Early Life and Background:
Phil Bull, a man who reshaped the way betting was approached, was born on April 9, 1910, in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire. Despite his lifelong atheism, Bull once humorously remarked, “I was bred to be a saint, you know.” His father, William Osborne Bull, worked a variety of jobs, from the Salvation Army to coal mining, and eventually as a sanitation engineer, while his mother, Lizzie Jessop Watson, served as a Sunday school teacher.
Bull’s academic journey led him to Hemsworth Grammar School and Leeds University, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1931. It was a modest qualification, but one that laid the groundwork for his future achievements. Upon graduation, he moved to London to teach mathematics, but he didn’t entirely give up his teaching career when he later delved into professional gambling. Instead, he combined both worlds until gambling became his full-time pursuit.
Bull’s Introduction to Betting:
Phil Bull’s connection to betting began early in life, with anecdotes suggesting his mother taught him about odds and gambling concepts in childhood, though these stories are likely exaggerated. However, what’s undeniable is that he started placing bets during his school years. While studying at Leeds University, Bull’s love for horse racing merged with his aptitude for mathematics, prompting him to develop a unique approach to evaluating horse racing form—his analysis incorporated race times alongside finishing positions, which was unheard of at the time.
After graduating, Bull continued honing his betting strategy, which he called “Temple Racetime Analysis.” By betting on the conclusions of his formula, Bull saw significant success. In 1938, he decided to share this method with the public by offering his insights via mail order under the alias “William K. Temple” to protect his teaching job. The system, named the “Temple Time Test,” was so effective that Bull eventually left teaching to gamble full-time.
Phil Bull’s Betting Principles:
In 1970, Bull condensed his experience and philosophy into his famous “Ten Commandments” for betting. These were a mix of wisdom and caution, which are summarized below:
1) Value First: Bet only when you believe you’re getting value for money.
2) Luck is an Illusion: Rely on skill, not luck or staking systems.
3) Stake Wisely: Adjust your stakes based on the likelihood of your selection’s success.
4) Avoid Large Field Each-Way Bets: Only bet each-way if the place offers value.
5) Shop Around: Always seek the best odds.
6) Be Cautious with Ante-Post Bets: Only bet ante-post if you’re sure your horse will run.
7) Don’t Buy Systems: If you discover a profitable system, keep it private.
8) Multiple Bets are Fine, but Not on Protests: Bet in multiples if desired, but not on objections.
9) Patience is Key: Be patient, but act boldly when circumstances call for it.
10) Never Bet Beyond Your Means: This can lead to disaster.
Phil Bull’s Notable Betting Wins:
Throughout his career, Bull meticulously recorded over 30 years of betting activity from 1943 to 1974, providing a window into his remarkable success. His journey into serious gambling started even earlier, though, when he won enough betting on Pont L’Eveque in 1940 to purchase a five-bedroom house in Putney, London. His biggest single win came in 1944 when he backed Dante in the New Derby, collecting £22,000—worth nearly £1 million today.
Other standout wins included a lucrative season in 1952, where he won £38,000 after betting on Zabara and Nearula, and a famous wager in 1963 when, after a string of losses, he recouped his previous losses by staking £1,000 on Partholon to win the Ebor at 20/1.
Between 1943 and 1974, Bull’s total profit stood at just under £296,000, equivalent to over £3 million today, cementing his status as one of the most successful professional gamblers in history.
Timeform and Bull’s Publications:
Phil Bull’s legacy wasn’t just built on his betting prowess but also his contribution to the broader horse racing world. Under his pseudonym William K. Temple, he initially published his insights in “The Mathematics of Betting” in 1942. The following year, he introduced “Best Horses of 1942,” which evolved into what would later become the renowned Timeform series.
Timeform revolutionized the evaluation of racehorses, providing objective numerical ratings that analyzed each horse’s performance. The first annual Timeform publication, “Racehorses of 1947,” demonstrated the accuracy of Bull’s methods when the four top-rated horses in his book filled the first four places in the 2,000 Guineas—exactly in the order he had predicted.
Timeform’s influence continued to grow, with Bull publishing the first edition of “Chasers & Hurdlers” in 1975/76, extending his analysis to National Hunt racing.
Phil Bull’s Legacy:
By the time of his death, Phil Bull was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in horse racing. His revolutionary methods of analyzing form by assigning performance figures changed the sport, and his approach became part of the official handicapping methodology.
Despite his success, Bull always maintained a level-headed view of gambling. He once claimed, “I’m not a gambler. Betting as such doesn’t interest me,” though he quickly added, “Racing is different; it’s a continuing play with a fresh set of individual characters every year. Not a who-done-it, but a who’ll do it.”
From his meticulous records to the creation of Timeform, Phil Bull’s contributions to betting and horse racing have left an indelible mark that continues to influence the sport to this day.
Photo: Freepik (Doesn’t depict Phil Bull)
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