Third generation punters

In family owned business it is often stated that the third generation is the one that often makes or breaks the company started by grandpa - I'm interested to know where you fit in - Both paternal and maternal grandparents punted, father did and now me but my kid has no interest whatsoever(thank the lord - I regard this as my greatest parenting feat ever!!)

Hi Mr H my grandad and granny were punters and owned a pub, my mum and dad never had a punt (except grand national) I have been punting since 14? used to be a runner for my gran, my kids dont punt

Being AFRIKAANS from the Dopper Kerk...
Gambling takes you straight to hell..
not past the pearly gates..straight to hell...

you must have heard the refusal of tithing, begotten from gambling, by the church..

my father went once with me(Punting stories), won a years salary..but that was the last...
dont think they ever told the dominee or even the neighbours....

As for me..did not buy a bookmakers license until my son was past grade 2..
could not face the possible humiliation of my son by his classmates...ST JOHN's
each getting a turn to stand up and tell what his daddy does for a living..
"my daddy is a GAMBLER"..."my daddy is a bookmaker"..
Hence I kept my IT job (contract) till 2004..

even when I bought the lisense..
I never stood in the cubicle...
never wrote tickets...
the staff did all..
mental mindblock..
my mother or the dominee might see me on TV..


in conversation at cocktail parties, corporate functions..
no matter how drunk..I would never say.."I am a bookmaker" or "I am a punter"..
instant excommunication...
like saying "I am a prostitute" at a church mothers meeting...
all secretly wants to change places...but not in the light...

Its the AFRIKAANS culture..
The UK the QUEEN goes Racing..

maybe Barry is right...
total nutcase..
will book myself back in at the establishment..
we, the former patients all came looking for him...

Not only afrikaans Andre being from an english background and going to one of the top seven schools (Jeppe Boys) some of the fathers owned horses and because I followed the sport already I used to talk to them about their dad's runners - They were almost always ashamed of this fact and as far as I know none of them have ever kept up Dad's hobby. I find it way different from the other guys that maybe came from farms or plots and whose fathers played Polo or rode horses - they were always proud of this fact and rode themselves - I don't know why?

In AFRIKAANS culture,
If you were not varsity material, your dad either entered you into an apprenticeship for 5 years as a boilermaker, electrician etc
or
signed you up at the ARMY for 20 years..(he could)

but the thought of your child becomming a waiter, bookmakers clerk, tote window clerk were never options... a disgrace to the family name..(criminals and prostitutes from EU like AUS)..(noble people would make and survive the 4 month boat trip from eu to cape?)...royal linage..my ass...

perhaps working at the roadhouse, removing trays for R1 per day on Saturdays or Sundays...but that was it..

then there were the town councils, broederbond domain...AFRIKANER Mafia
if you father was broederbond, you walked into a job at the towncouncil..

the next level, government...
either like my room mate from school..LOUIS LE GRANGE..dad became minister of police..speaker of parlament...RHODA VILJOEN..her dad..army..

or the normal teatime..lunchtime..teatime..government staff...like TRANSNET, POST OFFICE, SARS...etc..repository for NP supporters at the time

everyone worked for their money..
GAMBLERS...the GREEKS..PORRA's...JEWS..and the outcasts from society...

no respectable church going AFRIKANER would be OPENLY involved in racing during the 60's and 70's...neither be sleeping with the house keeper over weekends..

but the 80's changed everything...
nutcases like us..
we took on the jewish and lebanese bookmakers...
cheated them at their own game..
ag shame..and did they complain...

Definately a 3rd generation punter,when betting shops didn`t exist in the UK ,the punters had to trust thier bets with illegal "street bookies" and my granny used to mention placing bets with so and so on the street corner.Not 100% sure but sure there was no legal bookies apart from track bookies until the late 50`s in the UK?

Mum and Uncle worked in betting shops in the days with no tv`s and board markers,funny how now when bookies are full of mod cons and plush surroundings and not the smelly smoke filled Hovells they used to be they have a fraction of the customers?

We were always allowed a bet on the Grand National so i have probably punted for ever,started Clerking when i was a 17 year old at dog tracks and learned all the dying trades of TIC TAC and even counting in my head..Punting is in the blood i suppose.

3rd gen. my dad, and his parents. But could be 4th generation already - perhaps their parents did (my great granpa), dunno. But definately also raising a 5th generation to understand the mindgame of punting and horseracing in particular. The poor kids knew how to fill out a betting slip at 9 already.

My pedigree analysis,

Great Grandfather- breeder

Grandfather (dad side) Chairman of Racing Club-
Grandfather ( mom side)Mad greek punter.

Father- CEO racing Club


Look at the grand sire side of the pedigree, talk about a potent cross- greek punter x boardroom executive...never stood a chance ...in the blood ! lol

Me - racing since the age 8, Saturday morning after sport....suit and tie on, racecard handy, chill by myself in the Somerset room...punt , punt punt.!

Gee reading some of the posts there sure is a depth of talent and knowledge out there - can you just imagine the stories we could tell!!! In the blood alright - one thing I do notice however is that from the punting side it seems men are way in the majority - I wonder if the female side is more angled towards the horse itself - workriders, stable assistants, trainers stable assistants etc - Anyone know(don't put up names if it will embarass people) of any women that were/are big punters? My mother played a PA once a week for R8 but if she missed getting on no worries while I went crazy if I did not get on(the days when Totes closed at 12 pm or something like that - if you wanted to bet you had to go to the course or books) None of my girlfriends ever bothered to have a punt and looks I got at the day's end were priceless!!!

My Great Gran used to back Muis Roberts in every ride, my grandfather punted all day and everyday, while both my parents still have a dip most days!

I guess that makes me a 4th generation punter

Started punting at Borrowdale Park in what was then Rhodesia, my dad was a smallish bookmaker and made ends meet. I was 8 years old and would take about 3 dollars and more often than not would more than double that, wish that was possible now mind! When the horses used to leave the parade ring would shout for tips from jockeys that included Ivan Moore, Reid Paterson, Gordon Whyte, Glen French and a host of other top notch jocks. It wouldn't end there I would even nag trainers , such as Colin Lee, Roy Magner and Neil Bruss.

Those were the days..., at high school in South Africa, I used to bring a small radio to school and listen to commentaries during breaks and whilst doing sports.

Have always loved gambling, have won lots and more recently have lost even more but there is still hope and a love for the game ..

PS My grandfather would have a strike on the grand nationals and derbies and thats about it.