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Sad day..
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RIP
1 minute video of Barry Dennis and John McCririck, in a busy betting ring, before 2000 Guineas in 1997
https://x.com/horsevault/status/1845840743379669127
1 minute video of Barry Dennis and John McCririck, in a busy betting ring, before 2000 Guineas in 1997
https://x.com/horsevault/status/1845840743379669127
enjoyed his fairytale bookies summing ups at Windsor Mon night meeting with Chappers, RIP
Barry,s operation give me my 1st real time introduction in to the exchanges in action
spend 20 mins next to his joint at chelt before the festival bumper think he 2 joints in operation about a dozen staff between them all with headphones on, and betting with Barry at the time was like people like getting a bet on at Freddie Williams joint,and as people were queuing up to get on LIBERMAN at 11 to 4/3,s at his joint he had half dozen people running round ring taking anything bigger an shouting at his man on computer to take anything above 11 to 4,LIBREMAN well backed fav won and so did Barry with his well OILED operation
spend 20 mins next to his joint at chelt before the festival bumper think he 2 joints in operation about a dozen staff between them all with headphones on, and betting with Barry at the time was like people like getting a bet on at Freddie Williams joint,and as people were queuing up to get on LIBERMAN at 11 to 4/3,s at his joint he had half dozen people running round ring taking anything bigger an shouting at his man on computer to take anything above 11 to 4,LIBREMAN well backed fav won and so did Barry with his well OILED operation
I remember speaking with him about the Dagenham Coup on the Greyhound forum. R.I.P. Barry.
i do rem there was a false obituary about baz before i really hope it's not true
"all you need is tickets & chalk, take money, change the prices & win" 
RIP 1 of the great characters
RIP 1 of the great characters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMVb6PNSz9w
1999 Documentary on Barry Dennis
1999 Documentary on Barry Dennis
Great character, him and Big Mac bouncing off one another was always entertaining.
RIP
RIP
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/bookmaker-dennis-death-tv-mccririck-33907061
‘Britain’s best known bookie’ who rose to fame on Channel 4’s The Morning Line dies
‘Britain’s best known bookie’ who rose to fame on Channel 4’s The Morning Line dies
All those cold winter mornings at Lingfield with no punters and the jets overhead descending into Gatwick took their toll.
I like him. A decent guy and a genuine bookie. He was a character on Channel 4. I loved his Bismarck. It usually meant a bigger price if he was opposing you.
He was ok. But compared to who?
Leslie Graham was the definition of useless behind a rictus smile. Jim McGrath couldn't look the camera in the eye. John Francome only woke up if he was touting a premium rate phoneline from which he got a cut.
Leslie Graham was the definition of useless behind a rictus smile. Jim McGrath couldn't look the camera in the eye. John Francome only woke up if he was touting a premium rate phoneline from which he got a cut.
He was mildly entertaining but was never going to be everyone's cup of tea. Brash and loud.
hated small punters and put a sign up once saying "No Women" until they forced him to remove it"
RIP
hated small punters and put a sign up once saying "No Women" until they forced him to remove it"
RIP
How old was he? I do not think he was much older than me.
Barry Dennis, the bookmaker who became a national figure through his frequent appearances on Channel 4 Racing, has died at the age of 83.
He bet on course for more than 40 years and his booming voice was a feature of many a betting ring, most notably at Lingfield where he rarely missed a meeting.
His opinionated style made him a natural for television and he was a familiar face on Channel 4's Morning Line programme for 15 years, forming a double act with betting expert John McCririck and famously nominating each Saturday 'Barry's Bismarck' - a favourite he expected to get beaten.
Dennis started on the back rows of the betting ring before a loan from leading jumps owner David Johnson allowed him to buy his way to the front, multiplying his turnover from about £2 million a year to £15m.
At his height he was betting at all the top meetings, driving 50,000 miles and working 300 days a year before he passed the business on to his son Patrick.
At the time of his retirement, fellow bookmaker Geoff Banks wrote in the Racing Post: "There are few enough characters left and Barry was certainly one of the best."
Ben Keith, the founder of Star Sports bookmakers, said on Wednesday: "It's very sad news. What a loss he is. I called him 'Barry the Bear' because he boomed out the prices.
"He had a big heart, that people didn't always see, and he was an absolute professional. He loved the game and gave so much to the ring. He was a Rolls Royce of an on-course bookmaker, he always laid a bet, he understood how to play to the crowd and he understood how to play to the TV audience with McCririck – they tag-teamed so well.
Barry Dennis, pictured with John McCririck at Goodwood in 2002
Barry Dennis with John McCririck at Goodwood in 2002
Credit: Edward Whitaker
"He was the on-course bookmaker of his generation. There were people huddled around his pitch, they wanted to watch him. We should celebrate his life, he wouldn't want misery - when he was at his zenith he was a rock star and he was the real deal, there was no bullshit with him."
Mike Cattermole worked with Dennis on Channel 4 and paid tribute to his former colleague.
He said: "We had a lot of fun with Barry on Channel 4 and he fitted in well. He had great banter with all the presenters and particularly with John McCririck. They were a terrific pair.
"Barry was a larger than life character and a grafter. He had the stature you needed to be as successful in the betting ring as he was. I enjoyed his company – he was a proper bloke and a proper bookmaker."
He bet on course for more than 40 years and his booming voice was a feature of many a betting ring, most notably at Lingfield where he rarely missed a meeting.
His opinionated style made him a natural for television and he was a familiar face on Channel 4's Morning Line programme for 15 years, forming a double act with betting expert John McCririck and famously nominating each Saturday 'Barry's Bismarck' - a favourite he expected to get beaten.
Dennis started on the back rows of the betting ring before a loan from leading jumps owner David Johnson allowed him to buy his way to the front, multiplying his turnover from about £2 million a year to £15m.
At his height he was betting at all the top meetings, driving 50,000 miles and working 300 days a year before he passed the business on to his son Patrick.
At the time of his retirement, fellow bookmaker Geoff Banks wrote in the Racing Post: "There are few enough characters left and Barry was certainly one of the best."
Ben Keith, the founder of Star Sports bookmakers, said on Wednesday: "It's very sad news. What a loss he is. I called him 'Barry the Bear' because he boomed out the prices.
"He had a big heart, that people didn't always see, and he was an absolute professional. He loved the game and gave so much to the ring. He was a Rolls Royce of an on-course bookmaker, he always laid a bet, he understood how to play to the crowd and he understood how to play to the TV audience with McCririck – they tag-teamed so well.
Barry Dennis, pictured with John McCririck at Goodwood in 2002
Barry Dennis with John McCririck at Goodwood in 2002
Credit: Edward Whitaker
"He was the on-course bookmaker of his generation. There were people huddled around his pitch, they wanted to watch him. We should celebrate his life, he wouldn't want misery - when he was at his zenith he was a rock star and he was the real deal, there was no bullshit with him."
Mike Cattermole worked with Dennis on Channel 4 and paid tribute to his former colleague.
He said: "We had a lot of fun with Barry on Channel 4 and he fitted in well. He had great banter with all the presenters and particularly with John McCririck. They were a terrific pair.
"Barry was a larger than life character and a grafter. He had the stature you needed to be as successful in the betting ring as he was. I enjoyed his company – he was a proper bloke and a proper bookmaker."
Ben Keith star sports
he always laid a bet
everyone lays a bet since Betfair and Barry laid plenty back RIP
he always laid a bet
everyone lays a bet since Betfair and Barry laid plenty back RIP
He was a genuine character and his Bismarcks had a really good record. One night at Lingfield I backed a 7-1 winner in the second and when I went to collect the bookie had ' gone home'. I asked Barry if he had a number for the guy and he said I'll pay you and get it off the arse hole later. Sound.
^^That was kind of him. Others would have probably said "why bet with him. Bet to me next time".
to be fair rishi perards best bets have a far better losing record than Barry,s Bismarck's 
Very sad news to hear. A real character in a world now inhabited by clones. RIP Mr Barry.
His Brother goes in the boozer i drink in. He's said for months Barry wasn't in a good way. My best memory of BD was when he was driving back from the races along country roads after a losing day, in a hurry to get home, and just kept his hand permanently pressed on the horn to alert anyone coming in the opposite direction. Who was the bookie Barry thumped in the in the ring?
BB Was that the one he was rushing home for a big steak chips and 2 fried eggs.
Hope you are well
Ronnie.
Hope you are well
Ronnie.
Saw him many times in the ring, but my best memory was meeting him at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The second time I met him there, we had an hour talking about the ring. He knew me by sight but he didnt know who I worked for.
When you walk around a betting ring now, you know how good it was years ago.
RIP Barry.
The second time I met him there, we had an hour talking about the ring. He knew me by sight but he didnt know who I worked for.
When you walk around a betting ring now, you know how good it was years ago.
RIP Barry.
Well I went to Lingfield because I had to. Barry Dennis turned up at 11:00am on a winter morning when few others did but I can't help thinking he was putting a cheerful face on much reduced circumstances and his sons must be very lazy types.
ronnie rails
Indeed, and enjoyed with a bottle of scotch…..nightly!
Indeed, and enjoyed with a bottle of scotch…..nightly!
Yes Ronnie that's the one mate. I hope all is good with you.
My memory of Barry's Bismarks is they did tend to get beat, more than the odds would suggest they should. So respect to Baz for that.
Oct 16, 2024 -- 1:30PM, bin bagged wrote:
His Brother goes in the boozer i drink in. He's said for months Barry wasn't in a good way. My best memory of BD was when he was driving back from the races along country roads after a losing day, in a hurry to get home, and just kept his hand permanently pressed on the horn to alert anyone coming in the opposite direction. Who was the bookie Barry thumped in the in the ring?
I posted the video on this thread earlier
Baz was a good guy educating his kids and grafting all his life from my knowledge - sadly end of era.
RIP
RIP
Sad news...RIP Barry
Used to post on here occasionally...can't remember his forum name?
Used to post on here occasionally...can't remember his forum name?
Yeah he was quite unique as you’d never forget him, rip
Used to post as Barry Dennis or was that a imposter?.
He did post as Barry Dennis but then changed it to yoyo.
Angela who worked for BD, wasn't yoyo her nickname? I always thought she was Patricks wife as they used to bicker so much.
Remember him from the 70's. A vociferous presence, in the 3rd row of the Silver Ring at evening meetings at Windsor.How he progressed!
R.I.P. BARRY, But Lingfield always been and always will be a "BOOKMAKERS COURSE"
Sad to hear of his passing, a real character, RIP Barry.
Romford dogs.
Certainly a character as many have stated.
RIP.
Certainly a character as many have stated.
RIP.
Remember when he used to give the xmas puddings out at Lingfield.
I remember him saying he would lay any horse ridden by Sean Leavy. I liked his patter and he had a good life.
he loved his cricket did mr dennis true enfland supporter
RIP. I recall chatting to him between races at Ascot in 2008. Had a chat about his laying strategy for the QE2 that day, I was with Henrythenavigator, but he said he would have Ravens Pass running for him. He was proved right.
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