Bookmakers Grant Hamilton, Laurie Sainsbury, Bill Briggs and John Dignam. Picture: DAVE TEASE
GREYHOUNDS
Dozens of bookmakers lining the Dapto ring, punters hanging from the rafters, a frenzy of betting activity and Mrs Timms' good old pies and peas.
That is exactly how Laurie Sainsbury remembers the golden days of bookmaking at Dapto, having served as veteran satchel swinger John Dignam's clerk for many years.
"In those days there would have been about 40 bookmakers there in 1974," Sainsbury recalled at Dapto's bumper 75th anniversary meeting last week.
"Included in that ring were blokes like Porky Wylie, Ray Fitzgerald, Neville Mogler and Freddie Stapleton. They were all very accomplished bookmakers and let you on to have a decent bet.
"There was also a bloke called Ron Harrington too. They were good days and Mrs Timms' pies and peas at Dapto dogs were legendary. She used to open up the pie to put the peas on top and they were sensational."
And so were some of the bets the bagmen fielded in those days.
Sainsbury recalled punters tumbling into long odds-on favourites from Sydney racing at Brisbane's unique Gabba track and the time one brave person unloaded on a similar away meeting.
"They took dogs from Sydney up to the Gabba and they got lost on the track," Sainsbury said.
"Some of them would win, but they would take 20 up there and 15 of them would get beat - and they would get beat at odds-on.
"It was a licence to print money.
"We had a bloke betting on credit with us at one time. There was a dog running in Melbourne and he had $40,000 on it to win $5,000. And he was betting with us at Dapto."
The bookmaking ring has not always been in its current spot on the southern side of the track though.
In the post-World War II days, as many as 100 bookmakers fielded in an open area allotted on the other side of the track .
Sainsbury was a clerk for bookmaker John Dignam, who caught up with many old friends last Thursday night.
"They were great times and we use to hold plenty of money," Dignam said.
"It was a pleasure to go there - the attendances and the people involved were friendly.
"We never had any enemies, fights or arguments.
"Everyone got on real well and besides working it was a good night out."