I BASHED BOOKIES FOR £3M

SUPERPUNTER Bob Rothman terrorises British bookies from his mansion in leafy Surrey. (The Sun)

The former accountant has won £3million in just seven years.

And he once bashed the bookies for more than £35,000 in a single race.

In only his second year as a professional punter, he made £440,000. Now he reckons a decent day’s work  can earn him £70,000.

Ambition

Bob Rothman, 39 enjoys all the trappings of success – a Rolls-Royce, swimming pool, computers in every corner of his Leatherhead home and six secretaries to run his highly profitable tipping service.

His name has become so well-known among bookies they will only offer him the starting price on the horses he backs IF they know he is doing the backing. Should word ever leak out, the big bookies flash advance warnings to their shops: “Only take starting price bets on the 2.30 – it’s a Rothman race.”

Rothman who graduated in accountancy from Bangor University has them running scared and with good reason. He insisted: “I have one big ambition – to be the biggest punter racing has ever known.” But Rothman first got the gambling bug by backing losers.

He explained: “When I was a kid in York I saw a pro gambler called John Gough driving around in one of the first yellow E-type Jags. From that moment I dreamed of becoming a pro punter.

“When I moved to Surrey in 1985 I took up riding lessons and one day an odd-job man in the yard, Bill, told me he knew an Epsom horse called Tom Forrester who would win.

“I took two grand out of the bank and drove round 30 betting shops in two hours to get on without affecting the starting price. “But the horse finished nowhere.

“Next week Bill said: “Sorry. Back him next time and you’ll get your fiver back.” I took out a loan from American Express, piled on £2000 at 4-1 but he finished fifth.

Bug

“It was the turning point in my life, I thought I was an intelligent, rational businessman and yet I’d done four grand listening to some dick-head!

I must have been going mad.

“But I had caught the bug. I started backing big and lost £35,000 in six months.

“I decided to advertise for tips. But I received rubbish info, often three of four horses in the same race.”

The big chance came when Rothman was approached by four private handicappers – punters who compile their own handicaps in the hope of spotting good bets when the official handicaps are announced.

Rothman, married with two children, was delighted to see things turn around.

He said: “Soon I was losing less and less and by 1986 I’d turned the corner.

“In my second year I made a profit of £440,000.

“I collected £35,000 when Robin Dickin’s Jimnastics won a Hereford novice selling hurdle.

“I had two ‘monkeys’ (£500) each way just before the off and I nearly fainted when the horse was returned at 33-1. I never expected more than 16-1.

“Soon all the credit betting companies closed my accounts except Ladbrokes.

“I still use my account with them today – but only for backing the WRONG horse. That way they shorten the odds and make my REAL selection a bigger price.”

Rothman set up his own tipping service four years ago, Bob Rothman Racingand began bashing the bookies in a major way.

He said “I never advertised, just wrote to some people I knew were reliable backers.

“Soon I was doing business for trainers and getting inside information. Together with the handicapper’s view I set to clobber the bookies.

Range

“The only way I could get large sums of money on horses was to form the tipping service, using people who could place bets in a wide range of betting shops.

“I give about one horse a week, always giving my selection at the last minute. My clients have to put £50 on for me but can put on any amount for themselves.”

Rothman might be one of Britain’s most successful punters but money, rather than the love of racing is the motivation.

There is not a single picture of a horse in his house and he said “It’s a business. I’m not in love with horses.” I seldom go racing, I suppose I’ve only been to seven tracks in my life.

“And nobody knows that I’m running the most successful tipping service from my home.”

“My neighbour actually complained to the local council, with all the cars coming and going, plus my children, he thought I was running a kindergarten.!”

Betting off course, Rothman has to pay 10 per cent tax.

He said: “It makes an 11-8 shot only a 5-4 chance. But with most of the horses I bet I wouldn’t care if the tax was 50 per cent.

“I’ve got this game to a fine art. And I’m not superstitious. You make your own luck in life.”

He added, “The most I ever lost in a single horse was £8,000. Jimnastics was the most I’ve won on one bet. But I’ve won £70,000 in a day THREE times.

“The secrets are to bet within the limits of your bank but NEVER be put off by big prices.

“Value must be your guide. If I cant get the odds I want I don’t bet. But if I can get a good price I lump it on.”

TOMORROW -How the bookies bashed me.