Marc Withnall
Prominent Queensland-based property developer Marc Withnall has revealed his long-running passion for horse racing and in particular the Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney, which he has been an avid follower of since childhood.
Now a highly regarded Sunshine Coast businessman, Marc Withnall has attributed his love of horses and even his entrepreneurial success to his days as a fledgling punter under the watchful gaze of his grandfather, another racing enthusiast.
I caught up with Marc Withnall at his Queensland-based horse farm and as we sat down over-looking the dozen or so collection of mares and fillies and two young foals, Marc explained how his business success was rooted in a lucky punt on the Golden Slipper way back in 1975.
“I still remember it well, I was only a little tacker when my grandfather took me into town to take a punt on the Golden Slipper,” Marc revealed candidly.
“He asked me to pick a horse and I just picked a name I liked – Toy Show was the horses name, I’ll never forget it! Anyway my Pop placed a one dollar bet on that horse for me and a few dollars more on another horse for himself.”
“We listened to the race on the radio back at Pop’s farm. He had no TV, never had an interest in the television, and he couldn’t believe his ears when my horse won. Neither could I, I felt like I had just won a million bucks. I’ve followed the Golden Slipper ever since and I’ve won a few bucks too…”
Marc Withnall also admitted that he enjoyed a regular punt on the Golden Slipper and got the chance to go to Sydney a number of years later. Nowadays, he never misses it and he is already looking forward to next year’s race.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Business takes a back seat on the first Saturday in April – the glitz, the glamour, the atmosphere and the occasional bet, I love it,” he added.
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