Veteran bookmaker Ian McKenzie has been part of the furniture at Wagga Greyhound Racing Club for 25 years.
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But at Friday's meeting where he took his last bet before relocating to Queensland, McKenzie said it's the laidback nature of the clientele which kept him coming back.
"I just like the people, I much prefer working here than the (thoroughbred) racing. I think the dog people are good people," he said.
"I don't do the trots anymore and I still do the races, but not very often."
Largely due to the emergence of online gambling, McKenzie has witnessed a steady downturn in on-site bookmakers, in particular for TAB meetings.
But he insists there'll still be room for the profession going forward for those who like a more personal betting experience.
"That (online betting) has hurt the bookmaking industry a lot. People don't have to go to the races anymore, and they don't have to go to the dogs either," he said.
"But you still get a similar crowd at the dogs, maybe 120 dogs training and 50 different trainers or owners.
"They (on-site bookies) are still needed, but the competition has got so intense. You go to the Wagga races now and there'll be two or three bookies, whereas I worked there until about four years ago and there was six of us."
McKenzie said watching trainer Garry Anesbury's star dog Quick Cruiser dominate two decades ago, including 16 straight wins at Wagga and three consecutive victories at Wentworth Park, as one of his fondest memories.
"He was the best dog I've seen around her in my time. I think he won a dozen races in town and was virtually unbeatable at Wagga," he said.
"The non-TAB days 15 years ago there was bigger crowds and plenty of money around, and I just like coming here because of the people.
"A lot of people still prefer to bet with me and don't even look at the TAB, which I appreciate because they could easily go over there."
McKenzie won't hang up his satchel just yet. He plans to do some sightseeing and roll out the odds board in Queensland, where he will be based at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.
"I'll still do some bookmaking up there go to the non-TAB country cup meetings and have a look at the countryside," he said.
Wagga trainer Shannon Ellis said McKenzie will be missed, but he may leave with a few extra bucks in his back pocket.
"I've won a bit of money off him and given him back a lot more, he's come out on top over me anyway," Ellis said.
"It's a hard gig being a bookmaker these days. It would be nice to see another one come in but if not, we've got the TAB to bet with.
"He's a really good bloke and it will be sad to see him go."
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