The New South Wales Thoroughbred Racing Board will consider an application made by W. S. "Bill" Waterhouse for a bookmaker's licence at its January 29 meeting.

The 79-year-old Waterhouse, once Australia's biggest bookmaker and the father of Robbie Waterhouse, was part of a group warned off for their part in the 1984 Fine Cotton ringer scandal.

Bill Waterhouse has maintained his complete innocence of the affair and pointed out that in the subsequent police investigation he was the only one investigated who not charged with an offense. The ban was conditionally lifted in December 1998 and completely lifted on October 15, clearing the way for him to apply for a bookmaker's license.

The Bookmaker's Co-Operative declined a similar application from Robbie Waterhouse earlier this year. The board took the unusual step of guaranteeing Robbie Waterhouse, which enabled him to return to the ranks of bookmakers in August.—Delamere Usher