Racing: Born bookie back on track after 17 years

By MIKE DILLON

Robbie Waterhouse has always been larger than life.

And when he dragged his head ever so slightly above the clouds of disgrace on being handed back his bookmaker's licence in Sydney on Monday, he cemented his place in Australian racing history.

In the culture of Sydney racing, winning out in the end is almost more important than any other consideration.

It took 17 years for Waterhouse to win back the right to operate a bookie's stand after being found guilty of prior knowledge of Australia's most notorious gambling rort, the 1984 Fine Cotton ring-in.

His return is no less controversial than the offence which precipitated it.

Word in Sydney was the decision before the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board could go to the wire.

But Waterhouse, despite the hiccup, has always worn the aura of a winner.

If he was delighted to have finally won out, his wife, the First Lady of racing and champion Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse, was ecstatic.

"Rob has waited so long for this day, we are all so very excited by the news," she said from England, where the pair are holidaying.

It is doubtful if even Phar Lap's Melbourne Cup win created as much publicity as the Fine Cotton ring-in at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Fine Cotton was sensationally backed from 33-1 ($34) to 7-2 ($4.50) in advance of winning a lowly race, but was disqualified within minutes when stewards were alerted to the fact he had been substituted for the class sprinter Bold Personality.

Bold Personality was found to have painted legs.

One of the central figures was former New Zealand horseman Hayden Haitana who, when arrested, told police he feared for his life.

Haitana was jailed and barred from racing for life.

A couple of years ago he turned up at a provincial Queensland race meeting and was promptly marched from the course.

Waterhouse was also warned off for life, but a couple of years ago was given permission to attend race meetings.

Despite numerous attempts to win back his bookmaker's licence, Waterhouse never gave up hope.

"I always believed I would eventually get back," he said on Monday.

It has never been fully established who set up the Fine Cotton affair.

Many theories exist. In March this year it was widely reported in Australia the ring-in had been a double sting, with illegal bookmaker Mick Sayers setting up high profile Sydney underworld figure, the late George Freeman, for several million dollars.

Sayers was shot dead in the driveway of at his home not long after the Fine Cotton affair.

There are many who doubt the truth of that theory.

Waterhouse has never been shy to apologise for his part in the case, and particularly for the embarrassment the incident caused his family and racing.

So how much stigma will Waterhouse be stuck with as he tries to rally the dying trade of bookmakers in Australia?

Almost certainly none. Colourful figures abound in Sydney racing.

But why would he want to return?

In the 17 years he has been away, bookmakers have fought a losing battle for trade with the tote, a scenario made worse by the fact the well-informed professional and semi-professional punters make up too big a percentage of bookmakers' turnover, while the dollar punters, traditionally the backbone of a bookmaker's business, bet on the tote.

"Because I was born to be a bookmaker," he says when asked.

As the son of one of Australia's biggest ever bookies, Bill Waterhouse, he has a point.

It is widely known Robbie Waterhouse has been a very successful punter since losing his bookmaker's licence and many thought that would be enough to encourage him to stay away from the other side of the betting ring.

He expects punters on all levels to support him when he first fields on that side of the ring, expected to be at Randwick on July 7.

"All punters have been very positive to me since I have been back on the racetrack, and that's been very satisfying."