Bookie Gary was always a winner... even when he lost BIG!

MIDLAND TV LEGEND LIFTS THE LID ON 6 DECADES OF SPORTING ENCOUNTERS

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SUPER heavyweight bookmaker Gary Wiltshire has painful memories of Ascot - not so much the Royal Ascot meeting that finished yesterday, but a September meeting in 1996 when top jockey Frankie Dettori rode seven winners and Wiltshire lost heading for a million pounds after standing bets against the feat.

The 37 stone-plus bookie (when he worked with me), now down to 24 stone, will always remember the experience. The irony of it all.

He was actually on his way to stand as a bookmaker at Worcester when he hit a traffic jam around Banbury and turned round to change course to the day's meeting at Ascot on September 28.

It turned out to be the most costly and disastrous U-turn of his life.

But the self styled 'Belly on the Telly' he appeared regularly on BBC racing and Sky Sports greyhound racing - was honourable.

He sold his lovely home, his expensive car and everything else to make sure he paid out every penny,

Gary is a close pal. I worked with him for eight years when I presented the Sky Sports greyhound coverage. I love his company. He is a funny man who makes me laugh on a regular basis.

The Londoner worked on his father's flower stall in Leather Lane and served the Kray twins.

He took up bookmaking and was doing well. He has always had his own pitch and was doing well until Dettori's "Magnificent Seven"

But having sold everything he owned he has bounced back and recovered. He is still working today and having fun.