Searching for the next Wilfred Sherman…


by


Richard Negus, Fundraising & Communications Executive for Racing Welfare


David Ben Gurion. However no beetle-eyed leviathan greeted me, instead merely an extremely old, very small man in a wheelchair. His eyes twinkled within a


A


few and introduced many to the bookmaking genius that was Wilfred Sherman. The pocket Welsh dynamo’s strength and sagacity as a layer, political agitator and racing altruist in post-war racing stayed with him well into his twilight years, during which time I was lucky enough to count him as a friend. Sadly he died aged 99 back in March last year and by God I miss him, and every stable lad or lass misses him even more. Taking up the reins as the Fundraiser and PR man for Racing Welfare led to my first introduction to Wilfred (I was never invited to call him Nossie!) at the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket. He was staying there for a few days whilst he officially opened one of the charity’s retirement homes for stable lads which is now named in his honour. Of course I’d heard about


the Wilfred Sherman temper and I read the minutes from meetings of the Stable Lads Welfare Trust where as its chairman he suffered neither fools nor slackers.


ngus Dalrymple’s article in the last issue of BOS reminded a


face tanned to the colour of mahogany, shaded by a well worn panama hat with an RAF ribbon attached. His blazer carried the badge of the Golden Gloves Tournament 1932, and his trousers bore a crease so sharp that displayed a touch of the military. Within five minutes of meeting he gripped my sleeve with a hand whose strength betrayed his former boxing prowess and asked me to swear that I would “ensure the stable lads are looked after”. So why should the Fundraiser for Racing Welfare, the charity that supports stable lads and lasses, stud and racecourse staff, miss a wizened old bookie? Wilfred Sherman told me he supported us for two basic principles; firstly altruism, “It’s the stable lads and lasses, who risk their necks every day of the year, who make a day at the races possible”; and secondly and arguably more apposite to this article, for the extremely practical reason that “bookmaking relies upon horseracing to be of a consistent high standard and plentifully supplied in order to keep punters happy and therefore make a profit out of it”.


Thanks to both the stories told about him and some of his forthright views I read via the stilted minutes taken by a Jockey Club secretary all those years ago, I expected to meet a cross between Machiavelli and


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ensures the quality and quantity of the racing product relies upon the 7,500 stable lads and lasses, the 4,000 stud staff, the 500 licensed jockeys and 800 trainers. This army of hardworking, brave, generally lowly paid people can all call upon Racing Welfare in times of injury, need or distress – in 2010 over 3,000 working or retired staff did. Wilfred believed that the


The human element that


too. Wilfred understood that to such an extent that not only did he put his money where his mouth was and give considerable sums of Sherman’s money to Racing Welfare and its predecessor the Stable Lads Welfare Trust, but he encouraged many others to do so as well. So that is why I am on a


personal hunt to find the next Wilfred Sherman. Racing Welfare needs, in fact racing needs an altruist who is also an industry realist. I believe we, as a charity, need a leader from the bookmaking profession to step forward and encourage his or her peers, colleagues and rivals to join together and get behind us so that we can help mend the lives of racing’s people in times of need. Wilfred did just that; he


would cajole, ask, persuade, bully but never beg, his fellow bookmakers to join him in providing financial, physical and vocal support for his beloved stable lads when they needed it. I am not saying that Racing


Blue Square renews


sponsorship of


Winter Carnival Blue Square have renewed their sponsorship of Arena Leisure’s Winter Carnival which covers all flat meetings at Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton in January and February.


The highlight of the carnival is the second running of the Blue Square Sprint Series – a six furlong feature held every Saturday at Lingfield during January and February with a Grand Prix style points system rewarding runners, riders and trainers down to sixth place. The series consists of seven rounds culminating with the Grand Final worth £15,000, which takes place on Saturday 25 February.n


GREaT funds


Welfare doesn’t get support from the layers. Indeed, in the past 12 months Betfred have agreed to be the lead supporter in our May 2012 fundraiser “Barney’s Challenge”, which will see one of our paralysed beneficiaries, Barney Bamford, wheelchair from Redcar to Doncaster in just five days. We also received massive


support in the region of £45,000 from Betfair; Blue Square once again generously sponsored a full raceday; Star Sports provided a Cheltenham and Royal Ascot preview for us; and Coral donated cash and loaned us the Nick Gifford- trained Nozic (who sadly didn’t trouble the judge during our “ownership”). All the donations and


wellbeing and safety of the stable lad or lass, work rider or stud hand was not only vital because we love our sport, but also, if we are honest, it’s good for the bottom line


helpline The GREaT Foundation, which is funded by betting and gaming operators to provide research, education and treatment of problem gambling, has agreed to fund GamCare’s helpline until September 30, 2014. GREaT has also agreed a six-month grant for GamCare to provide treatment services for problem gamblers and others adversely affected by gambling.n


ABB rejects


support are so gratefully received but what I would love to ask is: could Ralph, Fred, Edward, Stan, Victor or Paddy ever be a Wilfred? My number is 01638 560763 – do call if you think you can.n


clustering claims The Association of British Bookmakers has rejected claims by London Mayor Boris Johnson that betting shops are clustering in less prosperous areas, which he said could negatively impact the vitality of town centres. Tom Kenny, spokesperson for the ABB, said that Johnson’s statement was a myth, and called on the Mayor of London to support the betting industry and value the contribution it makes to jobs and growth during tough economic times. n


BOS Magazine November/December 2011 13


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