Obituary: Grahame Liles, fearless on-course bookmaker who fell in love with racing

Grahame Liles, a fearless on-course bookmaker who also enjoyed plenty of success as an owner, has died at the age of 89. 

He was a hugely familiar face in the northern betting ring from the late 1960s, ditching his apprenticeship to take up the profession.  

"He was from Rothwell in Leeds and started out as a cooper at Tetley's Brewery, making barrels," says his son Richard. "But after he did his National Service he started supplementing his income by helping out an on-course bookmaker called Alf Elmsley on a Saturday.