Jack Winterbottom was the Bob Peters of his day
Jack Winterbottom was the Bob Peters of his day, a man who made his fortune selling cars before joining the Committee of the Western Australian Turf Club and, ultimately, serving as the organisation's Chairman from 1941 to 1948 and instigating the abolition of proprietary racing in the state.
Born in South Australia in 1882, Winterbottom was a mechanic in Adelaide. Winterbottom's first wife, Laura, died in 1905 so he moved to Western Australia so their daughter, Doreen, could be close to her grandparents. Winterbottom remarried in 1908, became one of the largest car dealers in WA and spent 12 years as the WATC's Vice Chairman prior to securing the top job. Winterbottom handled the negotiations for the WATC's purchase of the then proprietary tracks at Belmont Park, Canning Park, Goodwood and Helena Vale. Winterbottom died in 1951 aged 69.