Kelly has been helping run the race office for close to 20 years

He's been involved with the sport for over a half a century, having previously trained horses, but for close to 20 years he's been running the race office, a role his wife first had.

It's a fairly simple job in theory but it's something that keeps Kelly busy during race meetings.

"Trainers and drivers when they arrive, they've got to check in here, so we know we're here. With the TAB, if you think a fella is here for a race and he's not here, it's chaos," he explained.

"They've got to come in here and before COVID they had to sign in here with their time and what horse. Since COVID, there's less contact and there's a time here that they should arrive by and I've just to mark them off before the time is up. If it's not, I report it to the steward.

"It's always been a really strict sort of thing, but I reckon it's a bit easier with COVID, because before you had to come in a sign your name and everything. Now the times are just time in and I've just got to right the time next to it."

Before arriving in Bathurst almost 50 years ago, Kelly moved up from the Bankstown area, having been involved in the sport well before he moved out to the Central West.

Even during his training career, he was helping out around the track where possible.

"My wife started doing it in 2005 and she got sick, so that's when I sort of took over. She sometimes fills in when I can't do it," he said.

"I've been around trotting all my life. I've been in Bathurst for 50 years and was involved in the sport before then, so it's been a long time.

"Prior to doing what I'm doing I was training and even when I was training, I use to help out on the track. Now I'm a bit too old for that."

Kelly's role of manning the running the race office is something that keeps him busy but it's still something he enjoys.

"For a while it keeps me busy, but when everyone is signed in it eases off a bit," he said."

"I enjoy doing it, I sure do."

The Bathurst Gold Crown final night is on Saturday, July 27.

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