought the following questions might result in an interesting discussion between forum members.

What is/are, the biggest bets you PERSONALLY ever heard made by a punter at the track when you were in the betting ring. Who was the bookie who took the bet( name him if you can) and who was the punter who had the bet( name him or her if you can). If you remember the horses name please include it.

What is/ are the biggest bets you, personally, have had with an on course bookmaker. What was the bet, who was the bookie, and did it win or lose.

I'll get the ball rolling.

Working for my old man at the track mostly during the 1980's in Melbourne, was a decade when you could get on for plenty. It's fair to say though, that the betting in Sydney at that time was much bigger than Melbourne and I'm not just referring to Packer and Bruce Mchugh betting duel. The bookies in the Sydney ring bet much bigger than in Melbourne.

So these are some of the biggest bets I personally heard. One Oaks Day Packer had 500,000/ 400,000 a horse off Bill Graham. It lost.

500,000/20,000 Tawrific in the Melbourne Cup by a punter by the name of David Neitz, who disappeared from the track, off Bill Graham. It won.

250,000/ 50,000 Campaign King at Caulfield by owner Gabe Farrah off Mike Faulkner. Farrah also owned Better Loosen Up. Won a fortune but lost it just as quickly. Had a heart attack sitting at his desk in his hotel in Albury The Manor House, and died owing bookmaker Graham Sampieri, 2 million.

My old man would lay bets generally to lose 50,000 in a single bet but once laid Mark Read 100,000/14,000 a 7/1 chance in a race where it was 5/1 the field so he had no hope of making a decent book on the race. He held 26,000 on it, couldn't back the horse back because Read had backed it everywhere and the horse flew home to be beaten a half head.

My betting was usually 1,000 each way or 2,000 straight out, but the biggest bet I had was 10,000 each way a horse at 8/1 off Frank Hudson at a midweek meeting at Flemington. The horse Ran fourth. I went to Ballarat the next day where my brother had a horse running. It was 10/1. Not a big ring but four big bookies working there and they would let you on. I had 20,000/2000 off each of Bill Graham, Frank Hudson, and the other two names escape me because they retired about 12 months later and it's been 40 years since then.

Just one more thing. The bets can be races trots or dogs.

I was never a trot punter but was in Sydney around 1990 and there was a Melbourne dog racing in a big race at Wentworth Park called Akebono. A mate of mine tipped it to me. It was 40/1. I went there with the sole purpose of backing it. But it was in race 6 and I had tumbled in by betting in the previous 5 races and knocked off my 500 in cash. I knew bookie John Waterhouse who operated on the Interstate dogs and borrowed 500 off him. I had the 500 on at the 40/1 the first bet being with bookie Jeff Pendlebury who I believe still operates on course at the Sydney races. The dog was in box 4, jumped straight to the front and won by 3 lengths. Being able to pay JW back immediately was all that mattered to me. You don't want to owe the Waterhouses no matter how well you know them.

That's it from me, over to you.

carey · August 2025

from early 70's(my beginning) to late 80's could get set for whatever you wanted.

from 90's going forwards, then the bookies normally nodded no.

there was certainly no dom beirne bookie types left, and the smartest thing i did was walk way and take up bird watching.

was never a very big bettor, but the day Sauna won a midweek at Caulfield in 84, when no matter how much we bet, the price kept growing, that was probably the most memorable.

Silver Cossack and Getting Closer(not the big plunge day) at Sandown one Saturday was another.
Getting Closer, because it kept drifting which I guess meant Read was not backing it, but I had it long odds on, and got 7's or 8's from memory.
Silver Cossack because at it's previous start(i think it was Sandown too)Marconi, was very vocal in saying his horse had been hooked by the rider, but the stewards told him they had no issues with the ride that day.
We averaged 12's I think.

But that great song Glory Days from Springsteen, springs to mind.
All we have is memories.
The best days are gone.

Desperado · August 2025

I was in Darwin the day of the Fine Cotton affair and witnessed the money that went on there.

On the same day I had the biggest collect I ever had on a local race. We backed a horse in from 20/1 to 4 or 5/1.

I think Murry Leader was the bookmaker I collected off. Not in the same league as you Bookielover but I won enough to pay cash for a new ford Fairmont Ghia and had enough change to buy another one.

Rodent · August 2025

My mate was strapping a horse called Clear Delight. It had run 2nd at its only 2 starts at Goulburn and Hawkesbury. I wasn't interested in it as a betting proposition as I didn't see any price advantage with such exposed form. It was an Ingham cast off with bucked shins and the small time trainer who had it wrapped the horse in cotton wool and was scared to do much with it. It had been running well half fit.

Anyway, he had health issues and the horse was handed over to another bloke in his absence who wasn't afraid to put the necessary work into it. My mate comes back to me and says the horse has improved 10 lengths.

I'm still at uni but head to the bank for a cash withdrawal and drive up to Newcastle for a 900m maiden ready to bet all I can afford and it will be my biggest ever bet. I thought with form 2-2 it would be favourite but Max Lees had one in it who they liked. Best price I got was 6-1.

Horse lurched sideways at the start and the jockey a 3kg kid almost fell off (we had head on vision). My heart rate was already up but that almost ended me. It slides up to sit outside the leader, the leader stopped and mine just kept going. Won by 4.75L and almost broke the track record.

It won its next start at Warwick Farm then won at Gosford and then won a Saturday at Randwick. 4 in a line. I definitely got overs at Newcastle :))

Vincent_vega · August 2025

Was in a big syndicate and had a share in a horse with Nev Parnham. Debut race was ridden by brad and ran ok. Next start, brad jumps off, to ride something else. Got me thinking, he has not jumped ship for no reason so start doing some form. Horse was a $60/1 long shot but well well over the odds. It also had a debut run that was full of merit. I put $50 on fixed and $50 on tote. Horse shits in. Name: Swift Siss, ended up winning a few races in Melbourne. Horse paid $90s on tote also. Good collect from little outlay.

Another story, was railway stakes day, i was hot on 2 horses, Rommel and Global Flirt. Both won, Rommel at $30s and GF at $100/1. Got a share in the quad that day too. Walked out with money flying everywhere. My mates thought i was god, shouted dinner at rockpool. Some strippers ended the night very rich too.

carey · August 2025

Not the biggest bet I made, but most likely the dumbest.

I once had a 4 place card bet, where if my memory is correct, you pick 4 horses to place and sum the odds.

I got 32/1 I think.

All 4 won, and were legs of the quadrella which paid $694 for 50 cents.

Also summing the odds was another way for them to touch you up, as it should be multiplication rather than plus.

I don't think it any accident, that the demise of the bookie, started soon after Scott(and to a lesser extent Plante) educated the masses with his books.

bookielover · August 2025

Like I said in my long post, I was never a trot punter. But back in the 70's I was betting on 2 flys sitting on the wall as to which one would take off first. Apologies in advance for another long one, but you should all be used to it from me by now.

My wife reminded me of this one. I was newly married and had had a shocker at the track. It was June and my mum and dad had gone on a holiday to warmer climates overseas, and I got on the punt. Did $12,000 at the Valley. That's the danger of being able to get on the nod at a time when there were still 200 bookies working.

I'm in a state. Wasn't betting big at that time $50.00 the win would do me, but went off my head that day, and couldn't get in touch with my old man who would have given me a ten hour lecture but would have at least guaranteed settlement. No mobiles back then and overseas communication was very ordinary.

Anyway, I had a TAB phone account with 130.00 in it and decided to take a quaddie at Moonee Valley trots. Got the paper and picked my numbers and take a 2/2/3/10 for 120.00.

The paper had the prices and one of the two I took in the first leg was 3/1. I listen to the race, it wasn't televised and that horse won. Peter Donegal was the caller and gives the totes and says the winner paid 38.00. I nearly fell off my chair. It turned out the price in the paper should have been 33/1. Now I've broken out in a sweat. Can I get the next two legs. I had the field in the last.

I get the second leg winner, it leads all the way at 14.00. I get the third leg winner, which gets up on the line at 4/1. There is a 1/2 favourite in the last leg. The quaddie dividends are given and it is the short way at around 2,600. Of the other 9 horses, 5 are around 15,000 and 4 are at 30,000. I later found out that the pool was 120,000.

One of the 30,000 chances goes to the front. The fave is on its outside. They are neck and neck all the way down the straight, hit the line and Donegal says the fave or a dead heat. A dead heat gets me out, the fave, obviously no good, but better than nothing.

The race, which was the last, was on at 10.50 PM. Five minutes goes by no result. Donegan is filling in time giving the results of the first 7 races, and then says it must be a dead heat. It's 11.00 and still no result. Donegan says a shadow across the track is making it difficult for the judge to make a decision, and here's the 11.00 PM news. By this time I'm a complete wreck. My missus sees that I am, asks what's wrong, I tell her and now she's a complete wreck.

It felt like the news would never end. They go back to the track and Donegan says the judge has finally made his decision and it's good news for, and I think he's going to say for the favourite backers, but says those that had number 1 in their quaddie. I had won 30,000, could settle, and my old man would never know. I did tell him the story but at least 10 years later and after he'd won 60,000 at the track and was in a good mood. It saved me a lecture. I didn't sleep that night and swore black and blue that I would never tumble in again. That oath lasted about 2 seconds.

Rodent · August 2025

I remember when I was a school kid being in the hole for $20 to an SP bookie after a bad Saturday. My older cousin was ringing through the bets. I had no money to pay and sweated for days. I had 1 meeting left before settlement so did my form and closed my eyes before having $20 each way Red Anchor on a Wednesday at Randwick. It wasn't much of a price but did the job and got me out but it never happened again. No more betting with money I didn't have!

Vincent_vega · August 2025

Good stories lads, keep em coming. Good to get everyone tell us a yarn! Im sure we all have one!

savethegame · August 2025

My Mother holds the bragging rights
on the punt for our family.

1963,Two mates of my father come to Kalgoorlie to pick up truckload of 2nd hand slime pipes to build stables in Perth.
Leaving --- One the owner & other one trainer driver,tell Dad we have got this horse that we believe will win heat & final of W A.pacing derby in his first two starts as it's flying
To keep eye out in papers in about six weeks time.Just on Leaving they said to Dad better still we will send you a telegram, ""With meet the boat"' ,horses name was Tugman.
Sure enough Dad see's it in, tells Mum to get the money outta the bank.on Friday,-- Trots on Saturday night.

All good telegrams get delivered up until 6 o'clock Saturday arvo.Mum was barmaid off to work with the money.
.Dads sitting waiting for telegram to arrive in the meantime time,Mum went to four different betting shops put's the money on.
Dad waits until 6.30 for telegram no telegram so goes to where Mum was working &,says keep the money in your purse.(no telegram).Mums says nothing.
Closer to racing time Dad heads off to S.P. shop - listen's to the race it wins 100/1.goes back to the pub,his green says to Mum he felt crook, was going home to lay down, Mum didn't get a chance to tell him.

With the money she brought old house in Collingwood St.Osborne Park which predominantly was market garden area , sold it for huge profit.
Years later.
Reason Mum sold O.P . was working Boulder Block hotel, barmaid, publican told her it was for sale 40,000, --yep-.So Mum sold O.park , when she told him the money had come through, he was in disbelief ,said
barmaid buying the pub, thought you were wishing & wouldn't have the money, so he had signed with family called, Steeth's anyway two owners later AlanBond paid 7million for Block.

Why there was no telegram horse had pulled up little bit sore from his last hopple run, there priority then, was to just qualify for final in first 6. and win the final, which he ran third in.
Found in Kalgoorlie Miner Tugmans flucs were 100/1 --,66/1.in heat win.

JayJay · August 2025

Looking at a race book, Christmas Handicap Final December 27th, 1965. (Gift from WJR via Pop Severin)

Race 1 on the programme was Christmas Gift 9th division. Number 1 Tugman, Mr R.W Johnson's B g 5 yrs. Radiant Echo - Meteor Girl. Gold, red hoops. Form: - - 3.

Result: Written in pencil on the race book pages:

1 Tugman Paid win 3/17/6 place 12/6 Old fella must have backed it, no other divvies recorded in race book.

2 Yamagee

3 Beau Grattan

Unp Fav Nookenburra

Arapaho · August 2025

As a young bloke was pretty lucky on the punt especially with novelties,used to always invest in Quartets(now first fours) and normally would spend $60 and have 5 horses always, 50 cent units in those days.

My first big collect was the Jims Bonny Boy, St ledger in 85 got the pool paid paid $36900.

But the one that is sort of a good and bad memory, was when I was at races and there was a good size carryover Quartet on a race in Perth, the odds on favourite was a good mare called Straight No Ice,think had won previous 3 or 4 (not sure)in a row .

As always thought have to have a go at that, so had my trusty 5 horse quartet which obviously included Straight No Ice, early in the day just in case I had a bad day and couldn't afford it later.

About ten minutes before race was talking to a good mate of mine and he asked me if I was having a quartet ,which I replied had one hours ago.

He then asks did I have SNI in it ,my reply of course,he then asks how much did I spend and I told him $60 and he pulls $30 out and said I'll go you halves as he hadn't done the form and as long as I had SNI in it he would be happy.

I told him to have his own, as I had been walking around with that ticket for hours,but he persisted, before shoving the $30 in my top pocket and walking off.

You guessed it, I got the Quartet ,SNI ran fouth and it paid $33000 odd,I won $16500, but gave away $16500 at the same time.

Talk about lucky, my mate later purchased a small share in Northerly.

meatpie · August 2025

My best bet was $20 on Lord Thiemus, was 100/1. Had it with Rod Evans who owned the horse, was 16 at the time.

Had some great battles with Rod when i later punted seriously, won plenty, he got more.

thefalcon · August 2025

i was great mates with Rod even though he was almost old enough to be my dad. i used to go and visit him in his office attached to the carlton pub...and get past "mrs. doubtfire" his secretary. ended up she'd say "just give a decent knock geoff, wait 5 seconds and go in".

there was a white board covered in bounced cheques...you ought to have seen some of the names!!

he died broke, his daughter, debbie looked after him financially in the last years. i

asked him where it all went but got no answer.

i had suspicions of that "group" rod and a clutch of perth "businessmen", forget all their names except mr. perry. i had a photo of them but its lost in the sands of time....like the blue rolls royce reg. # RPE 000.

bookielover · August 2025

thefalcon said:
i was great mates with Rod even though he was almost old enough to be my dad. i used to go and visit him in his office attached to the carlton pub...and get past "mrs. doubtfire" his secretary. ended up she'd say "just give a decent knock geoff, wait 5 seconds and go in".
there was a white board covered in bounced cheques...you ought to have seen some of the names!!
he died broke, his daughter, debbie looked after him financially in the last years. i
asked him where it all went but got no answer.
i had suspicions of that "group" rod and a clutch of perth "businessmen", forget all their names except mr. perry. i had a photo of them but its lost in the sands of time....like the blue rolls royce reg. # RPE 000.

Can you remember any of those "names" on the whiteboard? They must all be gone by now. You wouldn't think the bookmaking sent him broke. I believe he was pretty well informed. As you infer, it had to be bad business decisions.

The one major reason for bookies in Melbourne going bust, who did not have a business to back them up. was the turnover tax. They could beat the punters, but the tax which was 2.5% was a killer.

I remember one year in the early 80's when my old man turned over 6 million plus. After paying license fees, stand fee, wages and other expenses, which he never complained about because he said it was part of the expenses that every business incurs, he had won about 110,000. Problem

was, he paid 150,000 in turnover tax so actually lost 40,000 for the 12 months. We had a good business which covered it, but sole trader bookies with similar or bigger holdings who had no other source of income, were not so lucky.

My dad had tried to get a license from about 1954. But there were a couple of thousand and maybe more, bookies in Victoria at the time, and they weren't issuing any. But he was in the queue. In 1957, the government introduced the turnover tax and a heap of bookies handed in their licenses, convinced that they couldn't beat the tax and win. One of the biggest at the time, was Ray Williams. He famously took on Bernborough in the 1946 Caulfield Cup. The first bet he laid was to a female punter called the lady in black as she always wore black clothing. Her surname was Tacks. I don't recall her first name. Anyway, she had been backing the horse all up for all its wins and had won 20,000 pounds, a lot of money back then.

The horse opened at 6/4 and Ray went 7/4. She ran in and had 21,000/12,000 cash. Ray's brother Keith became my dad's penciller when Ray retired, and told us the story. The journalist who covered the story of the betting that day for the papers was told by Ray to only record that she had 7,000/4,000. Ray didn't want the tax office to know that he had won an extra 8 grand. The reporter got a five pound note for his trouble.

She had the rest on with bookmakers Clive Marsh and Albert Smith. The rest is history. Athol Mulley the jockey was accused of pulling the horse up, he denied it till his dying day. The best you could say if you watch the film of the race, is that it was a shocker of a ride. Tacks spoke to the press after the race. Didn't say what she had lost but said she would never go to the races again. She faded into obscurity.

So dad got his license. We worked out that over almost 33 years, he had paid around 5 million in tax. He was betting much bigger in the 80's until he retired in 1990 than earlier.

It is the most iniquitous tax ever levied , because they also paid income tax if they finished the year in front.

So why be a bookie back then? Big crowds, big punters, the thrill of the challenge, and the love of the game. As my old man used to say, it was a disease curable by death only. He retired in 1990, and took to the punt and was far more successful at it than the bookmaking. Went to the track until 2000, then got tired of it. Lloyd Williams happened to see him at the track during the 2000 carnival and gave him a special pass for the car park and mahogany room at the casino. So dad went there and played baccarat and was a very good player as he'd played in the illegal games in Lonsdale street in the 1940's. He would go in at 10.00 AM and leave at two so he could be home in plenty of time to watch Judge Judy.

The stories you blokes are relating are great to read, but for me, it's in some ways depressing that those days are gone never to return. The young blokes getting to the Ascot carnival that I watch when I'm there, are either drinking, doing their best to get a Sheila, or betting with the Corporates on their phones or all three.

They will never know the excitement of hearing a big bet from a big punter, or watching thousands in cash bet with the bookies, or the bookies being crushed as punters try to get on at the best odds.

About the only time that I can think of when the press cover bookies taking on the big punters, is at the call of the card. It makes all the news bulletins on TV and radio and the bets are recorded in the papers the next day.

Kingsley Bartholomew has said in a recent interview, that he is going to try and back a horse to win 1 million at the call of the card. If he does it will make news, but you could do that in Sydney 40 years ago when the money had far more value. Remember Col Tidy laying 1 million to 100,000 Belle Esprite to John Singleton?

bookielover · August 2025

Amazing what you can find on the internet.

The woman who backed Bernborough that day, was Johanna Tacks. There are two stories about her I found, both accurate other than the actual bets and amount of money that they quote.

The first is a Sydney Morning Herald article by Bill Whittaker from 18 years ago. He said that she outlayed 6,500 pounds in cash.

The second is one written on Facebook which gives far more background and provides a photo. She's a very elegant looking woman. That story puts the amount at 9,000 pounds. Both amounts are incorrect.

Apparently Johanna was charged with offensive behaviour in 1954 but got off.

Desperado · August 2025

thefalcon said:
i was great mates with Rod even though he was almost old enough to be my dad. i used to go and visit him in his office attached to the carlton pub...and get past "mrs. doubtfire" his secretary. ended up she'd say "just give a decent knock geoff, wait 5 seconds and go in".
there was a white board covered in bounced cheques...you ought to have seen some of the names!!
he died broke, his daughter, debbie looked after him financially in the last years. i
asked him where it all went but got no answer.
i had suspicions of that "group" rod and a clutch of perth "businessmen", forget all their names except mr. perry. i had a photo of them but its lost in the sands of time....like the blue rolls royce reg. # RPE 000.

White Rolls? The photo he had on the wall of his office was of the Perth city councilors. Himself Dennis Cullity. Ray Oconner. Laurrie Connell and I think Dallas Dempster

Manchild · August 2025

Kim Hunter was working for Milky in the early days.

sonny · August 2025

My bet pales into insignificance compared to the above.. Mine was a Pacer at H.P Lord Mayors Cup called The Scotsman trained and driven by Graeme Sparks around the late 70s .. Had 1000.00@7/2 with Joe Phibbs.. and it won The horse won a miracle mile in the slowest time ever.... Trained at Fairfield when there were great trainers who worked their horses there.....

bookielover · August 2025

Hi Sonny, I reckon when you had the bet, the 3500 you won, was a fortune to you. Most of us have probably bet beyond our means from time to time. I'm a prime example.

I just look at it philosophically. Kerry Packer died at 68 with 6 Billion in the bank, and Richard Pratt died at 73 with 5 Billion in the bank.

For all the money they had and left behind, I wouldn't swap places with them for a second. I'm 76 and haven't got a cracker in comparison to those two, but I'm still here, and enjoying watching my kids, and the interest on the investment my grandkids, flourish and grow. They missed out on that.

thefalcon · August 2025

i bet their kin shed exactly 1 tear and then raced off to the old boys solicitor for the reading of the will.

savethegame · August 2025

Rod Evans late eighties bet bloke i know who owned Bells Are Calling 66/1 he had thousand on, Rod said if that wins ill buy you a bottle of Moet, which he honoured.

Not long after with another horse he & group of five positioned, themselves Rod had 4/1 showing, other bookies had 5/1 6/1 was the best, it was arranged to hit Rod first then the others, as Rod would not knock them back,. As he asked Rod for 12 to 3, quick as flash Rod scanned the ring said you can have 20 to 5. if you want, with that the others put money on at 5&6 /1, Rod didn't have a chance to get his runners in to operation.
.When he went to collect Rod said you're a lot cleverer than you look.

thefalcon · August 2025

^ thats our Rod.... L-)

jum · September 2025

Vincent_vega said:
Was in a big syndicate and had a share in a horse with Nev Parnham. Debut race was ridden by brad and ran ok. Next start, brad jumps off, to ride something else. Got me thinking, he has not jumped ship for no reason so start doing some form. Horse was a $60/1 long shot but well well over the odds. It also had a debut run that was full of merit. I put $50 on fixed and $50 on tote. Horse shits in. Name: Swift Siss, ended up winning a few races in Melbourne. Horse paid $90s on tote also. Good collect from little outlay.

Another story, was railway stakes day, i was hot on 2 horses, Rommel and Global Flirt. Both won, Rommel at $30s and GF at $100/1. Got a share in the quad that day too. Walked out with money flying everywhere. My mates thought i was god, shouted dinner at rockpool. Some strippers ended the night very rich too.

Hey VV, Me and two mates also got that Quaddie that day also. And my mate had 50/50 on global flirt also. funniest thing was another mate the tight Cun77 didn't want to put in $50 and have a Q with us. He also said he would walk home from camping naked the next day if Global Flirt got up. About a 20KM trip.

We made him walk 5

=)) :)) B-)

Vincent_vega · September 2025

jum said:

Vincent_vega said:
Was in a big syndicate and had a share in a horse with Nev Parnham. Debut race was ridden by brad and ran ok. Next start, brad jumps off, to ride something else. Got me thinking, he has not jumped ship for no reason so start doing some form. Horse was a $60/1 long shot but well well over the odds. It also had a debut run that was full of merit. I put $50 on fixed and $50 on tote. Horse shits in. Name: Swift Siss, ended up winning a few races in Melbourne. Horse paid $90s on tote also. Good collect from little outlay.

Another story, was railway stakes day, i was hot on 2 horses, Rommel and Global Flirt. Both won, Rommel at $30s and GF at $100/1. Got a share in the quad that day too. Walked out with money flying everywhere. My mates thought i was god, shouted dinner at rockpool. Some strippers ended the night very rich too.
Hey VV, Me and two mates also got that Quaddie that day also. And my mate had 50/50 on global flirt also. funniest thing was another mate the tight Cun77 didn't want to put in $50 and have a Q with us. He also said he would walk home from camping naked the next day if Global Flirt got up. About a 20KM trip.
We made him walk 5
=)) :)) B-)

Lol very good. Poor bastard, he wouldn't have been a happy chap.

G'day Punter!

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