IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS pays tribute to a legend of outback racing, widely-known bookmaker Ron Murphy, whose death has saddened the industry in Queensland.
Murphy, who plied his trade on tracks throughout the state, laid claim to being the oldest working bookmaker on the planet but never quite made it into the Guinness Book of Records.
Butts also reports on developments in the ‘closed betting ring’ fiasco in country Queensland; the return north of controversial galloper that has been in the news in NSW for all the wrong reasons; and also the comeback of a pioneering lady jockey of the north.
Here is the Butts column:
RON MURPHY WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE ‘OLDEST BOOKIE IN THE WORLD’ 
RON Murphy often claimed he was the oldest working bookmaker in the world - and no one would argue.
They wouldn’t dare!
Not even the Guinness Book of Records, who believed him but insisted on statutory declarations from recognized racing bodies before they would publish it.
But Ron Murphy didn’t have the time to ‘dig up’ all that info, and besides, he confided to friends ‘they’re all dead and gone - the blokes and club secretaries I used to deal with.’
And sadly so too is Ron.
He passed away in Winton hospital last week after a rich and colorful history on racetracks all over Queensland. Actually 138 of them all up, plus some others over the border in NSW as well.
Ron never got to see his last wish granted. He wrote his last ticket, (and recorded it in his ledger as well) before Guinness finally got around to recognizing him as the oldest and longest serving fielder in the entire universe.
Ron fought ailing health in the last couple of years but still had plans to be at Oak Park again this year. He was one of the four bookies in Oak Park’s closed ring, and hadn’t missed a meeting for 20 years.
He worked at Ewan last September, which according to his clerk was one of the worst disasters in recent years for the much travelled bookie.
MURPHY PLIED HIS TRADE AT ALMOST EVERY TRACK THROUGHOUT THE STATE
MURPHY used to catch the bus from Winton to work the Beaudesert meetings many years ago. He was known on every racecourse from Brisbane to Birdsville, Cooktown to Koorinyah, Longreach to Laura and every whistle-stop in between.
Yet, after living such a frenetic life for so many years, Ron died a lonely man.
With little but his cherished memories, a dream to make the Guinness Book of Records a battered set of betting boards and a weary old Holden car that he left to his mate, Charles Wootten at Prairie, his long time travelling companion and clerk.
Charles spoke to Ron every week. His last call was three weeks ago and he said the old fella was still thinking of Oak Park this year.
“His mind was strong and active, but his body was worn out.
“Officially he died of pneumonia. But that covers a lot of ailments
“I personally think Ron had decided he’d simply had enough,” Charles said.
And he had certainly done enough.
HIS CAREER BEGAN IN BRISBANE WHERE HE COULD HAVE FIELDED ON THE RAILS
RON began his career in Brisbane in the late 50s and was considered ‘big enough’ to be offered a coveted position on the rails at the city tracks. But he refused preferring to work in the paddock ring.
Ron Murphy worked the gallops, trots and dogs before heading to the bush in the 1960s.
“He saw the writing on the wall for bookies. He believed the big days were over,” said Charles.
And so right he was. Ron saw hundreds of his colleagues come and go over the years and saw many tossed to waste on racing’s wilderness in the days before superannuation.
In racing parlance Ron Murphy was, if nothing else, a true stayer with a lightning-like mind, and he knew every trick in the trade.
Ron went west for a while and became a ‘gentleman farmer’ on the Longreach side of Winton. But that wasn’t to last and he began life as a wandering bookie – and many times worked as a one-man band.
He spruiked the odds as he took the bets and collected the cash. He wrote his own tickets and put them in his ledger. He changed the odds on his board, and paid out-sometimes literally!
ONE THING MURPHY HATED MORE THAN A FAVORITE WINNING WAS OFFICIALDOM
THE one thing he hated more than a favorite winning was officialdom and he was known for his many raucous outbursts in the ring with colleagues, punters and stewards alike.
Yet he was more often the gentleman, polite and courteous, though he had a low tolerance for incompetence and things he ‘didn’t think were right.’
Ron had an amazing life. And there are stories abound of his exploits on and off the track, many unfortunately unrecorded.
On one occasion he was heading overseas. He drove to Brisbane where his car was broken into and his passport stolen.
It prevented him from boarding the plane and the airline refused a refund of his fare. Ron sued them and seven months later got his money.
Oddly all his cash in US dollars was also in the car but the thieves obviously didn’t want it, or didn’t know it was legal tender.
Ron picked up the bundles – all of it – from the gutter.
HOOFNOTE: Ron’s prized place in the betting ring at Oak Park next month has already been assigned. Cairns bookie Helen Price (daughter of the legendary Stan) will call the odds on the stand that for 20 odd years was the domain of Ron Murphy - bookie extraordinaire – an unforgettable man and a true Lord of the Ring.
QUESTION OF CLOSED BETTING RINGS IS BEING HOTLY DEBATED BY CLUBS
THE question of closed betting rings in Queensland is being hotly debated by clubs and bookies since the story last week on Lloyd Mitchell being refused permission to work at Home Hill.
There are bookies and race clubs for and against closed rings and Oak Park for instance is adamant it doesn’t wish to change the working relationship with the four bookies they have given exclusive rights to operate.
“We used to get 10 bookies turn up on Friday and they’d all go back to Cairns or wherever on Saturday,” said an Oak Park spokesperson.
“It is no good to us, so we decided to close the ring to four and that’s what it will be unless we are forced to change.”
The current legislation is somewhat ambiguous and Racing Queensland must, and no doubt will, address it as a matter of urgency. There are many who believe it should not be left to individual clubs.
“Everything finds its level with bookmaking. Like many things it’s a matter of supply and demand,” said a NSW-based bookie who had intentions of doing a trip north this winter but has shelved the idea awaiting an outcome from RQ.
LADY FIELDER TAKES OFFENCE AT BOOKIES’ PERCENTAGES QUOTED
CHARTERS Towers fielder Ann Bode took offence at the figures produced last week regarding bookmakers’ percentages at various meetings around the ridges, particularly where betting rings are not closed.
She argues that the figures quoted by colleague Lloyd Mitchell did not accurately reflect the true situation.
“Besides, the figures at Townsville last Tuesday were worse than Home Hill on Cup day,” she snorted.
CONTROVERSIAL GALLOPER RETURNS NORTH AFTER BEING AT CENTRE OF NSW STORM
LAST year’s Mackay Cup winner Prussian Secret is back in the north and will contest the Tattersall’s Cup on Saturday at Rocky before attempting another crack at the Rockhampton and Mackay Cups.
The horse was the centre of a storm recently at Gunnedah when he was scratched on the morning of the Gunnedah Cup after a police raid on the property where the horse was being stabled.
To date there has been no evidence that police or NSW stewards witnessed the horse being drenched, as is claimed.
Prussian Secret arrived at new trainer Jared Wehlow’s Rockhampton stables last Thursday.
PIONEERING LADY JOCKEY MAKES A COMEBACK AT THANGOOL
REMEMBER Donna Smith, the leading lady rider in Townsville a decade ago?
She was the one who really blazed the trail for female jockeys in the north - way back then.
Donna rode heaps of winners when attached to the Jim Dixon stable.
Well the pint-sized wife of former jockey and current Rockhampton trainer Gus Philpot, and mother Callaghan Park Clerk of the Course Jessie, had a comeback ride at Thangool on Saturday.
Donna has ridden hundreds of winners but has had more than her share of bad luck through injury.
She has been out of the saddle for 12 months or more but still needed her lead bag on Saturday.
She still tips the scales at 45kg and was the envy of all her colleagues of both sexes.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.