The billionaire who made horse racing his passion
Throughout Australia, Kerry Packer can be safely called one of the most influential and at the same time mysterious personalities of recent times. He managed to build a huge empire in the media sphere and take his place in the business world for many years. It’s he who created Nine Network and Australian Consolidated Press and his achievements are not limited to this.
However, in addition to the work, Mr. Packer had another passion that was vital to him and without which he would be a completely different person. These are horses. And more precisely, horse racing and high-stakes betting.
How the Passion Started
As often happens, the first sprouts of the main hobby began to appear in the early days. Little Kerry was lucky to be born in one of the wealthiest families of the whole of Australia, and they immediately began to actively involve him in various sports. His father Frank adored horses and for many years was engaged in their breeding for pleasure. So Kerry quickly found what exactly would take a place in his heart.
He began to regularly appear on the races with his father, who told him all the tricks of the competition and the little things that one should pay attention to. For Packer, this constantly became not just entertainment, but a whole arena of strategic battles where the most worthy may win. And he quickly became not only an observer but also an active participant, putting his own bets and then starting to acquire the first horses.
Popularization of Sports Betting on Horses
What started as a personal hobby and passion quickly turned into something bigger that would eventually impact the entire sports industry. Kerry Packer was first and foremost a famous media magnate. This means that all his actions immediately attracted the attention of the crowd. He would constantly bet huge amounts of money on the horses he liked, and the results were different: big wins or embarrassing losses. But it was always a good topic for gossip. More and more people were learning about horse racing and wanted to get involved in this mysterious and dynamic industry themselves.
The key importance of broadcasting
Kerry Packer was the owner of one of Australia’s largest television networks, the Nine Network, and this gave him enormous opportunities. He understood the power of media to shape community opinion, and he used his empire to bring horse racing to a broader audience.
It was thanks to Packer that the sport evolved from a small, niche affair into a major, televised and widely discussed event. His network began showcasing major horse races, not least of which was the iconic Melbourne Cup. It was at this event that a million Australians were first introduced to the sport and became its loyal fans for many years to follow. The races became available to viewers all across the country. The coverage showed not only the competition process itself but also various personal stories about horses, jockeys and trainers.
Raising the prestige of the horse sport
Mr. Packer spoke at length in numerous interviews about his passion for horses and betting, always with stories of big wins and interesting incidents. He was a major contributor to this sport being seen as a mainstream one, not just an exclusive event for a small circle.
Kerry was a close associate of the sport’s inner circle, with many jockeys and trainers as well as breeders. He consistently stated that horse racing was not just about money or entertainment, but a genuine love for these animals and this community. Packer was known for his generosity in the racing industry, paying jockeys and trainers huge sums for their achievements, and always speaking highly of them.
Successes in horse breeding
Kerry loved not only to bet on horses but also to breed them himself. And he managed to achieve heights in this area, as always. He managed to create stables of the highest level that became famous far beyond Australia. One of his main achievements was his champion stallion named Mahogany who won the most prestigious races one after another in the mid-nineties. Packer said that this horse reminded him of himself, with his loyalty and spirit that can not be conquered.
An Outstanding Legacy
Kerry Packer was not just a bettor or a businessman. He didn’t just breed horses or make money from them. He was a passionate participant in every aspect of the racing world. From the time he first learned the basics of the sport with his father to the time his champion horse Mahogany won the biggest races around the world – Kerry did it all for love and passion.
His name has become synonymous with horse racing in Australia. He was able to improve this industry and make it much more popular. And his influence will certainly remain for many years after his last bets were placed.
Source: https://auspokies.net