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

Bookmaking greats Grahame Liles and Terry Leon are remembered in this week's Racing Lives

Graham Liles with Averon after victory at Newcastle
Grahame Liles with Averon after victory at Newcastle

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.

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Deputy industry editor

Published on inRacing Lives

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