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I can remember a few. Newsboy from Daily Mirror, The Scout from Daily Express, Hotspur from The Daily Telegraph. If I'm not mistaken I think Peter Scott was Hotspur at some point, and later Jim McGrath.
Can anyone name others, handle and real name?
Can anyone name others, handle and real name?
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Bob Butchers and Charlie Fawcus? or was Charlie post-80s (newsboy)?
And who can forget old 'naps champ' himself, Jeffrey Ross, 7 times, yes SEVEN times, champion napster! Maximum respect!
I don't know if he had a handle or just called himself 'naps champ'!
I don't know if he had a handle or just called himself 'naps champ'!
And my old favourite - Underarm - no, hang on - I mean Underhand, Doug Moscrop of the Newcastle Journal!
Not sure about that dunlaying. As far as I know he wrote a column in the Telegraph as "Marlborough".
Clive Graham, Charles Benson (pals with Lord Lucan no less
)and Peter O'Sullevan were all "the scout" at one time or another if i remember rightly
)and Peter O'Sullevan were all "the scout" at one time or another if i remember rightly
The Bloke in the Morning star was always shyte ,Probably Zipper 
Bouverie is/was a Mirror Tipster
Another one from The Sun was Tom Pepper i think
Another one from The Sun was Tom Pepper i think
this Jeffrey Ross (Glasgow Evening Times) still tipping ?
Yes xmoneyx, still after his 'daily earner'!
And while I think we can safely say he won't be the 'naps champ' this season, when you've it 7 times, I think you're allowed the odd poor one!
And while I think we can safely say he won't be the 'naps champ' this season, when you've it 7 times, I think you're allowed the odd poor one!
Tim Richards was Northern Correspondent for the Daily Mirror
Morning Star tipster was Cayton I think
Morning Star tipster was Cayton I think
Bouverie is/was a Mirror Tipster
Wasn't Bouverie Street (off Fleet Street) where The Sun lived?
Wasn't Bouverie Street (off Fleet Street) where The Sun lived?
Ranger from the Yorkshire Evening Post was John Morgan. Had to be the worst tipster ever.
I knew John Khyber,not bad company and used to do his bit on the after dinner circuit,hes still about I think.
No mention of Robin Goodfellow yet?Jack Millan and I'm trying to think of his predecessor,the name Arthur Salter seems to spring to mind?
No mention of Robin Goodfellow yet?Jack Millan and I'm trying to think of his predecessor,the name Arthur Salter seems to spring to mind?
He was a decent after dinner speaker Ribero. He worked with a neighbour of mine at the YEP and he always spoke well of him.
I'm pleased to hear he's still around, I thought he had passed away.
I'm pleased to hear he's still around, I thought he had passed away.
I live near Wetherby and definitely spotted him in town about 6 months ago,He had a stroke a good few years ago and made a decent recovery although I suspect age has got the better of him now as he looked pretty dependant on his wife when I spotted him.
His evening column was quite often word for word some topic from the mornings Sporting Life!
His evening column was quite often word for word some topic from the mornings Sporting Life!
We used to get the 'Today' newspaper which had 'Henry Rix' doing the selecting.
Slightly off topic, Radio City a Liverpool radio station, used to have a daily double which was picked by a guy called Kieth Elliot, I remember him having an impressive strike rate. I believe he when on to become a Golf Tipster and I once saw a golf form book writen by him.
Slightly off topic, Radio City a Liverpool radio station, used to have a daily double which was picked by a guy called Kieth Elliot, I remember him having an impressive strike rate. I believe he when on to become a Golf Tipster and I once saw a golf form book writen by him.
Bouverie Street was where the Daily Mirror offices were.
Cayton Street was where the Morning Star offices were (hence 'Cayton'). The Morning Star used to be the Daily Worker. Alf Rubin tipped as Cayton for over 60 years. He was actually a form man, and didn't just go for horses with 'red' in the name, as story would have it. Though he did pick Russian Hero at 66s in the 1949 Grand National. He also napped Beech Road at 50s in the Champion Hurdle, and Nickel Coin at 40s in the 1951 National. He liked a long shot - hence he had long losing runs and often propped up the Sporting Life naps table, though he won it several times. The original Daily Worker tipster wanted to tip under the name 'Nilats' back in the 1930s. He didn't last long. Alf did though - he started in the 1930s, and was still going, part-time, when he died in the 1990s.
Cayton Street was where the Morning Star offices were (hence 'Cayton'). The Morning Star used to be the Daily Worker. Alf Rubin tipped as Cayton for over 60 years. He was actually a form man, and didn't just go for horses with 'red' in the name, as story would have it. Though he did pick Russian Hero at 66s in the 1949 Grand National. He also napped Beech Road at 50s in the Champion Hurdle, and Nickel Coin at 40s in the 1951 National. He liked a long shot - hence he had long losing runs and often propped up the Sporting Life naps table, though he won it several times. The original Daily Worker tipster wanted to tip under the name 'Nilats' back in the 1930s. He didn't last long. Alf did though - he started in the 1930s, and was still going, part-time, when he died in the 1990s.
The Sporting Chronicle used to have 'kettledrum' named after the 1861 Derby winner. 'He' started tipping in the 1860s. I think the Chronicle started about 1871, and might have been the first daily racing newspaper. Peter Willett might have been Kettledrum in the 1960s/70s.
In the Sporting Life, AUGUR (Frank Carter), and FORM (D1ck Whitford, then Howard Parker).
Daily Mail (Robin Goodfellow)
Sporting Chronicle, KETTLEDRUM (Adrian Cook, and previously think it was Peter Willett (?)) Jeffrey Ross was also on that paper. And Melvin Day doing the 2-Y-O Ratings, OLD ROWLEY, SPEED PLUS, SPLIT-SECOND. And MUTABLE & JOVIAL JUDGE the 2 Greyhound Tipsters.
Sunday People (JONATHAN POWELL)
Sunday Mirror (MONTY COURT)
Daily Mail (Robin Goodfellow)
Sporting Chronicle, KETTLEDRUM (Adrian Cook, and previously think it was Peter Willett (?)) Jeffrey Ross was also on that paper. And Melvin Day doing the 2-Y-O Ratings, OLD ROWLEY, SPEED PLUS, SPLIT-SECOND. And MUTABLE & JOVIAL JUDGE the 2 Greyhound Tipsters.
Sunday People (JONATHAN POWELL)
Sunday Mirror (MONTY COURT)
Remember Len Thomas and George ennor being the 2 main man on the spot in the life.
Ged - Cayton gets a mention in Alexei Sayle's autobiography, 'Stalin Ate My Homework.'
He erroneously cites 1959 rather than 1949, as the year of Russian Hero's win.
He erroneously cites 1959 rather than 1949, as the year of Russian Hero's win.
Nick Fox was Templegate,the Sun, for a few years,won the Naps championship a few times.
dixie - thanks for that! Coincidentally, there was a horse called Morning Star running in it that year (though the paper was still called the Daily Worker). He also started 66s, but fell. I have it in my head that it was Russian Hero who started the theory about 2.5 milers being able to get the National trip (when the fences were big). I don't know if that's the case. I know Gay Trip was one of 'them', having won the Mackeson.
Bill Curling ? He was a racing journalist but I am not sure if he was a tipster. I have feeling that he worked for The Express.
clayton the morning star never tipped a winner if the paper was still in print richard birch would be there tipter
Cayton won the naps competetion 4 times in the 70s and 80s.
Here's more about the great Alf Rubin, from a Sports Illustrated article, from September 1954...
"The London Daily Worker has been printing racing selections since 1935, presumably on the theory that the workers of the world have nothing to lose but their change. Almost from the beginning the Worker's horse-seer has been Alf Rubin, who at 18 won a newspaper contest by picking eight winners out of eight. This topped a previous achievement, at age 9, when he precociously forecast the winner of the 1926 Derby (Coronach, 11-2) and the second and fourth horses as well.
When the Worker began publishing in 1930, the party line, based on a conviction that the revolution was only a furlong away, grimly opposed mention of the morning line. But after some experience with recurring crises of circulation the paper decided to humor, for the time being at least, the fascination which horse racing holds for the British working class as well as for British royalty. The Worker ran a few predictions and then decided to get itself an expert. Standing outside the door was Alf.
Alf Rubin, at 37, has thinning hair, blinks out at the world through thick glasses, and talks somewhat incoherently when the subject is not horses. He claims that he is no Communist and that he never votes.
"It doesn't matter which government is in," he says, "so long as you keep out of trouble with the police."
Furthermore, Rubin disagrees with the Worker's editorial policy.
"What the British public wants," he says, "is good sports coverage in a newspaper, not all that politics."
Holding such deviationist views, it is a marvel that Rubin has survived almost 20 years on the Worker staff.
The secret is in his picks. He has been studying racing forms since shortly after he learned to read and his selections, unlike those of the vast majority of track experts, show a profit. So far this season he is anywhere from 28 to 80 points ahead (points being equal to any currency unit the bettor can afford—dollar, pound or shilling) depending on whether his followers bet to win, across the board or long shot.
"You should follow this man," proclaims the Worker, not unreasonably, to its readers. "When Cayton (Rubin's nom de track is Cayton because the Worker started publishing on Cayton Street) gave our readers his 400th...winner of the season last Tuesday that was just another milestone in his long and successful career for the Daily Worker."
The man on whom the Communist paper depends for a fair chunk of its estimated 83,000 circulation had to leave school at 14. For four years he worked at such jobs as tailor's assistant until the day he astounded the Sunday Referee by picking eight out of eight winners in that newspaper's contest. The Referee hired him, though only for a month. From the Referee he went to the Daily Worker. There he became easily the hottest item on the sports page.
He has had spectacular triumphs, some of them with mystical overtones. In 1949 Russian Hero won the Grand National at 66 to 1. Who picked Russian Hero? The Daily Worker's man, Rubin. This sort of thing leads to jokes and Rubin resents them. The Observer chided him recently for selecting Red Influence in a race at Newmarket. Red Influence won, naturally,' but Rubin is still infuriated at suggestions that propaganda sways his studies.
Rubin seldom bets and almost never goes to the track. He knows very little about breeding, since "that's another field." He works solely from form.
"It's a nerve-racking job," he says. "Nobody believes what a nerve-racking job it is."
Here's more about the great Alf Rubin, from a Sports Illustrated article, from September 1954...
"The London Daily Worker has been printing racing selections since 1935, presumably on the theory that the workers of the world have nothing to lose but their change. Almost from the beginning the Worker's horse-seer has been Alf Rubin, who at 18 won a newspaper contest by picking eight winners out of eight. This topped a previous achievement, at age 9, when he precociously forecast the winner of the 1926 Derby (Coronach, 11-2) and the second and fourth horses as well.
When the Worker began publishing in 1930, the party line, based on a conviction that the revolution was only a furlong away, grimly opposed mention of the morning line. But after some experience with recurring crises of circulation the paper decided to humor, for the time being at least, the fascination which horse racing holds for the British working class as well as for British royalty. The Worker ran a few predictions and then decided to get itself an expert. Standing outside the door was Alf.
Alf Rubin, at 37, has thinning hair, blinks out at the world through thick glasses, and talks somewhat incoherently when the subject is not horses. He claims that he is no Communist and that he never votes.
"It doesn't matter which government is in," he says, "so long as you keep out of trouble with the police."
Furthermore, Rubin disagrees with the Worker's editorial policy.
"What the British public wants," he says, "is good sports coverage in a newspaper, not all that politics."
Holding such deviationist views, it is a marvel that Rubin has survived almost 20 years on the Worker staff.
The secret is in his picks. He has been studying racing forms since shortly after he learned to read and his selections, unlike those of the vast majority of track experts, show a profit. So far this season he is anywhere from 28 to 80 points ahead (points being equal to any currency unit the bettor can afford—dollar, pound or shilling) depending on whether his followers bet to win, across the board or long shot.
"You should follow this man," proclaims the Worker, not unreasonably, to its readers. "When Cayton (Rubin's nom de track is Cayton because the Worker started publishing on Cayton Street) gave our readers his 400th...winner of the season last Tuesday that was just another milestone in his long and successful career for the Daily Worker."
The man on whom the Communist paper depends for a fair chunk of its estimated 83,000 circulation had to leave school at 14. For four years he worked at such jobs as tailor's assistant until the day he astounded the Sunday Referee by picking eight out of eight winners in that newspaper's contest. The Referee hired him, though only for a month. From the Referee he went to the Daily Worker. There he became easily the hottest item on the sports page.
He has had spectacular triumphs, some of them with mystical overtones. In 1949 Russian Hero won the Grand National at 66 to 1. Who picked Russian Hero? The Daily Worker's man, Rubin. This sort of thing leads to jokes and Rubin resents them. The Observer chided him recently for selecting Red Influence in a race at Newmarket. Red Influence won, naturally,' but Rubin is still infuriated at suggestions that propaganda sways his studies.
Rubin seldom bets and almost never goes to the track. He knows very little about breeding, since "that's another field." He works solely from form.
"It's a nerve-racking job," he says. "Nobody believes what a nerve-racking job it is."
tom pepper (sun) bill rickaby, david smalley racefom. lionel cureton (templegate the sun)
I used to love 'Beat The Book' in the Sporting Chronicle
karma
1:50 brighton
Bayston Hill (7/2) Jeffrey Ross (Glasgow Evening Times)
1:50 brighton
Bayston Hill (7/2) Jeffrey Ross (Glasgow Evening Times)
Makes the demise of the Handicap Book seem such a waste , Kettledrum and anyone remember the guys writing in with their systems , ah nostalgia....
workrider - me dad used to get the handicap book every week - probably only put sixpence on most of his selections but he could spend hours reading & trying to interpret the formbook - happy days but long since gone
there was a comment about van der wheil every week!
there was a comment about van der wheil every week!
Geordie, a wonderful publication , every form students dream , you always felt theye'd been talking directly to the trainers and jockeys and were passing on the infomation , sheer bliss ..
got to agree with you workrider - the contributors seemed infinitely better and more professional than the lazy journos of today
Graham Rock was the last Kettledum. He was also Mouse Roberts agent when he won the jockeys championship.
Split Second! Sporting Chronicle..rocket science.
Ged: thanks for sharing the piece on Cayton. I also remember Beech Road (didn't back it, of course). He could go weeks without a winning Nap.....
It was only after Ken Hussey/Split Second died that I realized just how much I'd relied on his standard times for my punting. If you bet for a living, the day he published his revised standard times before each Flat and NH season was the day you understood what a rarity he was - a tipster who put as much care and effort into what he did as you did as a punter who had to make your betting pay.
In the old days, there were only two meetings a day at the start of the week and four towards the end, so it was a different ball game for a tipster.
At the Life, as a Man On The Spot I would have from 11.30-4.00 to analyse one meeting and then from 4.00-5.00 to do the betting forecasts for the races he had analysed.
On a national newspaper now, a tipster has to tip in every race, design the page and write the editorial from ATR or RUK coverage + tweets + PA and RP stories.
Thanks to 48-hour decs, you can study two-days ahead while waiting to put in the evening results.
Leo Sayer's song 'I'm a one man band' springs to mind.
Yours
The Scout
At the Life, as a Man On The Spot I would have from 11.30-4.00 to analyse one meeting and then from 4.00-5.00 to do the betting forecasts for the races he had analysed.
On a national newspaper now, a tipster has to tip in every race, design the page and write the editorial from ATR or RUK coverage + tweets + PA and RP stories.
Thanks to 48-hour decs, you can study two-days ahead while waiting to put in the evening results.
Leo Sayer's song 'I'm a one man band' springs to mind.
Yours
The Scout
Ken Hussey's ratings used to appear in the Daily Star right up to his death.
Since the death of the Daily Express' Computerman (Bev Swingell) around 2012, the ratings that appear in the Express and the Star are supplied by Racing Profits Guides.
That company is to all intents and purposes the old Trainers' Record, established in Bridport, Dorset by Peter Jones.
Since the death of the Daily Express' Computerman (Bev Swingell) around 2012, the ratings that appear in the Express and the Star are supplied by Racing Profits Guides.
That company is to all intents and purposes the old Trainers' Record, established in Bridport, Dorset by Peter Jones.
The Times tipsters over the last 30 years have included Michael Seely, Michael Phillips and Mandarin aka Robbie Wright.
The Express, post the Golden Era of Peter O'S and Clive Graham: John De Moraville (now a BHA handicapper), John Garnsey (goes racing occasionally and signs his name Osama Bin Laden when he registers for a free lunch at the Newmarket July meeting), Rolf Johnson (Highclere handicapper).
Templegate - Nick Fox was followed as Templegate by Phil Logan (any news of these two?).
The Express, post the Golden Era of Peter O'S and Clive Graham: John De Moraville (now a BHA handicapper), John Garnsey (goes racing occasionally and signs his name Osama Bin Laden when he registers for a free lunch at the Newmarket July meeting), Rolf Johnson (Highclere handicapper).
Templegate - Nick Fox was followed as Templegate by Phil Logan (any news of these two?).
Anyone remember who did the Sunday Telegraph tips for the following weeks racing? Many would not be declared, but I think of the ones that ran, he had a reasonable strike rate.
What about the roll up acca in the Daily Mail.Tried to pick one about evens but not very successful.Any body recall if they ever got far.
Jeffrey Ross Glasgow Evening Times been on a good run since you mentioned him 
newmarket in the sun was a good tipster back in the 1980's. he was a work watcher on the gallops called george robinson. they did a documentary about him on itv years ago and i remember him talking about classic winners he had backed ante post at massive odds months before the races. he was old in the programme and had been doing all his life i think.
Some nostalgic names there. Did George Robinson used to run a telephone line? Remember telephoning him occasionally he was very good with Stoute horses
Richard Baerlien very close to Ryan Price remember him napping Romeo Romani first time out won 20/1 think it was in the Coventry @Royal Ascot. A great writer who'd be shocked by the paucity of coverage racing gets in the broadsheet papers nowadays - remember him telling readers "Now is the time to bet like men" after Shergar won the Sandown trial for the 81 Derby
Richard Baerlien very close to Ryan Price remember him napping Romeo Romani first time out won 20/1 think it was in the Coventry @Royal Ascot. A great writer who'd be shocked by the paucity of coverage racing gets in the broadsheet papers nowadays - remember him telling readers "Now is the time to bet like men" after Shergar won the Sandown trial for the 81 Derby
I remember Baerlien writing that he was going on holiday for 2 weeks, and that he expected Homme De Fer, to pay for it.
It ran, and won, a week later, first time over hurdles. He was the owner.
It ran, and won, a week later, first time over hurdles. He was the owner.
I used to buy The Guardian solely to read Richard Baerlein's columns
And me -- the Guardian for Richard Baerlein, and more recently (but off-topic for this thread) the Irish Field for Nick Mordin. The rest I can take or leave.
Beat The Book in The Sporting Chronicle was Dick Adderley who in later life returned the Starting Prices.
Tom Pepper in The Sun was Walter Glynn for a while who is still writing close ups from the northern tracks for The Racing Post.
I do remember The Daily Star launching and one of their box tipsters called Mary Pie broke some kind of record for the most consecutive winning nap selections.
Templegate has had more faces than Dr Who, Lionel Cureton in the 60s/70s, and later a cartain Nick Fox who beat The Ferret to The Sporting Life Naps Table.
The Daily Mirrors
Main tipster Newsboy used to be a certain Bob Butcher.
The Duke in The Yorkshire Post was a chap called John something or other, always on Calender news.
Tom Pepper in The Sun was Walter Glynn for a while who is still writing close ups from the northern tracks for The Racing Post.
I do remember The Daily Star launching and one of their box tipsters called Mary Pie broke some kind of record for the most consecutive winning nap selections.
Templegate has had more faces than Dr Who, Lionel Cureton in the 60s/70s, and later a cartain Nick Fox who beat The Ferret to The Sporting Life Naps Table.
The Daily Mirrors
Main tipster Newsboy used to be a certain Bob Butcher.
The Duke in The Yorkshire Post was a chap called John something or other, always on Calender news.
the most famous tipster of all time, Horace Bachelor.cheers.
Jamilla,re the Duke of the Yorkshire post you've got me thinking.
I think the John you're thinking of has been previously mentioned as John Morgan who was Ranger in the Yorkshire evening post. Been racking my brain to think who was the Duke around that time and think it was Victor Green?
I think the John you're thinking of has been previously mentioned as John Morgan who was Ranger in the Yorkshire evening post. Been racking my brain to think who was the Duke around that time and think it was Victor Green?
Didn't The Morning Star deliberately nap horses they thought couldn't win?
;man on the spot: in the sporting life was always my favourite.he always put up a well reasoned story ending with his selection it usualy convinced me however I still did my proverbials most days !!!
as already mentioned underarm [doug moscrop ] of the chronical new his onions,when the national was the national moscrop had a great record in the race
Eddie Fremantle's write-ups as Man On The Spot back in the 1980s and early 1990s were excellent, as long as you ignored the actual tip.
"Fleetfooted is at the top of his form and the obvious winner here, though Dark Improver is a very interesting possible danger to the favourite. But I shall be taking a chance with
Dobbin,
who showed enough before fading into eighth in a Brighton seller last time to suggest he might be due a return to form."
"Fleetfooted is at the top of his form and the obvious winner here, though Dark Improver is a very interesting possible danger to the favourite. But I shall be taking a chance with
Dobbin,
who showed enough before fading into eighth in a Brighton seller last time to suggest he might be due a return to form."
The Shoe was different gravy when the All Weather first started.
Is Dead Cert still in the Daily Sport? He used to put up tips from beyond the grave...
any of the oldies remember the pink,green footie tkts which also did the newsboy double numbers
Radio 4 been giving Horse tips for years are they from one of the Papers ?
Remember the Racing Pink ? Wasn't this a late edition printed on a Saturday ( late afternoon/ early evening) with all the days results. The very latest results appeared typed up on the back sheet at the bottom of the page in the ' margin' if my memory serves me right. My Dad used to send me to Newsagent to get his copy.
Also fond memories of the Handicap Book. And the Raceform Note Book. Plastic cover with laces to bind the weekly results pages. The latest weekly pages were sent in the post together with previous weeks permanent pages, which replaced the temporary ones from previous week. Flat Season permanent pages were pink in a red folde, National Hunt pages were yellow/ buff in a Green Folder. My Dad subscribed to this publication and I'd spend my youth avidly ploughing through the on going Seasons results as they'd build up. The notes for each horse were great reads.
Also fond memories of the Handicap Book. And the Raceform Note Book. Plastic cover with laces to bind the weekly results pages. The latest weekly pages were sent in the post together with previous weeks permanent pages, which replaced the temporary ones from previous week. Flat Season permanent pages were pink in a red folde, National Hunt pages were yellow/ buff in a Green Folder. My Dad subscribed to this publication and I'd spend my youth avidly ploughing through the on going Seasons results as they'd build up. The notes for each horse were great reads.
supernap in the daily herald [now the SUN ]
GOT ME STARTED backing 2 year olds each way when favourite odds on
1/4 the odds a place in those days did well in shops of brent in romford till he throw me out
GOT ME STARTED backing 2 year olds each way when favourite odds on
1/4 the odds a place in those days did well in shops of brent in romford till he throw me out
My father used to do e.w doubles on a Saturday...I'm sure Scotia's selections and riddle-me-ree were often amongst his selections.He used to bet them with McGlaughlins...remember having to get to the Post Office before 1pm to get them time-stamped
I have 2 questions please for anyone old enough to remember.
1. I thought Geoff Lester was 'Man on the Spot' in the 1980's...???
2. Going back to the 1960's, this man was not a tipster but I wondered if anyone remembers Sam Long who had a column in the Sporting Life as his '2yo handicap'. It appeared I think every week updated. Was that his real name? I often wondered just who he was. I disagreed with some of his assessments at the time. Thanks.
1. I thought Geoff Lester was 'Man on the Spot' in the 1980's...???
2. Going back to the 1960's, this man was not a tipster but I wondered if anyone remembers Sam Long who had a column in the Sporting Life as his '2yo handicap'. It appeared I think every week updated. Was that his real name? I often wondered just who he was. I disagreed with some of his assessments at the time. Thanks.
There were lots of Men On The Spot, obviously a different one for each meeting, or the workload would have been impossible. I'm sure Lester sometimes did a meeting for the column.
There were some top class tipsters around in those days, notably Peter O'Sullevan and Charles Benson(Express), Peter Scott(Daily Tetegraph), Lionel Cureton(Herald), Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker(Mail) and Richard Baerlein(Guardian).
The main difference between them and the current crop of Formbook pontificators, is that they each had exceptional contacts in the industry. For example, Benson was friends with the likes of Robert Sangster while Barlein personally knew trainers such as Ryan Price and Geoff Lewis.
The main difference between them and the current crop of Formbook pontificators, is that they each had exceptional contacts in the industry. For example, Benson was friends with the likes of Robert Sangster while Barlein personally knew trainers such as Ryan Price and Geoff Lewis.
I kept a few old newspapers: the last Sporting Life 12/05/98; Lester's retirement 10/09/95; Lando wins the Japan Cup 27/11/95.
Naps table November 27, 1995 (jumps Nap table just a few weeks old)
Many tipsters used their real names. Here are a few nicknames
Sunday Mail - Rockavon; Western Morning News - Jeffrey Ross; Dundee Courier - The Ferret; Sun - Templegate; Daily Mirror - Newsboy; East Anglian Daily Times - Crusader; The People - Larry Lynx;
Bermingham Post - Veritas; News Of The World - Pegasus; Yorkshire Post - The Duke; Northern Echo - Janus; Daily Post - Mercury; Sporting Life - Man On The Spot; Daily Express - The Scout;
Scotland Daily Express - Scotia; Newcastle Journal - Underhand; Sunday Telegraph - Whistler; the Times - Richard Evans; Sporting Life - Augar; Sporting Life - Northern View; Raceform Update - Longbow
This caught my eye on the back page of the 11/09/95 The Sporting Life (Piggott retirement day)
Classic Cliche had just won the St Leger for Godolphin under Frankie Dettori.
"It is said that at the age of 23 Alexander the Great wept for he had conquered the world and had no more worlds to conquer.
The Maktoums have still to get their hankies out but, with the last eight British classics in their pocket, they are looking for new worlds to conquer."
Naps table November 27, 1995 (jumps Nap table just a few weeks old)
Many tipsters used their real names. Here are a few nicknames
Sunday Mail - Rockavon; Western Morning News - Jeffrey Ross; Dundee Courier - The Ferret; Sun - Templegate; Daily Mirror - Newsboy; East Anglian Daily Times - Crusader; The People - Larry Lynx;
Bermingham Post - Veritas; News Of The World - Pegasus; Yorkshire Post - The Duke; Northern Echo - Janus; Daily Post - Mercury; Sporting Life - Man On The Spot; Daily Express - The Scout;
Scotland Daily Express - Scotia; Newcastle Journal - Underhand; Sunday Telegraph - Whistler; the Times - Richard Evans; Sporting Life - Augar; Sporting Life - Northern View; Raceform Update - Longbow
This caught my eye on the back page of the 11/09/95 The Sporting Life (Piggott retirement day)
Classic Cliche had just won the St Leger for Godolphin under Frankie Dettori.
"It is said that at the age of 23 Alexander the Great wept for he had conquered the world and had no more worlds to conquer.
The Maktoums have still to get their hankies out but, with the last eight British classics in their pocket, they are looking for new worlds to conquer."
@Adelaide - Bob Butchers - of long-term Newsboy fame, wrote a book, and in that book, he says that when he started as Newsboy (mid 1940s), Sam Long was 'Augur' in the Sporting Life. That's literally a generation before some of those mentioned in this thread, because he says at that time Ernie Cureton (father of Lionel) was at the PA, and Eric Rickman (father of John) was at the Daily Mail. He mentions Merrick Good as being the Life's main Man on the Spot at that time. Bob Butchers was the nephew of Don Butchers, who trained, amongst others, Carrickbeg, who almost carried amateur John Lawrence to Grand National victory, and Saffron Tartan, who won a Cheltenham Gold Cup and a KG chase (having previously gone close to winning a champion hurdle for Vincent O'Brien, following on from being one of his many Supreme Novices winners).
It appears that "the shoe" has a new role,playing the senior police officer in "Death in Paradise" on tv.,or is it his double!?
Blowing Stone (Lambourn, reported by Steve Taylor (I think)) Back in the 80s when Peter Chapple Hyam was doing well. His info from the PCH stable was very good.
It was quite an amusing column too. He'd write about the stable nicknames, for instance Fletcher, who was code name Norman Stanley.
Nick Mordin's column was quite good too and would have got many of us into producing our own speed ratings. (Bayer's books are essential here!)
It was quite an amusing column too. He'd write about the stable nicknames, for instance Fletcher, who was code name Norman Stanley.
Nick Mordin's column was quite good too and would have got many of us into producing our own speed ratings. (Bayer's books are essential here!)
A few of you have mentioned Newsboy (Bob Butcher) Daily Mirror, but the Mirror also had Bouviere (I think). If I'm correct, can anyone enlighten us on whose pseudonym this was?
When Bob Butchers was Newsboy Charlie Fawcus was Bouverie. Think it was David Phillips who took over from Butchers then Fawcus. Can't say I've been impressed with Dave Yates, how dire has RUK been tonight with Persad & Yates tonight? Both too alike (boring). Doubt anyone is Bouverie these days.
Thanks Adamski. I remember Carlie Fawcus now you've named him. I've switched RUK off now, but Persad and Yates would send me to sleep.
Charlie Fawcus was also well connected...he even rode out for the likes of Major Dick Hern.
"Spiv" of the Sheffield Star was a lovely old guy called Jimmy Dunn. Used to go into the Stanley Racing betting shop right next to the Telegraph and Star office to listen to races on the blower. He'd chat to anybody, loved passing the time of day talking racing.
"Spiv" of the Sheffield Star was a lovely old guy called Jimmy Dunn. Used to go into the Stanley Racing betting shop right next to the Telegraph and Star office to listen to races on the blower. He'd chat to anybody, loved passing the time of day talking racing.
ged,
..just to say thanks for that information. Some great old names there..
..just to say thanks for that information. Some great old names there..
Best newspaper tipster I recall was Martin Julians column in one of the Sunday broadsheets.
With regard to Roll Up in the Daily Mail I'm pretty sure that he got around twelve consecutive winners around the time Arkle,Flyingbolt ,Dicky May were running probably 64/65.
With regard to Roll Up in the Daily Mail I'm pretty sure that he got around twelve consecutive winners around the time Arkle,Flyingbolt ,Dicky May were running probably 64/65.
Good to see some posters mentioning Richard Baerlein in the Guardian who was one of the best in my view.
Liverpool Post. Roy David 1980s
Irish Times and Irish Field Valentine Lamb
Irish Times and Irish Field Valentine Lamb
@Adelaide...
A long shot, but if you're still around, and happen to know about racing in Adelaide, I'm going to be in that city in November next year, so any advice about any racing in the area that may be on around then would be welcome. Tasmania too. Cheers.
A long shot, but if you're still around, and happen to know about racing in Adelaide, I'm going to be in that city in November next year, so any advice about any racing in the area that may be on around then would be welcome. Tasmania too. Cheers.
When the late Nick Fox was Templegate,in the Sun,he won the Naps table twice,and was a very good reader of form.He gave me some betting rules which ,although very simple,have proved to be highly useful.He had some rules that he never went against.Discipline.
Stow Judge mentioned Blowing Stone he was a shrewd cookie I remember in 85 thinking about backing Western Dancer of Con Horgans With one of my favourite jockeys Paul Cook on for the Ebor when I read his column in the Weekender that Wednesday he advised taking the 33s for that very horse and the rest is history .
.
Dave Mitchell was quite good at The Daily Mirror, had a good insight to West Country racing, especially the Martin Pipe stable, also wrote for the Weekender under the name The Man from the West, I think
Alan Keyte was a legend was with Western daily mail? His strike rate was excellent. I think Dick Adderley was another very very good judge.
I would hope that he has already been mentioned but no one could top Richard Baerlein at The Grauniad and Observer.
nice old tales from yesteryear ...re ; sporting life , etc ...i was out for a pint with geoff lester the other week . still in good form .
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