Good guy leaves lasting memories

Harness racing has lost a colorful link to a more flamboyant time with the passing of popular Victorian identity and former professional punter, Bill Glover.

The astute trials watcher (always with stopwatch and clipboard in hand) and fearless punter was known on racetracks throughout Victoria for his freewheeling style and larger-than-life personality. “Bill was one of a group of punters who used to religiously go to the Cranbourne trials every Saturday morning back in the 1980s and 1990s, and that’s where I got to know him,” said broadcaster, race caller and fellow Cranbourne trial watcher Rob Auber.

“I was in my early 20s, and we’d sit together at Cranbourne and clock the horses.  Bill would notice things that no one else would – things like if a trainer had left a bit of gear off at the trials, but then it would be back on at the races, those sorts of particulars. He was incredible,” Auber said.

“It earnt him a lot of winners, that eye for detail and for a horse, but he was also willing to share a tip or two if you went up and asked him.”

Glover, who battled illness in recent times, passed away last month, at age 63. He was regarded as one of the sport’s finest judges, with his 11am trots tips on the “old 3UZ” compulsory listening for thousands of followers

Auber said the trial-watching habits of Glover and his colleagues harked back to a different time when, as well as a lively social outing, the weekly trials were the key tool in the armoury of dedicated punters.

“Those were the days before trial replays, the results of trials weren’t even published,” Auber said.

“There was a group of about five of professionals every week at Cranbourne, but Bill would turn up for his bacon and eggs at Yarrambat on Sunday too, and he’d also get to Yarra Valley, Kilmore and Moonee Valley. He and the late Brian Atkinson, in particular, were very astute punters.

“Back then, a lot of blokes made their money that way.  Their wins came from going to the trials and spotting horses and the fact that the results didn’t go anywhere – so the bookies could get caught out a bit.  Those sorts of professional punters are of a different era to anyone we see now.

“Bill, with his ponytail and colorful attire, was a real character, with a great wit, a loud voice and plenty of funny stories to share, not just from harness racing, but from cricket, which he was also very good at, and just life in general.

“He was impossible to ignore, and he was a fun-loving person that people were naturally attracted to and people told things to – he was a confidante of a lot of trainers and drivers.”

Well-known harness racing media personality Len Baker said Glover also thoroughly enjoyed working on radio and had a big following.

“Billy was a very good form student and would get to most of the tracks in Victoria from time to time, concentrating mainly on the daily doubles and quadrellas,” Baker said.

“The Board employed him to work on Radio 3UZ and he had a great ability to really express himself, and to entertain – and to tip a winner!” he said.

“Another of his passions was the Glen Iris Cricket Club. He was heavily involved there and talked about it a lot. He was a bit of a character who will be sadly missed.”

Auber said Glover was a very private person and spent much of his later life out of the spotlight, caring for his elderly parents, which curtailed his travelling.

But popular racecaller Kyle Galley said Glover he continued to support “his” trotting clubs, particularly Warragul.

“Bill wouldn’t have wanted a fuss, but he left a great impression as a young fellow starting out calling the Warragul trials many years ago.  I can still recall sitting in the old timekeeper’s box between trials with ‘long-haired Billy’ and Danny Talbot, two icons of the sport who are both now gone.”

For people who are able, Bill’s wish was for them to make a donation to a charity of their choice.

By Terry Gange from NewsAlert PR Mildura