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So naturally
it follows that I warm to "The Man" – the gambler as investor and not "The Kid" – the gambler as waster, who however was much more ‘entertaining’ if you like that sort of thing…I do – you can’t have much fun with an investor
..and thanks for summing it up…
I am more fascinated by those that
have lost great fortunes than those
that have won them.Titled gentlemen lost estates-
big ones-in a matter of hours –
which had been in their families
for generations in the gaff run
by Aspinall. Their cards
possibly didn’t display
the little lady luck
symbol at the bottomAspinall’s house cut was later used to
set up a cats home and rumour had it
that a few of the heavier losers were
inside some of the cages posing as big ones
and polishing their nailsNot a single gambler admittedly, but an honourable mention should be given to the Druid’s Lodge Confederacy. This was a group of five gamblers, headed by City financier Percy Cunliffe, who won around £250,000 on Hackler’s Pride in the 1903 Cambridgeshire. I understand that sum would be worth about £10 million at today’s values. They also won a fair few bob when Hackler’s Pride repeated the dose in the 1904 renewal.
Rob
I don’t know how much he does on racing but wouldn’t Tony Bloom deserve an honourable mention here ?
‘Amarillo Slim’ in a World full of fat people.
The Memoirs of the greatest Gambler who ever livedRemember reading a book about ‘Titanic Thompson’ – an American hustler/gambler. Perhaps doesn’t fall into the ‘great’ category but certainly infamous and a decent read. Reputedly conning Al Capone out of $500 of all people.
It was said among insiders that a good week for Terry Ramsden was if he lost 2 million.
He lost absolute Millions and still claimed to the end he was a big winner before running off to the USA with his tail between his legs.
He was a great gambler NOT, but the bookies loved him.
Kerry packer would have tossed a coin for 10 million and actually offered an irate casino customer that bet to shut him up.
Harry Findlay is reputed to have made fortunes from gambling. Popular with some hated by others he’s a hard man to admire for me.
Some who claim to be successful did have some big wins but their biggest wins in reality came from tipping services and selling systems and books to mug punters
JP McMaunus was the real deal and didn’t earn the nickname The Sundance Kid for nothing. He won 250K on Mr Donovan away back when and hasn’t looked back since. An honest caring man who is very loyal to those he deals with he’s head and shoulders above them all.
Omar Sharif did it in
smokin style –
lose that is – and he’d have
head butted Packer’s coin trick..with the Australian attached
and his billions from the
small classy casino in the
banlieu of Paris, where Omar
was losing it, embolism pitch…with such force to rock them
and rust from the Eiffel
then on and up, skywards amusing
the odd pilot to flip the duo
mid flight descending down helter
skelter but still sustaining enough force
to skim the juicy Mississipi
then sluice man and coin deeper down past
torrents and a red big eyed gal
who thought she had the river to herself
and her small cat to New Orleans
and a whole new wonerful world.Omar gave up gambling years
ago and was heard to mutter
gord ‘n’ gurd when asked why !Only
gambling
fellas
I am more fascinated by those that
have lost great fortunes than those
that have won them.Titled gentlemen lost estates-
big ones-in a matter of hours –
which had been in their families
for generations in the gaff run
by Aspinall. Their cards
possibly didn’t display
the little lady luck
symbol at the bottomAspinall’s house cut was later used to
set up a cats home and rumour had it
that a few of the heavier losers were
inside some of the cages posing as big ones
and polishing their nailsThe one I’m most taken with is
Our Hero
https://theracingforum.co.uk/horse-r … 81&start=0
Rumour has it that he recently returned to the fold, but would have nowt to do with British racing and UK books any more, owing to past gaping wounds.
No, Irish racing and exchange betting was where it would be at for him from now on.
Quick call to Big Blue
Our Hero: I fancy a fire up at Leopardstown, can I have an unlimited credit line
Big Blue Telephone wallah: Sorry we definitely don’t offer credit to anyone Sir
Our Hero: Do you know who I am? This isOur Hero
on the line
Big Blue Manager: Sorry for the misunderstanding there Sir, junior member of staff, he’s being dealt with…unlimited credit did you say? Not a problem…By all accounts they sent him an idiot-proof bot with fuzzy look-ups
gracis
. The problem occured when he entered the date where the odds and stake should be.
The date used Islamic years: 28/12/1433 14:00:00
Bet came through as odds of 28/1, stake of 21433140000p
Well, that’s the rumour I heard.
It appears our Tasmanian friend has relocated to Europe, more specifically England if some reports are to be believed
Bob Sevier owner and trainer of Sceptre (arguably the greatest racehorse to set hoof on grass in the history of British racing) during her 1902 classic year, must be rated as one of the top gamblers.
If "great gambler" means someone who made a large profit throughout their gambling career, then Sevier wouldn’t rate, as he died in relative poverty. But if "great gambler" means someone who was fearless in backing his judgement with all he could muster, then he’d be the one to beat.
The biographyNeck or Nothing
(can never remember the author’s name!!
) is a great read. I’d heartily recommend it. He (Sevier) was a genuinely larger than life figure who had ups and downs on one hell of a scale.
Most gamblers since seem nappy-wearing wimps in comparison.Written by John Welcome.
A great gambler is one who takes the greatest risks without particular concern to the stake, or the return.
As Charles Kettering said,
The only time you cannot afford to fail is the last time you try.
One chinese fly to another fly
one fly " I am thinking of emigrating "
another fly.." Why fly ?"
one fly.. " All this go on you ******* when I am crawling up the wall "
"And I believed in my system … within a quarter of an hour I won 600 francs. This whetted my appetite. Suddenly I started to lose, couldn’t control myself and lost everything. After that I … took my last money, and went to play … I was carried away by this unusual good fortune and I risked all 35 napoleons and lost them all. I had 6 napoleons d’or left to pay the landlady and for the journey. In Geneva I pawned my watch."
… Dosteyevsky recounts to his brother about about his new love Rula Roulette, whose lustful spinning eye proved far too much of an addiction for him.
How else could he have written
the gutter feelings in
Crime and Punishment
it follows that I warm to "The Man" – the gambler as investor and not "The Kid" – the gambler as waster, who however was much more ‘entertaining’ if you like that sort of thing
) is a great read. I’d heartily recommend it. He (Sevier) was a genuinely larger than life figure who had ups and downs on one hell of a scale. 
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