Sad news for the world of Horse racing as this Saturday January 26th, Alan Woods, the world’s most successful horse racing gambler, died in Hong Kong at age 62.

Alan Woods was born in 1945 in Australia. He learned how to count cards at blackjack when he was working as a clerk, since then, he became an able and successful gambler and traveled all around the world as a professional card counter, disguised in many fashions to avoid being identified by the casinos. Although he started his gambling career in the casinos playing blackjack, he finally changed his gambling focus and turned it to racetracks, where he made up most of his fortune, which has been estimated in more than US$600 million.

Woods had been recently diagnosed with appendiceal cancer and had begun chemotherapy treatment two weeks ago. He finally died of complications after suffering a pulmonary embolism.

He is survived by two ex-wives, two sons and a daughter. "My father achieved great success at something so many people dream of doing well and fail to achieve but, along the way, he also provided jobs and support for so many friends - he kept them close to him and brought so many people together," said his daughter, Victoria, yesterday.