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THE 97 bus pulls into Walthamstow Central Station. It's one of the busiest stops on the Leyton to Chingford Mount route and this Tuesday was like no other in that hordes of commuters shuffled their way on, taking up every available space.
Among them was a young group of a dozen or so, who sampled good fortune when not only managing to find seating on the upper deck, but were able to sit in a cluster and engage in chit-chat.
"I've never had a bet in my life, I wouldn't know where to start," one of the young girls said to her mate. "Me neither," was the reply. "I do the sweepstake in the National and never win anything," her mate continued.
"It's quite easy really, just go by names or something, you only have to lay out 50p a race," reassured the 'leader' of the group, who had obvious previous experience of a night at the dogs, an assumption made simply on the basis that he knew where to get off the bus, huddling the envelope containing the six-pack tickets which he distributed en route.
The white friendly giant of the Walthamstow fascia greeted them. They proceeded to the main entrance and were about to experience the thrills of greyhound racing. I hope they had a ball - the farcical hurdle race will have given them something to chuckle about if nothing else!
Great time or not, little did they know it would probably be the last time they could take in the Walthamstow experience. They were doubtlessly unaware the track was there dying, awaiting the switching off of its life-support machine, set for August 16, but probably sooner.
Still, those that have been the mainstay of racing at Walthamstow for the best part of its 75-year existence will continue to make their three-times-a-week pilgrimage to the stadium. For many, it is part of their lives. For some, it is their lives.
Tuesday night in May and June is free admission to the popular enclosure with half-priced drinks. But typically of modern day marketing at the place, unless you were a regular, you wouldn't have known. No mention of it outside the track, even the display listing admission prices to the cheap ring hadn't been updated; pounds 1 including programme it showed.
Only once inside and beneath race seven in the racecard was there any mention of it. Shambolic.
Anyhow, it was a no busier or no quieter Tuesday than normal. The racing was routine, prize-money hadn't gone down from the previous week but it would seem the trophies for top-grade winners had disappeared.
In fact, the owners and trainers bar, formerly the Hideaway and Paddock in my few years as a regular, was busier than normal, with the attraction the Derby quarterfinals being shown on Sky. True dog people huddled in a small, dingy bar, such a rare sight at a greyhound track now days, and soon to become extinct at the Stow.
Cyril Coleman, 68, has been going to Walthamstow for 50 years and has occupied the same spot in the corner under the old, now defunct tote odds indicator board in the owners bar for most of that time.
Unlike many of the old school who used to prefer other tracks like Clapton, West Ham and Harringay in the roaring sixties, Coleman was a Stow regular, and would attend every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, going to West Ham on Wednesdays.
"I'm absolutely gutted at the news this is closing," he said passionately. "I knew it was coming, a mate of mine in the know told me contracts had been signed in the last week of April. I was hoping it would blow over, and I didn't think it would happen so soon.
"We used to be a ten-handed group every meeting, concentrating on the jackpot when it was six legs (winners only) and they put pounds 500 up. We won it regularly; I'd say we had it up at least 20 times.
"Then they changed the format and made it seven winners with no pounds 500 guarantee. We complained and were told 'if you don't like it, don't come back'. That was their attitude and many of my friends didn't come back."
Coleman recalls two greyhounds he owned during his time at Walthamstow. "Bellford Bob and Rosie Red," he said. "They were both trained by Graham Sharp and won Walthamstow dog and bitch of the year titles in the same year. Great times."
As for the future, Coleman accepts the sport will never be the same again after the Stow closes. "It's a large part of my life gone, but I love the sport and I'll give Romford a try. It's not easy for me to get to, but I'll probably end up going there once a week."
Jim Ranson, 77, has become an instantly recognisable face on the capital's greyhound scene.
HE doesn't miss a Walthamstow meeting - Bags included - and is at Romford on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He claims to have "done them all" referring to all the former tracks in London.
"Walthamstow going is a big loss to me, the form holds up so well; it's a great running track," he said. "They've let the place go to rack and ruin."
Ron Lashbrook, who won the Laurels consolation final with Limetree Bay in 1980 when trained by Barney O'Connor, has been a frequent visitor to the Stow for the last 30 years. He is now 78.
"When Walthamstow closed their Sewardstone Road kennels, I along with Wally Sturt and the Furlong brothers bought the Tinkersfield kennels near Rayleigh for Barney to continue training out of. When he packed it in, Mick Puzey moved into them before going to Claverhambury.
"They were great times. When this goes I'll just have to find another option. I live in Albury so Harlow is the closest track to me. I'll give that a go, and will try Romford, although I've not been there for some 20-odd years."
Bill Waldron, who owns his own garage business in Hackney, recalls his first Walthamstow experience as a six-year-old when taken there by his father in 1958.
"My dad was a local publican, and trained his dogs in the back of the Cross Keys pub in Bethnal Green," he explained. "He mainly had flappers but a couple were good enough to run and win opens at Walthamstow and we've still got the trophies.
"It's really sad to think that the four tracks I used to go, Clapton, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow, have all gone. I have a couple of dogs running at Harlow, so will continue to go there, but it just won't be the same again."
Being a businessman in the area, Waldron understands the decision of the owning Chandler family to sell. "I can't blame people around this area for selling up and taking the money, but the local councils have to get a grip with the situation, as ten years down the line there just won't be anywhere for people to go."
Mick Harmer, 50, a bookmaker's clerk at the track for the majority of the 30 years he has been attending, recalls the days when he used to clerk for John Power in the 1980s. "Those were legendary times," he said. "There used to be two banks of bookmakers in the main ring in those days, and people used to turn up just to watch him bet. It could be as entertaining as the racing."
Harmer, who is setting up life in Spain next week, blames management complacency for the stadium's demise. "They thought they had the right to be profitable. There seemed to be a belief that if people went greyhound racing, they would come to Walthamstow. As soon as they got a Bags contract, complacency set it and it's been all downhill since."
Dave O'Brien, who produces his own racecards from his extensive database that contain his own comments gained from hours of studying the videos, has been a Walthamstow stalwart for over 20 years "of which the last 18 have been three nights a week", slammed the management for allowing the stadium to run down so badly.
"They've been so far out of touch for years," he said.
"You'd think you're at Stringfellows given the beer prices, but then you get a reality check when it rains and the roof starts leaking in the bar! As an owner, I think it's disgusting the way the prize-money kept being cut.
"Yes, I feel totally let down by the management. Like so many others, I've supported the track for a very long time, but that doesn't seem to account for anything."
Rob Kisby has been one of the track's most high profile owners in recent times, having won the Arc and reached the Derby final with 2004 Greyhound of the Year Fire Height Dan.
He was one of Mick Puzey's first owners when he trained at Harringay in 1981, and describes the time he had with Fire Height Dan as "the best 18 months of my life".
"My biggest memory was when he won the Arc. The way he did it from five and flew round in 28.42sec was absolutely tremendous. Dan was a tight railer, but that's the beauty of Walthamstow, you can win despite bad draws.
"The first I heard of the track closing was when Mick phoned me on Friday. I thought it was bad news regarding Dan. Thankfully it wasn't. I can't say I was surprised, holes had been dug around the place and they weren't digging for gold!"
Clive Black's company Portsea had printed the Walthamstow racecards since the first meeting in 1933 up until recently when the business was sold. He now assists new printers Jemprint.
"My dad Charles founded the business and then me and my brother Lol took it over," explained Black. "I worked for Richie O'Gorman bookmaker for over 40 years and now help out Joe son. For me, when the track closes I lose my job, but it's the knock-on effect allround that worries me most."
ONE of the biggest punters at the track is Jerry Croxford, who claims to have "won a quarter of a million pounds a year for the last two years, and pounds 120,000 so far in 2008".
"It's been my livelihood for the last six years and I'm absolutely gutted," said the 41-year-old, who has been going to Walthamstow since he was six and punting there since 15.
"It's the most devastating thing to happen to me in my life, but I sensed it was the beginning of the end once the junior side wasn't made use of as another facility when hardly anyone was going over there."
A main ring bookmaker for 40 years, Ronnie Bazell 79, who would have been taking pounds 30,000 a meeting in the old days but now averages just pounds 7K, describes the impending closure as a "stab in the back".
"It doesn't really affect me too much at my stage of life, but it's my staff I feel for. I've seen loads of punters come and go, some really big ones that wouldn't flinch at having pounds 10K on something.
"I'm afraid I'll be one of those lost to the sport when Walthamstow closes. Gambling is a big part of my life and this is an element of it that will be gone forever."
The veteran bookmaker's thoughts summed up the general feeling at Walthamstow on Tuesday. It is, after all, a place many call home and they are now facing eviction.
'If you don't like it, don't come back'
Among them was a young group of a dozen or so, who sampled good fortune when not only managing to find seating on the upper deck, but were able to sit in a cluster and engage in chit-chat.
"I've never had a bet in my life, I wouldn't know where to start," one of the young girls said to her mate. "Me neither," was the reply. "I do the sweepstake in the National and never win anything," her mate continued.
"It's quite easy really, just go by names or something, you only have to lay out 50p a race," reassured the 'leader' of the group, who had obvious previous experience of a night at the dogs, an assumption made simply on the basis that he knew where to get off the bus, huddling the envelope containing the six-pack tickets which he distributed en route.
The white friendly giant of the Walthamstow fascia greeted them. They proceeded to the main entrance and were about to experience the thrills of greyhound racing. I hope they had a ball - the farcical hurdle race will have given them something to chuckle about if nothing else!
Great time or not, little did they know it would probably be the last time they could take in the Walthamstow experience. They were doubtlessly unaware the track was there dying, awaiting the switching off of its life-support machine, set for August 16, but probably sooner.
Still, those that have been the mainstay of racing at Walthamstow for the best part of its 75-year existence will continue to make their three-times-a-week pilgrimage to the stadium. For many, it is part of their lives. For some, it is their lives.
Tuesday night in May and June is free admission to the popular enclosure with half-priced drinks. But typically of modern day marketing at the place, unless you were a regular, you wouldn't have known. No mention of it outside the track, even the display listing admission prices to the cheap ring hadn't been updated; pounds 1 including programme it showed.
Only once inside and beneath race seven in the racecard was there any mention of it. Shambolic.
Anyhow, it was a no busier or no quieter Tuesday than normal. The racing was routine, prize-money hadn't gone down from the previous week but it would seem the trophies for top-grade winners had disappeared.
In fact, the owners and trainers bar, formerly the Hideaway and Paddock in my few years as a regular, was busier than normal, with the attraction the Derby quarterfinals being shown on Sky. True dog people huddled in a small, dingy bar, such a rare sight at a greyhound track now days, and soon to become extinct at the Stow.
Cyril Coleman, 68, has been going to Walthamstow for 50 years and has occupied the same spot in the corner under the old, now defunct tote odds indicator board in the owners bar for most of that time.
Unlike many of the old school who used to prefer other tracks like Clapton, West Ham and Harringay in the roaring sixties, Coleman was a Stow regular, and would attend every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, going to West Ham on Wednesdays.
"I'm absolutely gutted at the news this is closing," he said passionately. "I knew it was coming, a mate of mine in the know told me contracts had been signed in the last week of April. I was hoping it would blow over, and I didn't think it would happen so soon.
"We used to be a ten-handed group every meeting, concentrating on the jackpot when it was six legs (winners only) and they put pounds 500 up. We won it regularly; I'd say we had it up at least 20 times.
"Then they changed the format and made it seven winners with no pounds 500 guarantee. We complained and were told 'if you don't like it, don't come back'. That was their attitude and many of my friends didn't come back."
Coleman recalls two greyhounds he owned during his time at Walthamstow. "Bellford Bob and Rosie Red," he said. "They were both trained by Graham Sharp and won Walthamstow dog and bitch of the year titles in the same year. Great times."
As for the future, Coleman accepts the sport will never be the same again after the Stow closes. "It's a large part of my life gone, but I love the sport and I'll give Romford a try. It's not easy for me to get to, but I'll probably end up going there once a week."
Jim Ranson, 77, has become an instantly recognisable face on the capital's greyhound scene.
HE doesn't miss a Walthamstow meeting - Bags included - and is at Romford on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He claims to have "done them all" referring to all the former tracks in London.
"Walthamstow going is a big loss to me, the form holds up so well; it's a great running track," he said. "They've let the place go to rack and ruin."
Ron Lashbrook, who won the Laurels consolation final with Limetree Bay in 1980 when trained by Barney O'Connor, has been a frequent visitor to the Stow for the last 30 years. He is now 78.
"When Walthamstow closed their Sewardstone Road kennels, I along with Wally Sturt and the Furlong brothers bought the Tinkersfield kennels near Rayleigh for Barney to continue training out of. When he packed it in, Mick Puzey moved into them before going to Claverhambury.
"They were great times. When this goes I'll just have to find another option. I live in Albury so Harlow is the closest track to me. I'll give that a go, and will try Romford, although I've not been there for some 20-odd years."
Bill Waldron, who owns his own garage business in Hackney, recalls his first Walthamstow experience as a six-year-old when taken there by his father in 1958.
"My dad was a local publican, and trained his dogs in the back of the Cross Keys pub in Bethnal Green," he explained. "He mainly had flappers but a couple were good enough to run and win opens at Walthamstow and we've still got the trophies.
"It's really sad to think that the four tracks I used to go, Clapton, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow, have all gone. I have a couple of dogs running at Harlow, so will continue to go there, but it just won't be the same again."
Being a businessman in the area, Waldron understands the decision of the owning Chandler family to sell. "I can't blame people around this area for selling up and taking the money, but the local councils have to get a grip with the situation, as ten years down the line there just won't be anywhere for people to go."
Mick Harmer, 50, a bookmaker's clerk at the track for the majority of the 30 years he has been attending, recalls the days when he used to clerk for John Power in the 1980s. "Those were legendary times," he said. "There used to be two banks of bookmakers in the main ring in those days, and people used to turn up just to watch him bet. It could be as entertaining as the racing."
Harmer, who is setting up life in Spain next week, blames management complacency for the stadium's demise. "They thought they had the right to be profitable. There seemed to be a belief that if people went greyhound racing, they would come to Walthamstow. As soon as they got a Bags contract, complacency set it and it's been all downhill since."
Dave O'Brien, who produces his own racecards from his extensive database that contain his own comments gained from hours of studying the videos, has been a Walthamstow stalwart for over 20 years "of which the last 18 have been three nights a week", slammed the management for allowing the stadium to run down so badly.
"They've been so far out of touch for years," he said.
"You'd think you're at Stringfellows given the beer prices, but then you get a reality check when it rains and the roof starts leaking in the bar! As an owner, I think it's disgusting the way the prize-money kept being cut.
"Yes, I feel totally let down by the management. Like so many others, I've supported the track for a very long time, but that doesn't seem to account for anything."
Rob Kisby has been one of the track's most high profile owners in recent times, having won the Arc and reached the Derby final with 2004 Greyhound of the Year Fire Height Dan.
He was one of Mick Puzey's first owners when he trained at Harringay in 1981, and describes the time he had with Fire Height Dan as "the best 18 months of my life".
"My biggest memory was when he won the Arc. The way he did it from five and flew round in 28.42sec was absolutely tremendous. Dan was a tight railer, but that's the beauty of Walthamstow, you can win despite bad draws.
"The first I heard of the track closing was when Mick phoned me on Friday. I thought it was bad news regarding Dan. Thankfully it wasn't. I can't say I was surprised, holes had been dug around the place and they weren't digging for gold!"
Clive Black's company Portsea had printed the Walthamstow racecards since the first meeting in 1933 up until recently when the business was sold. He now assists new printers Jemprint.
"My dad Charles founded the business and then me and my brother Lol took it over," explained Black. "I worked for Richie O'Gorman bookmaker for over 40 years and now help out Joe son. For me, when the track closes I lose my job, but it's the knock-on effect allround that worries me most."
ONE of the biggest punters at the track is Jerry Croxford, who claims to have "won a quarter of a million pounds a year for the last two years, and pounds 120,000 so far in 2008".
"It's been my livelihood for the last six years and I'm absolutely gutted," said the 41-year-old, who has been going to Walthamstow since he was six and punting there since 15.
"It's the most devastating thing to happen to me in my life, but I sensed it was the beginning of the end once the junior side wasn't made use of as another facility when hardly anyone was going over there."
A main ring bookmaker for 40 years, Ronnie Bazell 79, who would have been taking pounds 30,000 a meeting in the old days but now averages just pounds 7K, describes the impending closure as a "stab in the back".
"It doesn't really affect me too much at my stage of life, but it's my staff I feel for. I've seen loads of punters come and go, some really big ones that wouldn't flinch at having pounds 10K on something.
"I'm afraid I'll be one of those lost to the sport when Walthamstow closes. Gambling is a big part of my life and this is an element of it that will be gone forever."
The veteran bookmaker's thoughts summed up the general feeling at Walthamstow on Tuesday. It is, after all, a place many call home and they are now facing eviction.
'If you don't like it, don't come back'
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sad sparrow,never been there but loved betting there on the old 425 channel,had great racing such a shame.
I went there now and again in the 60s but it wasn't a track for serious players then. Every race in the 60s tended to be 3/1 the field and there were far better tracks for punting at that time. It always had good facilities though and improved the racing quite a bit in later years when the competition such as Clapton, Harringay etc were no longer around.
Some of the greatest nights dog racing I, ve ever had when in the employ of Linda mUllins. A truly remarkable place with an atmosphere on the big nights like no other. The sound almost deafening at times. Laterly I worked for Linda Jones and mark Wallis at the venue. The list of champions that graced the track on grass and sand extremely long. To say sparrow it's sadly missed is an understatement on my part. Great memories.
Loved the place and not living far from there it hurts to see the listed building knowing theres no track behind just housing.
I only ever went once with an open racer. (Lost), but met a few of the doggy men from the forum at a time when it was thriving and had a great night.
Btw, an excellent piece Sparrow. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Btw, an excellent piece Sparrow. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
This article was from the..... The Free Library > Date > 2008 > May > 22 > The Racing Post (London, England) by Jim Austin.
A good read sparrow, thanks for posting that albeit extremely sad as well. A big night at The Stow was always an extremely exciting evening and much anticipated by many. The queues to get in started at around 18.00 and the doors would be open at 18.30 usually and there was always the big rush to get a decent plot for the night. When Walthamstow closed the game died for me, now just a casual observer really.
Funny enough, I'm the same now Hall Green has closed Slippy, even though the last few years there saw great decline. Thinking what is was like when I first went. Amazing. Haven't found anywhere that gives me the same thrill. Coventry was ok, but guess what. Thats also gone. There are a few tracks left in the midlands, Perry Barr, Monmore & Nottingham in range order, but don't particularly like any. Maybe because of the nostalgia for HG.
I found it hard to adjust wen Powderhall closed. Ended up packed bags headed south. Ending up last job in England at the Stow b4 moving to Ireland for a stint there.
A very good read sparrow, brought back some good memories. I worked there for over 30 years for the bookmakers.My grandfather and my dad were bookmakers there, and i finished up working for Ron Bazell who passed away last friday
private. did you work for a trainer at Powderhall or just punt there, I used to go 3 times a week, sat in the restaurant, the RalL[Jimmy Ralston] used to put my bets on with Harry Duckworth, great track and the best bookmakers anywhere, everyone had an opinion, when I first went down to the English tracks what an excruciating experience watching those ROBOT bookies working, if one took a bet and cut his price they all cut it. if I could just go back in time and got one more year at Powderhall I would be a millionaire, just like a lot of guys we just took it for granted things would last forever. so anybody who is doing well, cash in while the going is good. cheers.
I worked for the council water dept in edinburgh. I owned a couple of dogs with hughie Davies. At that time I tick tacked for bill devon 1 of the smaller firms. We bet nxt to Bert logan who was a huge layer and would stand dogs for fortunes. Now and again he would ask me to av a bet outside for him. as u know so many different opin ions there was huge value to be had outside with Alec farquhar ( mac bet ) and Douglas somers both would regularly lay 5 n 10 grand bets. Was an incredible time in my life with us racing evry day of the week flapping n 3 nights a week at Powderhall. I got more an more interested in looking after dogs and started to work wknds and at the track evry night with hughie. He was a good teacher. He was head man for the legendary Scottish trainer bryce Wilson. I got a good education. When track closed I went to Jimmy gibson belle vue then on to Charlies. Linda mUllins followed. Then Paul young. John mcgees, back to Charlies another 3 Times. Linda Jones n mark Wallis. Then over to Ireland with pat curtin. Had a great life gambling an lookin after greyhounds. If I had my time again i,d do it all again. Met some great people. Great characters. Pity game going down the pan. I,ll still be watching dogs as long as it keeps going. It's bin a great life. I,ve spoke to and met all the judges on here and I tell them all they were born at the wrong time and the wrong place. If they were born in edinburgh likely they maybe retired now there was so much money to be had.
I do remember there were 2 or 3 lads used to bet from the resturant and I do remember Harry taking bets from a punter up there. Pity I never put a face to it. Hope ur well.
Stow type story
Being 16 in coral shop on barking rd
This old fella use to go to stow
Have his big bet on first race most bags meeting not sure if
Jolly punter or what
carried plaistic bag with him
Unsure if it was for his tin of spam or full of cash
Story I was told as kid
Wish I could remember his name
Being 16 in coral shop on barking rd
This old fella use to go to stow
Have his big bet on first race most bags meeting not sure if
Jolly punter or what
carried plaistic bag with him
Unsure if it was for his tin of spam or full of cash
Story I was told as kid
Wish I could remember his name
Wasn’t long when Coral took over coomes
first of all, a big thanks to sparrow for putting up that "moving" piece about Walthamstow, a track i never had the pleasure to see. private i remember all them guys you mention there, the two guys that bet against each other in the restaurant were Harry Findlay and Willie Law, match bets each race with alternate first picks and also overall winning traps, odd or even numbers, you can imagine the size of bets but like all true gentlemen gamblers respect for whoever won or lost. great memories, but at least we had them. cheers.
Funny Having beer big jimmy tomorrow night
Yes bairn I was involved in match bets. It was a huge thing. Willie law had matchers with logan. Big money. When hutch who used to do berts card was away on holiday my mate picked berts dog in each race. I sometimes got asked wot I would pick. Me n my mate had matchers with Trevino from glasgow. Also the unplaced dog bet. Wen they stopped doing it in shop Trevino laid us 6/4 to pick 3. We were betting 4/7 in the end.
wen we were young n still at school there were numerous in dependants in edinburgh. We always had our heads together to try n get money. There were 8 races Powderhall an shawfield. 1 shop laid 8/1 8 unplaced dogs. We always had 8 fivers at shawfield Saturday night. We noticed the settler checked results in Sunday post. Only gave first 2 n names were printed. We used to pick our 8 dogs none of which were even running gave us a start of for the week.
wen we were young n still at school there were numerous in dependants in edinburgh. We always had our heads together to try n get money. There were 8 races Powderhall an shawfield. 1 shop laid 8/1 8 unplaced dogs. We always had 8 fivers at shawfield Saturday night. We noticed the settler checked results in Sunday post. Only gave first 2 n names were printed. We used to pick our 8 dogs none of which were even running gave us a start of for the week.
Apologies sparrow for high jacking ur thread. That was a great piece.
No need to apologise private as it's all good greyhound talk we all want to read.
Private.....Just realised who you are from reading your posts on here, good to hear you are still loving the game. Gary N
Terry, sorry to hear about Ron Bazell mate, hope you are in good form.
Hi Gary. Ye still love it.I c some Facebook posts from the girls with some pics. U havn,t aged at all. Hope alls good. Great times with crunching an doughnut.
I just love you sparrow, another fantastic post, I am surprised no one has mentioned Dougie Tyler though, or have I missed something?
Dougie Tyler...............only ever went to the Stow once. We had a little A2 bitch at Hove who looked like she wanted 6 bends so took her to the Stow although only to travel with her litter sister who was already decent over the trip. Anyway our bitch opens on the boards at 16/1 so I ask Tyler for1000/60. Hardly a life changing bet. He scrubs the price without laying the bet and goes 12. So I say ok then I'll have 1000/80. He scrubs again and goes 8 without laying a bet so I just laugh at him walk away and have 1000/60 next door who are still going 16. No happy ending though because she ran like a blocked drain!! But Dougie Tyler bookmaker...............you're avin a larf
This is all we are going to have one day .....memories !
tonic I think you are getting mixed,dougie has been on every stow video I have ever watched, if he has only been once, he must have stayed there for fkn years without going home.
I think tonic means he only went the once himself, not Dougie Tyler
Jan 22, 2019 -- 4:18PM, privatehire wrote:
Yes bairn I was involved in match bets. It was a huge thing. Willie law had matchers with logan. Big money. When hutch who used to do berts card was away on holiday my mate picked berts dog in each race. I sometimes got asked wot I would pick. Me n my mate had matchers with Trevino from glasgow. Also the unplaced dog bet. Wen they stopped doing it in shop Trevino laid us 6/4 to pick 3. We were betting 4/7 in the end. wen we were young n still at school there were numerous in dependants in edinburgh. We always had our heads together to try n get money. There were 8 races Powderhall an shawfield. 1 shop laid 8/1 8 unplaced dogs. We always had 8 fivers at shawfield Saturday night. We noticed the settler checked results in Sunday post. Only gave first 2 n names were printed. We used to pick our 8 dogs none of which were even running gave us a start of for the week.
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