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Racing Expert | Media Personality | MC & Keynote Speaker
John Rothfield, affectionately known across Australia as “Dr Turf”, is one of the nation’s most recognisable voices in racing and sports commentary. A natural storyteller with an encyclopaedic knowledge of horse racing, John has built a media career that spans radio, television, print, and live events.
From his early days giving tips on 3RRR’s cult hit Punter to Punter alongside comedians Slim Whittle and Tony Rickards, through to ABC’s The Fat and his long-running role on 3AW Saturdays with Trevor Marmalade and Tony Leonard, John has entertained and educated sports fans with wit, humour, and hard-earned punting wisdom.
Today, Dr Turf is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Off The Bench and a familiar voice on SEN1116’s drive program KB and The Doc, where his sharp insights and quick banter have made him a listener favourite. On screen, he appears as a commentator for TVN, Australia’s dedicated thoroughbred horse racing channel, and co-hosts Off The Bit on Southern Cross Ten.
A lifelong racing enthusiast, John’s passion was ignited as a boy following his father to racetracks around Victoria. By sixteen, he was betting bigger than his dad, and under the mentorship of legendary punter John Duncan, he learned how to “bet like a genius” through diligence, discipline, and mathematical analysis. That commitment to craft and authenticity continues to define his work today.
In 1987, John published the widely read Dr Turf’s Guide to Better Punting, a practical handbook on form, betting strategies, and the mindset required to win. His reputation as a trusted expert has since made him one of Australia’s most sought-after racing commentators and speakers.
Off air, John is a dedicated family man living in Melbourne with his wife Melissa and their three daughters, who are each exploring their own passion for the racing industry. John often says: “I’m happy to teach them anything they want to know about gambling, as long as they approach it in a semi-professional way. You either approach it that way, or you lose everything you invest.”
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