Five Questions With... Bobby the Bugler

July 20, 2021

The bugle has been a familiar sound and beloved feature of our race meets for years. It is the sound that signals the horses are going on track and hypes the crowd ahead of the race. We caught up with Bobby who has been a full-time bugler since 1999 to discuss all things horse racing and his career, plus we find out what he would be called is he was a racehorse.

1: What is your earliest or favourite memory of horse racing?

My earliest memory of horse racing was as a 14-year-old playing in a brass band at Randwick and witnessing the mighty Tulloch win the 1957 Australian Derby in front of a crowd of 50,000.

2: If you could meet any horse or racing personality dead or alive, who would it be?

The racing personality I would most like to meet is Michelle Payne because she is unique being the only woman to have ridden a Melbourne Cup winner.

3: If you had one tip about attending the races, what would it be?

My one bit of advice about attending the races is to arrive early on big race days to avoid the traffic snarl which can put a dampener on the rest of the day.

4: What is the favourite thing about your career?

The favourite thing about my career is reacting with the crowd and gradually whipping them up so that they reach fever pitch come the big race of the day.

5: And… rather importantly, how did you get into playing the Bugler and what inspired you to want to play?

I was inspired by and taught to play the trumpet/bugle by my uncle, a trombonist and surrogate father with whom I practised every day from the age of seven until I was 16. He imbued me with a passion that now lasts to this day.

…And as an extra bonus question, if you were a racehorse, what would you be called?

If I were a racehorse, I would be called “Blurter Bob”.