The Racecourse Whisperer

c.1900-1905 Swanston St near Flinders St Station. Caulfield Races signs can be seen on both sides of the picture so it must have been a big race day. From State Library of Victoria Collection.

​A cunning way to make a quid had the old ‘racecourse whisperer’. Get into a conversation with a stranger, inform him that you’re in the know, that you’ve been chatting to a horse owner, a jockey … a stable hand. You tell him there’s a sure thing running in race 5, maybe it’s a rigged race … one of the donkeys has been juiced … or one of the champs has been doped. He gets all excited and plonks 50 quid on the nose. If he wins you go have a chat with him just after he’s collected. He’ll be so happy he’ll give you a tenner for sure, maybe another tenner if you give him a tip for race 6. If he loses, you avoid him at all costs and go catch up with that other fella instead - the one you advised to back a different horse.

By Michael Shelford ©, 
​Caulfield Cup Eve, 2017