Suzanne Waterhouse, matriarch of Australia’s most famous racing and bookmaking dynasty, dies after a massive heart attack – with her famous son sharing her final moments

The matriarch of the Waterhouse racing and bookmaking dynasty has passed away at the age of 93, surrounded by her famous family.

Suzanne Waterhouse – widow of Bill, mother of Robbie, mother-in-law of Gai, grandmother of Tom and Kate – died in hospital last week after a series of heart attacks

“Unfortunately we have lost the matriarch of the family, my mother Suzie Waterhouse,” Robbie wrote on social media on Sunday. “She died peacefully with her family around her.”

Bookmaker Robbie referenced his wife Gai and his sister Louise’s husband, but did not mention estranged brother David in the announcement.

“She was loved by everyone: her children, Gai and Gunther, her grandchildren, and especially her five great-grandchildren,” Robbie wrote. “She lived her 93 years so fully and independently.”

Suzanne Waterhouse’s bookie son Robbie posted examples of his mother’s great sense of humor after announcing her passing on social media

Suzanne suffered a major heart attack last Thursday evening, followed by a series of smaller ones. Robbie arrived at the hospital around 7am on Friday.

“Mama told the nurses, ‘Obviously I’m dying – Rob never visited me in his life before he got to work!” He wrote.

In another hot post, Robbie highlighted his mother’s great sense of humor as he revealed details of her final hours.

“They decided, with our permission, to administer an analgesic that can hasten death,” he wrote.

“Mama asked what it was, I told (her). She said, pointing her finger at me, “Et tu Brute,” which is what Shakespeare has Caesar say to his best (friend) Brutus when he was stabbed.

Mom laughed. What a star.’

Suzanne Waterhouse was the mother of bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse (right), mother-in-law of horse trainer Gai Waterhouse (left) and grandmother of Tom and Kate Waterhouse

Siblings Tom and Kate Waterhouse are pictured at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne

Suzanne’s husband ‘Big Bill’ Waterhouse – once the largest bookie in the world – passed away in November 2019 at the age of 97 after 65 years of marriage.

The couple was married twice. While divorced, Bill kept company with Yuko Fujita and maintained a relationship with her after marrying Suzanne for the second time.

Bill revealed that he was still seeing Yuko twice a week in 2009 when his autobiography What Are the Odds? was released.

When Suzanne was asked about Bill’s contacts with the other woman at the book’s presentation, she said, “Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it?” I’ve never seen him tell a lie in his life.”

Bill and Suzanne’s children Robbie and David both followed in their father’s footsteps as bookmakers, as did Robbie and Gai’s son Tom. Louise has also been involved in the family business.

Tom’s sister Kate has worked as a model and journalist and is married to retired NRL star Luke Ricketson.

One of Australia’s leading racehorse trainers, Gai is the daughter of the late Tommy Smith, another legendary trainer.

David, who has been estranged from the family for thirty years, is an options trader.

Bill and Robbie were stripped of their bookmaking license and warned about racetracks when they were found to have insider knowledge of the Fine Cotton ring-in.

Fine Cotton was replaced by the better performing Bold Personality at a race at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm in August 1984.

Bold Personality won the race as Fine Cotton, but the fraud was exposed in part because of the dyed legs and poorly dyed fur.

At her husband’s book launch, Suzanne said the Fine Cotton affair had deeply hurt the family, but there was still room for a joke.

“If we had anything to do with it, we would have painted the horse better,” she told a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Bill and Robbie maintained their innocence about the ring-in and their licenses were eventually reinstated.