Dapper Jacky sadly missed

With the recent passing of popular Williamstown (Vic) identity Jacky Dooley, racing has lost a much loved eccentric and one of the last great characters of the turf.

Born into the business with his father a prominent bookmaker, his elder brother following suit and his sister married to a top trainer, Jacky dedicated his life to the punt and the occasional lay.

The only concession to gainful employment in his life came on leaving school near the end of the war, when his brother Bill was in the army.

The government lassoed Jacky and ordered him under the Manpower Act to take up employment at the Commonwealth Aircraft Factory at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne’s port district.

It is not known wherher Jacky’s assistance in aeroplane manufacture incrreased productivity, but it certainly increased the incredulity of those who pondered upon what kept planes airborne.

Jack’s dedication and ability in sussing out winning chances and potting losing ones led to lasting friendships with gambling gurus such as John Attridge, Leon Flanders, Dookums Humphries and Alex Read, as well as the Sydney Wizard of Odds, the redoubtable Ray Hopkins.

Jacky had a ready wit and could drop a delightful one-liner. Sam Orlenski, a Jewish bloke who was as wide as he was high, commonly travelled with Jack and his cohorts, and it was his habit to alight from the car before the main entrance and walk down the track to inspect the home straight, thus dodging the gateman.

Astute jockeys, on heavy-track days before false rails and super soppers, would seek his footprints.

Perhaps 40 years ago and following an extended drought and severe heatwave, Ballarat had a TRACK FAST sign up.

Doubters may check with the Guinness Book of Records about TRACK FAST at Ballarat, but it is recorded that they had to borrow the sign.

Prior to the first race the Dooley brains trust were having their form and track assessment meeting and discussion became animated when, contrary to the TRACK FAST sign, Jack expressed the view that horses good in the ground should be considered.

Roundly scoffed at and challenged to explain this apparent absurdity, Jack stated that he had noticed a heavy Jew on the track when they arrived.

Jack was well known for his generosity to fellow travellers down on their luck. One such waited weekly outside the Society restaurant, where Jack was a Friday night regular in his salad days.

One night Lloyd, a chap who had lost a leg and a son and much of his joy of life, failed to show up for the Friday night snip to start his Saturday.

The first thing Jack did on arriving at the races the next day was to seek out Lloyd and ask him if he was okay.

Jack told Lloyd he had waited a half hour at the Society and was worried about his welfare.

Lloyd explained that he had had such a big week himself, he had not had the heart to go and snip Jack again, but rest assured he would be back the following Friday night.

Jacky was ever dapper, gentlemanly and the epitome of style, but his superstitions on raceday were legendary.

If he was picked up and someone in the car was wearing green, he would get out, go home and start again.

As was pointed out to him by his many friends in racing, being overly superstitious can bring you bad luck!

Jacky had many big winning days, but his biggest losing day came just after his biggest ever winning trot, when he put for safekeeping his biggest ever punting bank, plus jewellery, in his brother’s bookie bag in the Mayne Nickless armoured van.

Without declaring it on the statement of deposit.

His stash formed part of the haul in the Great Bookie Robbery, and was not covered by any insurance.

Mayne Nickless armoured vans were painted green!

Jacky’s indomitable spirit never wavered. He retained the spring in his step, and his appearance of having just fallen out of Henry Buck’s window.

He is sadly missed.