Racing and bookie legend Barry Dennis, who found fame on Channel 4 alongside John McCririck, dead aged 83
RACING and bookie legend Barry Dennis – who found fame alongside John McCririck on Channel 4 – has died aged 83.
An icon of the betting ring and huge personality who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, Dennis’ back-and-forths with McCririck on the hugely popular Morning Line show were simply must-see TV.
Punters everywhere dreaded finding out they had backed his ‘Barry Bismarck’ – a favourite he thought would lose.
A larger-than-life character who ultimately became ‘Britain’s best known bookie’, Dennis bet on track for more than 40 years and rarely missed a meeting at Lingfield.
He was a true workaholic who loved the game, driving more than 50,000 miles to tracks all over the country and working 300 days a year.
Never afraid to lay a big bet, he said he lost his house in Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996.
But he also starred in his own documentary called ‘Bookies Never Lose’ and turned over around £15million a year at his peak.
Fellow bookie Geoff Banks was among those paying tribute to a hero of many.
He said: “Oh my God. I am so very sad to hear of the passing of a great friend and a giant of the betting ring.”
Leading industry figure Ben Keith said: “He had a much bigger heart than people realised.
“He reached out to people, had a big way of loving and he was without doubt the on-course bookmaker of his generation.
“He captured the sentiment, the moment, with John McCririck, with his Bismarck… people used to huddle round his pitch just listening to him being rude to people at Royal Ascot!
“He was the big boss at Lingfield, where he played at home.
“I celebrate the life of Barry Dennis. He is an example to us all. He lived, loved and worked on his own terms. A true alpha male.”
Bookie James Lovell wrote: “Really sad to hear about Barry Dennis, someone I admired and was absolutely terrified of in equal measure – a proper bookie.”
While Barry Pinnington, whose pitches can be seen at racetracks the country over, said: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Barry Dennis.
“He was a great character of the ring to which most aspiring bookies looked up to. A very sad day. RIP Barry x.”