I BELONG to the second generation of bookmakers in my family, following in the footsteps of my dad, Billy and uncle, Seamus. Our firm has stood at the country’s leading racecourses and dog tracks over half a century, while in more recent times our business has expanded to include pitches at some of Britain’s premier tracks.

My grandfather was passionate about greyhounds and kept a couple of stud dogs of his own. He passed that interest on to his two sons, who soon became regular racegoers. In the 1970s, my uncle began acquiring bookmakers’ pitches around the country, first at dog tracks and later racecourses. Seamus and my dad, Billy, worked together and as a child I helped out whenever I could.