Barry Dennis: Bookies Never Lose.
A film that almost makes you feel sorry for bookmkaers – almost!
This month I’ve once again been delving into the video archives.
The flim below is “a day in the life” – a few days really – of the colourful character that is/was Barry Dennis.
In more recent times he became a feature on Chennel 4’s The Morning Line along with John McCririck and John Francome – famously tipping up Barry’s Bismark. The good thing of the day that he was prepared to lay until the cows came home. Whether it won or lost, it did not matter. Just made for compulsive Saturday’s morning viewing.
But this latter day notoriety was built up after years of hard graft on the racecourse, as this film illustrates.
As I say, watching some of the goings-on makes you almost feel sorry for the on-course layers. Certainly makes you nostalgic for the better (maybe?) days of old.
It cuts off just at the end, but you’ll get the gist!
Enjoy…
And in case you’re wondering, no, the Gary Moore horse (Prix de Clermont) didn’t win. It came 7th of 11.
But Dannis was a character indeed. The like of which we don’t see so much these days – sadly.
Times have certainly changed since, and much of what was touched upon in this film recorded in the late 1990’s, has been totally transformed by the advent of the computer age.
For the better? Or to the benefit of the bettor? That’s questionable.
They call it progress, apparently.
OPINION: Some of this seems like the dark ages. But if nothing else it reminds you of how things were, and how they’ve developed into what we experience today at the racecourse… when we can be bothered to get there – Barry would certainly have liked to see you if you did!!
