John Rothfield
A renowned Racing Expert
Co-host of the highly popular nationally syndicated sports radio show, Off The Bench and one half of SEN1116’s new drive show, KB and The Doc, John Rothfield is a renowned Racing Expert and co-hosts TV program Off The Bit on Southern Cross Ten and TVN.
As a young boy, one of John’s earliest memories of racing was Gwen the SP bookie arriving at his home to collect small debts from his mother in the 1960’s. After spending most of his Saturday’s with his father at various race tracks around Victoria, by the time John turned 16, he was already betting bigger than his dad.
Better known nowadays as “Dr Turf” or the “Doc”, he can be heard giving his expert opinion on most sporting events across a number of different networks.
John realised early on that in order to be the best he needed to learn from the best and luckily for him, he had John Duncan to take him under his wing. Duncan taught ‘Dr Turf’ how to “bet like a genius” and under his watchful eye, ‘Dr Turf’ quickly honed his skills and learnt that if you were diligent, prepared to put the time in, and had a mathematical ability, you could bet and win.
John gave his first tip on the radio as part of the Punter to Punter team with comedians Slim Whittle and Tony Rickards on 3RRR in the early '80s, later becoming a panelist on The Fat on ABC, and a Saturday broadcaster on 3AW with Trevor Marmalade and Tony Leonard.
He can currently be heard co-hosting Off The Bench and SEN1116’s new drive show KB and The Doc 3pm-6pm weekdays with Kevin Bartlett. John appears as a regular commentator on TVN- an Australian thoroughbred horse-racing channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus TV, and co-host on ‘Off The Bit’, a late night racing show on Southern Cross Ten across Victoria.
John’s book, Dr Turf's Guide published in 1987, details how to get organised, how to do the form, how to bet and how to win to Better Punting.