“I’m still here, I’ve been doing it nearly 50 years and I’m still here so I must be doing something right,” the 74-year-old said. 

The introduction of the Wodonga Cup public holiday has been fantastic for the Cup, Mr Brown said, but the biggest change he’s seen is a move to corporate bookmakers. 

“The introduction of corporate bookmakers means on course bookmakers like myself, don’t hold anywhere near the money we’d hold in the old days,” he said.

“But that’s just how it is, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Mr Brown was expecting to take about 2000 bets across the day.

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He said Wodonga Cup was defying the trend of many country race events by growing, not dwindling. 

“It’s a great crowd, you don’t get good crowds at many racecourses anymore,” he said. 

“It’s a boost for the town and that’s really needed in country towns these days, it gives a boost to motels and eateries.

“The Cup is very well promoted and you get a lot of people out to dress up – there’s no guarantee you’ll win on the day but the atmosphere is so good.”

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