Episode 597: Bill Charles - 31 years in racing administration, and 17 years as Bart Cummings’ right hand man.

Had Billy Charles elected to stay in his very first job with the National Bank he would have soon been up to his knees in carpet in the CEO’s office. But, as much as he enjoyed the challenge the eighteen year old couldn’t shake the unrelenting urge to seek employment in the racing industry. He broke every record getting to Elizabeth St in the city when the progressive Sydney Turf Club advertised for a clerk in the racing office. Bill landed the job, and for the next seven years earned recognition as a burgeoning talent.  His journey through to 1996 brought him into great repute as a versatile administrator in Australia and overseas. He opted for a change of direction in that year when Bart Cummings “head-hunted” the 49 year old for the role of Leilani Lodge Racing Manager. He was destined to stay with the maestro for 17 years. Bill is now semi-retired but continues to assist behind the scenes for high profile trainers John Thompson and Matthew Smith. His journey in the racing game makes for a very interesting podcast chat. He begins by talking about his current association with John Thompson and Matthew Smith.

Bill  says he’s a regular visitor to the Thompson stable with a big supply of carrots.

He talks of Matthew Smith’s brilliant sprinter Headwall who’s chasing a long overdue Gr 1 success. Bill takes us right back to the late 1950’s when his dad William Snr regularly took him to Sydney metropolitan meetings. He says one particular race at Randwick sparked his fascination with the racing game.

He looks back on his first job with the Castle Hill branch of the National Bank. His heart wasn’t in it.

Bill remembers the day his father informed him of a job opportunity with the Sydney Turf Club.

He looks back on the duties assigned to him at the Elizabeth St headquarters of Sydney’s second race club.

In 1970 the opportunity to widen his racing knowledge attracted him to a role with the Australian Jockey Club. He gained the job and stayed for seven rewarding years. During that time he was invited to put forward suggestions for the naming of a brand new sprint race introduced by the AJC Committee. Bill’s recommendation gained the nod of approval.

Bill talks about his passion for memorising pedigrees and racing colours during his years as an administrator.

He was both surprised and chuffed in late 1977 to be offered a role on the administration team put together to introduce horse racing in Tehran. He was exactly the right age to be taking on this kind of chall