Bob Betts, former greyhound editor of The Sporting Life, dies at 75

Bob Betts, former greyhound editor of The Sporting Life, died on Friday. He was 75.

The greyhound racing community was united in paying tribute following the death of the founder secretary and then treasurer of the Greyhound Writers' Association.

He became honorary life president in 2007, when he also received the GWA's award for services to greyhound racing.

Current GWA chairman Jonathan Hobbs said: "Losing Bob is another sad day for those of us who write about the sport we love. We recently lost Mike Palmer, the first Racing Post greyhound editor, and Bob and Mike drove each other on. The Greyhound Life and the Greyhound Post were never better than during that time."

"Bob was also a key player in the GWA, an organisation he helped set up in 1982 as secretary and treasurer alongside chairman Harry Lloyd and area representatives John Gaisford, Gary Newbon and John Forbes.

"One of the GWA's first duties was to vote for the Greyhound of the Year honours, which remains the case today, and a few years later the GWA began to choose the runners for the Select Stakes. Bob was extremely proud of how the greyhound press carried out both with integrity.

"He struggled with his health in recent years but even after suffering a stroke he recovered sufficiently to make the GRA's twice-yearly get-together and, without fail, would arrive armed with a few words for the members and guests in attendance. Bob was always allowed the floor to speak – and it was from the heart as a fan of the sport.

"My thoughts are with Bob's family. He was hugely proud of them, and those nights at the GBGB Greyhound of the Year Awards with his son Steve, usually with the 'Admiral' John Benbow on one side and Mark Sullivan on the other, are bringing a smile to my face as I write these words.

RIP Bettsy – a true greyhound man."

Bob Betts (second right) is honoured for his services to greyhound racing at the sport's awards night in 2007Credit: Steve Nash

Sullivan, the former Life man who famously went through the card at Wimbledon to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records, said: "I was lucky enough to work for Bob at The Sporting Life for the best part of ten years before the paper closed in 1998.

"When I arrived, the Greyhound Life, an eight-page daily supplement to the main paper, had just been launched. It was Bob's brainchild and he was its immensely proud editor.

"Bob was a man who led by example, he was probably the hardest worker I've known. It was a work ethic that saw him rise through the ranks from a tea boy on leaving school in the 1960s to becoming an editor in the 1980s.

"Bob was the original punters' pal, and through the Greyhound Life he had a determination to make the betting landscape fairer – whether it was challenging excessive Tote retention and prohibitive bookmaker overrounds or ensuring punters had comprehensive access to form.

"He was a campaigning journalist who was never slow to challenge something he believed to be against the interests of the punter.

"Bob was fiercely loyal to those who worked with him and by promoting from within he gave many the chance to realise their true potential.

"He was successful as a greyhound owner too. I'm proud to say I bred Luzostev [an amalgamation of the names of Bob's three children, Lucy, Zoe and Stevie), who landed the Northern Oaks at Belle Vue for him in the 1990s.

"He was honoured when in 2007 the GWA voted him the recipient of the services to the greyhound industry award. He used his acceptance speech to warn of the dangers of allowing bookmakers too much of an influence on the running of the greyhound industry, something he felt particularly strongly about.

"Greyhound racing has lost a true friend with his passing."

Former Racing Post greyhound editor Jim Cremin said: "This means two heavyweights of the game have now sadly gone in quick succession after Mike Palmer six weeks ago.

"I first met Bob at Watford greyhounds around 1973 and then got to know him well at Harringay attending those great World of Sport-covered Saturday afternoons.

"He set a high standard and, while fiercely competitive, was always courteously considerate too. My condolences go to all his family and many friends."

Former training legend John Coleman, now retired but who serves as GBGB owners' representative, was saddened to hear the news.

He said: "He was a friend of mine since the early days of my career and was incredibly passionate about greyhound racing.

"He was an excellent greyhound editor for The Sporting Life and as a journalist I don't think there were many publications in the UK he didn't contribute to at some time, including Ireland's Sporting Press.

"Bob was a quiet man, but extremely driven and had the respect of everyone who knew him."

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