ON COURSE PROFILES MEMBERS OF THE VBA

NAME:
Alex Bell.
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne.
BUSINESS:
Accountant.
POSITION AT VBA:
Vice-Chairman and the Chairman of the
Bookmakers Development Fund
Sub-Committee.
TIME ON COMMITTEE:
18 months.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE: Eleven.
AREA SERVICED:
Moonee Valley and Caulfield,
Flemington during Cup Week and some
provincials.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
Worked as a clerk for Ray Swannie.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
“ The first time I worked at the Flemington
Spring Carnival.”
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
Moonee Valley.
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Cox Plate Day.
BEST HORSE SEEN:
Kingston Town.
BEST JOCKEY:
Damien Oliver.
BEST TRAINER:
Colin Hayes.
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“Just spending a day at the races.”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“Winter!”
FUTURE OF BOOKMAKING?:
“I believe that it will start to rationalise.”
BEST ADVICE FOR PUNTERS:
“Keep betting with bookmakers!”

NAME:
Lyndon Hsu.
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne.
BUSINESS:
Banking industry.
POSITION AT VBA:
newly elected to the Committee -
Chairman of the Finance Sub-committee.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
3 years
AREA SERVICED:
city and country
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING: father
was a bookmaker — “I have been
running around racetracks since I was a
very young lad!”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Being able to work at the top of the new
Flemington grandstand during spring
carnival time — “I am one of the few
bookmakers in a position to actually see
the Melbourne Cup!”
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
Flemington
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Kyneton Cup, “a beautiful country
racetrack with lots of atmosphere.”
BEST HORSE SEEN:
Kingston Town
HORSE OWNERSHIP:
Currently owns one horse — “he has run
a close second in a hurdle!”
HOBBIES:
“There’s not much time outside of
bookmaking but I occasionally work as a
clerk for the pleasure rather than the
money.”
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“the thrill of working on a Derby Day or a
Cup Day where you can feel the unique
atmosphere.”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“Standing in cold tin sheds in the middle
of nowhere!”
FUTURE OF BOOKMAKING?:
“Bookmaking is at its crossroads, we still
have a long way to go to revolutionise its
activities — we really need to grasp the
new technology available.”

NAME:
Paddy O’Brien.
HOMETOWN:
Benalla.
BUSINESS:
Benalla Printing.
POSITION AT VBA:
Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Country
Racing Sub-Committee.
NO. OF YEARS ON COMMITTEE: Three.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
25.
AREA SERVICED:
North-eastern Victoria, also holds a NSW
licence and operates just over the border.
Flemington and Moonee Valley during
Cup Week and Cox Plate Day.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
“ I left a hotel in Brunswick to move to
Benalla and I needed a new profession
— I had been a horse owner and punter
for many years.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
“ My aim was to become the leading
bookmaker in the north east and I think I
have achieved that.”
FAVOURITE RACETRACKS:
Towong and Benalla.
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Towong Cup Day — “country racing at
its best — a real family day in a beautiful
setting.”
BEST HORSE SEEN:
Vain.
BEST JOCKEYS:
Mick Dittman and Shane Dye.
BEST TRAINERS:
Aidan O’Brien and John Size.
RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP:
Raced horses prior to becoming a
bookmaker — the last and best one
being the Theo Howe trained Sailmaker,
a winner in Melbourne, Brisbane and
Sydney.
HOBBIES:
“ Any sport at all!”
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ The challenge.”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ Going through a losing trot.”
FUTURE OF BOOKMAKING?:
“ I think with the odds becoming decimal
and us becoming computerised we have
a good future although I am worried that
smaller country bookmakers may
eventually be forced out.”
BEST ADVICE FOR PUNTERS:
“ Never try to get out on the last.”

NAME:
Norm Short.
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne (Moonee Ponds).
BUSINESS:
Norm Short Sportsbook.
POSITION AT VBA:
Committee Member, Chairman of the
Sports Betting & Future Doubles Sub-
Committee.
NO. OF YEARS ON COMMITTEE:
Ten years.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
Thirty years.
AREA SERVICED:
Sportsbook — located on the first floor at
Tabaret, Flemington Racecourse.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
Father was a bookmaker (“it’s in the
blood”), worked as a clerk from the age
of 19. Obtained own licence and started
off specializing in greyhound racing,
working as a part time bookmaker for six
years before going full time. Has worked
on the rails at Sandown and Caulfield.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Last December — “getting a 24 hour
licence to bet on sports on the Internet”.
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
The old Olympic Park greyhounds.
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
The Australian Cup (greyhounds).
BEST GREYHOUNDS SEEN:
Temlee and Zoom Top.
GREYHOUND OWNERSHIP:
“ A dog called Kalimna Boy really put me
on my feet — he won a lot of races and
made the final of the Australian Cup two
years in a row.” Also owned the very
good dog Bukas Sunset.
HOBBIES:
Football — a keen supporter of the
Essendon Football Club.
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ Winning!”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ Becoming overconfident — there is a fine
line between having an opinion and
being cocky — that contributes to losing.”
FUTURE OF BOOKMAKING?:
“ We have to look at how bookmakers
operate and find out what customers really
want — we need to provide a better service
with betting shops open all of the time.”

NAME:
Darren Gilham
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne
BUSINESS:
Sales Manager for Carlton & United.
POSITION AT VBA:
Committee member and Chairman of the
Public Relations Sub-Committee.
NO. OF YEARS ON COMMITTEE:
One.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
Fifteen.
AREA SERVICED:
The picnic circuit from November to April,
also TAB meetings in the North East,
Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and
Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
Worked part time as a clerk whilst
completing a commerce degree at
university — continued to do so after
starting a full time job and after five
years decided to “take the next step.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
“ Getting a chance to work at the major
spring carnival meetings.”
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
Moonee Valley — “It is a bit more
intimate than other venues.”
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Hanging Rock on New Year’s Day —
“ Everyone is there to have a good time, it
is a big social day.”
BEST HORSES SEEN:
Let’s Elope and Manikato.
BEST JOCKEY:
Damien Oliver.
BEST TRAINER:
“I am quite a fan of Michael Moroney —
he has done exceptionally well over the
past few years.”
RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP:
Raced six or so horses, enjoying success at the moment as part owner of the talented “Let’s Went”, winner of six of his first 12 starts.

HOBBIES:
Playing and watching basketball, also
watching AFL football and rugby league.
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ The thrill of the chase — having the
opportunity to use your judgement and
skill to potentially make good money.”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ Trying to keep up with all the form
study!”
FUTURE OF BOOKMAKING?:
“ It is very tough at the moment — and it
will get more and more difficult if we
can’t maintain on course patronage.
Technology and off course betting is
improving but there is a potential risk of
loss of on-course bookmakers at the
smaller meetings.”
BEST ADVICE FOR PUNTERS:
“ To be cautious when in the middle of a
good or bad run!”

NAME:
Gavin Marantelli.
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne.
POSITION AT VBA:
Chairman and Chairman of the
Greyhound Racing Sub-Committee.
NO. OF YEARS ON COMMITTEE:
21.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
Since 1968.
AREA SERVICED:
Specialises in place-only bookmaking at
Melbourne metropolitan meetings.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
“A family tradition.” Two older brothers
were bookmakers first, worked for them
before taking out own licence.
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
Sandown — “the facilities for the punters
are second to none; there is ready
access to the mounting yard and the
seating — the public facilities are just as
good as the members.”
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Derby Day at Flemington.
BEST HORSE SEEN:
Tulloch.
RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP:
No — “too smart for that!”
HOBBIES:
The VBA!
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ The cut and thrust of competition
between the punter and the bookmaker.”
LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ Being out in the weather when clubs
haven’t provided an undercover betting
ring!”

PROFILES ON MEMBERS OF THE VBA CONTINUED

NAME:
Alan Eskander.
HOMETOWN:
Melbourne.
BUSINESS:
Bookmaking.
POSITION AT VBA:
Committee member and Chairman of the
Metropolitan Thoroughbred Racing Sub-
Committee.
NO. OF YEARS ON COMMITTEE:
One year.
NO. OF YEARS HELD LICENCE:
Nearly six years.
AREA SERVICED:
All metropolitan thoroughbred meetings
and the occasional country meeting.
HOW STARTED IN BOOKMAKING:
Father Michael is also a bookmaker — “I
was studying at university and working
part time for my father and it just went on
from there.”
FAVOURITE RACETRACK:
Caulfield — “It has a relatively new feel
about it, the facilities are fantastic and
the undercover betting ring is great for
bookmakers and punters.”
FAVOURITE RACEMEETING:
Derby Day at Flemington.
BEST HORSE SEEN:
Sunline.
BEST JOCKEY:
Damien Oliver.
BEST TRAINER:
“ I’d have to say in recent times Gai
Waterhouse.”
RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP:
Not as yet — “possibly when I am no
longer bookmaking — but I would never
buy a horse expecting to make money!”
HOBBIES:
Sport — “I play a fair bit of basketball
and squash.”
MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF
BOOKMAKING:
“ I enjoy the rush of it — the atmosphere
of the racetrack and meeting people from all walks of life.”