Bruce The Bookie

Biography & Memoir Sport & Recreation True Crime

Bruce The Bookie teams co-authors Grantley Bernard and Lindsay Gaze to tell the rollicking true story of a colourful Australian turf accountant whose life galloped from the racetrack to Pentridge Prison. Set against Melbourne’s gritty racing underworld, this compact 182-page paperback blends memoir, organised-crime intrigue and local history into a fast-moving narrative that true-crime and horse-sport fans will devour.

The book charts Bruce’s rise as a bookmaker, his clashes with police, and the sting that landed him behind bars, giving readers a ground-level look at jail life and the shifting culture of Australian gambling. Along the way, Bernard and Gaze weave in vivid racetrack anecdotes, courtroom drama and reflections on loyalty, luck and doing time, all delivered in plain, engaging prose suited to young-adult and adult readers.

This copy is in very good condition: crisp, unmarked pages, no dog-ears, a tight spine, and stored in a smoke-free home—ready to shelve or gift. No signatures or special editions, just a clean, collectible copy of a scarce Australian true-crime title.

Whether you follow horse racing, local Melbourne history, or simply love a well-told underdog tale, Bruce The Bookie offers a brisk, authentic ride you won’t soon forget.