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Think back to Prestbury Park 2006.
The betting ring at the Cheltenham Festival.
J.P.McManus, the ‘Richest Man from Limerick!’, a pint-sized professional gambler, a man of legendary status. Without doubt J.P. likes a bet and he is no stranger to betting or laying. In fact, in his early years, he had a pitch at Limerick Greyhound track. Since those formative years he had built a business empire which saw him increase his wealth to over £2 billion. A man who owned more horses than you’ve had hot dinners, with umpteen high-profile horse trainer across the UK. When McManus’ training bill costs millions per year he not only pays for success but the inside information he garners which is second to none.
The man loves a bet.
The question is: ‘Would you want to take a bet from J.P.McManus?’
There are no certainties in horse racing but there is the wisdom of a man who is informed like no other.
As McManus walked past pitch after pitch because few bookmakers would dare to take his bets. Especially sizable wagers which could amount to life-changing losses. Except a few brave souls, one of them a true Scottish wildcat, with a very humble and calm demeanour, Freddie ‘Fearless’ Williams.
Make no mistake Williams wasn’t your average human. He was a businessman, bookmaker and gambler. When he shook hands with McManus on the outcome of a bet he was a truly brave soul. When I detail the bets struck on that faithful day at Cheltenham 2006 just stop for a moment and think how you would feel.
‘You’re bet is on!’
Now let’s put Freddie Williams into perspective. He was a self-made man and millionaire. In fact, McManus and Williams had similar backgrounds. A bookmaker’s runner before taking up a pitch at Auchinleck Greyhound Stadium. He was a familiar face as a bookmaker from the 1970s, his first pitch at Ayr Racecourse, before going on to hold 11 pitches. In addition, he owned 7 bookmakers shops. His business acumen saw him own shares in Caledonian Bottlers in Netherthird, Cumnock.
For Williams, having a pitch at Cheltenham would be the pinnacle of his bookmaking ambitions. In fact, he had put his name down for a pitch in 1976 but only when regulations were relaxed in 1998 he bought his Cheltenham pitch No2 at auction for £90,000. It was just four weeks since he had undergone a triple-heart bypass.
In 2000, Fearless Freddie Williams hit the headlines for taking monster bets.
Perhaps those early successes over John Magnier, a close friend of J.P.McManus lulled him into a false sense of security.
16th March, 2006: Cheltenham Festival
Thursday would be a memorable day in Cheltenham betting history.
J.P.McManus was in a mood to bet and Williams as fearless as ever willing to take monster bets. Williams laid two bets that would make him a legend.
Williams laid McManus £100,000 on Reveillez at 7/1. The first race of the festival. To make a truly memorable day McManus came back and placed £5,000 each-way on 50/1 shot Kadoun.
Both horses won!
Williams lost over £1000,000.
It was all being filmed on a TV documentary for ITV.
To make matters worse, Williams and his daughter were robbed of £70,000 on there way home.
Williams continued laying bets at his pitches. On the 21st June 2008, he died after suffering a major heart attack at his home.
On hearing Williams’ death, McManus said: ‘We had some jousts over the years at the Cheltenham Festival and racing has lost a colourful and loving character.’
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