Joe Jennings
The Jennings name has been in bookmaking ever since Tom Jennings opened his first betting shop in Harlow, Essex, in 1961. Tom had been an illegal bookmaker with pitches in the East End of London. When Harlow was being built as a London overspill town in the 1950s, he moved his family there and began taking bets from the building sites in the area. There were a lot of builders in Harlow at the time and they all knew where to find Tom for a bet.
The Jennings name has been in bookmaking ever since Tom Jennings opened his first betting shop in Harlow, Essex, in 1961. Tom had been an illegal bookmaker with pitches in the East End of London. When Harlow was being built as a London overspill town in the 1950s, he moved his family there and began taking bets from the building sites in the area. There were a lot of builders in Harlow at the time and they all knew where to find Tom for a bet.
Tom had three children, Joe, Terry and Carol. Joe started his working life riding horses rather than laying them, signing up as an apprentice jockey with Ted Smyth at Epsom when aged 15. He rode his first winner on a horse called Partnership in the Meadow Selling Handicap at Windsor on April 4, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, a Lewes apprentice race on King Of France on the last day of August for fellow Epsom trainer Dermot ‘Boggy’ Whelan. He also had a second and two thirds from 29 rides.
Tom had three children, Joe, Terry and Carol. Joe started his working life riding horses rather than laying them, signing up as an apprentice jockey with Ted Smyth at Epsom when aged 15. He rode his first winner on a horse called Partnership in the Meadow Selling Handicap at Windsor on April 4, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, a Lewes apprentice race on King Of France on the last day of August for fellow Epsom trainer Dermot ‘Boggy’ Whelan. He also had a second and two thirds from 29 rides.
He rode no more winners but finished eighth on Evyan’s Golden Shadows in the 1960 Wokingham at Royal Ascot, putting up 6lb overweight to ride at 6st 9lb. Perhaps it was increasing weight that led to him abandoning thoughts of becoming a jockey and joining his father Tom’s bookmaking business instead.
He rode no more winners but finished eighth on Evyan’s Golden Shadows in the 1960 Wokingham at Royal Ascot, putting up 6lb overweight to ride at 6st 9lb. Perhaps it was increasing weight that led to him abandoning thoughts of becoming a jockey and joining his father Tom’s bookmaking business instead.
When betting shops were legalised in 1961, Tom Jennings, being the local bookmaker, had no problem in getting a licence and he opened his first shop. In the mid-1960s Tom passed the business on to his three children, Joe, Terry and Carol, who gradually built up Jennings Bookmakers to a total of 30 shops by the 1980s, with Joe having simultaneously compiled his own independent 20-shop Joe Jennings chain.
When betting shops were legalised in 1961, Tom Jennings, being the local bookmaker, had no problem in getting a licence and he opened his first shop. In the mid-1960s Tom passed the business on to his three children, Joe, Terry and Carol, who gradually built up Jennings Bookmakers to a total of 30 shops by the 1980s, with Joe having simultaneously compiled his own independent 20-shop Joe Jennings chain.
Jennings Bookmakers de-merged in 1995 with each of the three children receiving ten shops. Brothers Greg and Julian Knight (Carol’s sons) effectively took control of their side of the family’s shops, trading as Jennings Racing; Terry subsequently sold his business to William Hill; while Joe and his son Jason ran their own shops.
Jennings Bookmakers de-merged in 1995 with each of the three children receiving ten shops. Brothers Greg and Julian Knight (Carol’s sons) effectively took control of their side of the family’s shops, trading as Jennings Racing; Terry subsequently sold his business to William Hill; while Joe and his son Jason ran their own shops.
While bookmaking was his business, Joe’s other passion was amateur football. He managed a Sunday league side called Harlow Pools United, named after the company Harlow Pools T H Jennings Ltd, and guided them to multiple victories in the Essex Cup and also in the Intermediate Cup. He graduated from Sunday league to Saturday league and took Stanstead to Wembley, where they won the 1983/84 FA Vase, beating Stamford 2-0.
While bookmaking was his business, Joe’s other passion was amateur football. He managed a Sunday league side called Harlow Pools United, named after the company Harlow Pools T H Jennings Ltd, and guided them to multiple victories in the Essex Cup and also in the Intermediate Cup. He graduated from Sunday league to Saturday league and took Stanstead to Wembley, where they won the 1983/84 FA Vase, beating Stamford 2-0.
Having been semi-retired for five years, Joe Jennings died suddenly in 2002, aged just 58, while holidaying in Tobago.
Having been semi-retired for five years, Joe Jennings died suddenly in 2002, aged just 58, while holidaying in Tobago.
In September 2006 Jennings Racing rebranded as Jenningsbet. Meanwhile, the Joe Jennings portfolio expanded to 33 shops including five in the Isle of Man and four in Jersey, thus making a combined total of more than 100 shops between them, making them the country’s largest independent bookmaking chain.
In September 2006 Jennings Racing rebranded as Jenningsbet. Meanwhile, the Joe Jennings portfolio expanded to 33 shops including five in the Isle of Man and four in Jersey, thus making a combined total of more than 100 shops between them, making them the country’s largest independent bookmaking chain.