Registered office:
Racing Victoria Centre
400 Epsom Rd
Flemington
Victoria 3031

Phone: (03) 9376 1933
Fax: (03) 9376 7933
Email: enquiries@vicbookmakers.com.au
Website: www.vicbookmakers.com.au

VBA COUNCIL
Chairman: Mr. G.P Marantelli
Vice-Chairmen: Mr. A.S Bell
Mr. B.P O’Brien
Council Members:
Mr. J.A Bull
Mr. A.J Eskander
Mr. D.P Gilham
Mr. N.D Short
Mr L.M Hsu
Executive Officer: Mr. J.B Clancy
Secretary: Mrs. N. Zannino

Welcome to the rejuvenated “ On Course”, a magazine that in the past has served Victoria’s bookmaking industry and has now been updated and expanded to be of interest to the entire racing community.

Still “the voice of Victoria’s bookmakers”, On Course, which was originally published between 1968 and 1990, will provide a link between bookmakers and the racing public. Informative articles, profiles on industry participants, human interest stories, photo spreads, competitions, insightful articles on bookmaking issues and much more are included in this and following editions.

So please enjoy the new “On Course,” brought to you by the Victorian Bookmakers Association — a magazine for bookmakers and anyone who enjoys the punt and the racing game. We welcome contributions for future issues, just let us know what we can do to improve this exciting “new” publication.

Gavin Marantelli,
Chairman, Victorian Bookmakers Association

A MESSAGE
FROM DR TURF!

It seems to have always been accepted as fact as to what is the world’s “oldest profession.” But I’m not so sure, has anyone asked where those punters got their spending money?

My mail is that it was from gambling and if there had been no gambling you can be certain that those other vices would have folded as well.

Well that’s my theory anyway.

But the truth is that when David knocked over Goliath a few years back, little David wasn’t the only winner. He was the despised outsider in the small field and the on course bookies got the lot.

Bookmakers have been with us forever and despite the fact that they are the natural enemy of we punters there wouldn’t be a game without them. They provide the colour and atmosphere to race meetings that is so sorely lacking these days.

Can you imagine walking through the turnstiles at Flemington or Caulfield or, for that matter Donald, to find no bookies on the course?

Would we ever go to the track again? I don’t think so. Beating the tote is good but it hardly gives us the same satisfaction as beating the satchel swingers. They are a necessary evil, they are a challenge to us individually and a lifeforce of the sport we love.

Now let’s go to the races and flog them.