RACING lost one of its most colourful characters with the passing of Robert McCoubrey on Monday.

Big in stature, Robert was also big in bookmaking, gambling, generosity and supporting charities. He was a successful businessman with several electrical stores.

He had for decades been a major bookmaker on the racecourse and point-to-point circuit. He was the man who took the big bets. He was the man who smashed into favourites, sending the prices crashing.

Everything in life was a gamble to Robert. Restaurant bills would be decided on the toss of a coin. In his early days on the track he gained attention when offering 500/1 in-running on an apparent no-hoper at Punchestown. A game punter chanced £10 and, when the horse won, Robert paid out with good grace.

Punchestown also supplied him with one of his biggest winners when Strong Platinum won the Grade 1 Champion Chase in 1995. Trained by Christy Roche and partnered by Conor O’Dwyer, Strong Platinum had won the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse a week earlier.

A nine-race winner, that horse was frequently well-backed by connections.

Rusty Tears, trained by Edward O’Grady, gave him Cheltenham Festival success in 1977 when winning the Cathcart Cup with Niall Madden aboard – another major gamble landed.

Robert loved the point-to-point scene, where he was dominant in the ring. Just last Saturday he was shouting the odds at Kirkistown despite it being obvious to his friends and fellow bookmakers his health was fading.

Betting rings will be poorer for his passing and he will be very sadly missed by all the bookmaking community, his many friends and punters.

Robert’s funeral took place yesterday at St John The Baptist Church, Helen’s Bay, Co Down. Mourners were asked to wear something yellow in his memory. Friends and family gathered afterwards in The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

Condolences are extended to his wife Theresa and sons Barry and Jamie and the extended family circle.

R. McK.