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Cheeky punter sponsors a Newton Abbot horse race with bizarre name to celebrate his divorce

Coach driver Dave, 73, pays tribute to his cheating ex-wife by dubbing a race 'David Chillery Happy Days Celebrating His Divorce'

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A PUNTER marked splitting from his cheating ex-wife by naming a horse race “David Chillery Happy Days Celebrating His Divorce”.

Coach driver Dave, 73, was heartbroken when ex Madeline left him for one of his mates 22 years ago.

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Coach driver Dave, 73, has named a horse race 'David Chillery Happy Days Celebrating His Divorce'Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Dave, 73, marks the anniversary of his split from his cheating ex-wife by naming a horse raceCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

But now he celebrates the anniversary of their divorce each year by sponsoring a race at Newton Abbot in Devon.

He took 14 friends and family to a private box for the 6:30pm event.

Dave said: “I’ve had stick from her for naming the race, but I can handle it.

“I’m not into foreign holidays so this is my little treat each year to remind me how lucky I am.

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Dave took 14 friends and family to a private box for the 6:30pm eventCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Dave celebrates the anniversary of their divorce each year by sponsoring a race at Newton Abbot in DevonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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“I used to drink like a fish and smoke like a trooper, but she left me with no money so I had to pack them up.

“I couldn’t afford to look after my grandkids like I do if I wasn’t divorced.”

Dave met and married first wife Jean in 1966. They had four kids but split when she had an affair with one of his pals.

He then met Madeline in Woking, Surrey, and they got hitched in 1977 and had a daughter, Victoria.

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Dave, 73, was heartbroken when ex Madeline left him for one of his mates 22 years agoCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Leaflet showing the horse race in DevonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

But she ran off with another of his friends and they divorced in 1996.

Dave added: “I’ve been a bit choosier with mates since.”


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