Horse racing expert Andrew ‘Marto’ Martin also knows how to call the shots with a camera — and a hammer

THIS racing expert also knows how to call the shots with a camera — and a hammer.

Sky Racing’s Andrew Martin at home in Rose Bay. Pictures: Tim Pascoe

• WHO: Andrew ‘Marto’ Martin

• WHERE: Rose Bay with wife Di and their children, Annabelle, 14, and Charlotte, 13

• FAVOURITE THING: My kids can’t remember life without Wags. He is a border collie cross king charles spaniel, which is a crazy mix. The kids named him. They were big Wiggles fans when they were little

• INSPIRATION: Comfortable and fun

• HOME IS: A place to relax with family

HE’S best-known for his passion for horse racing and sharing his knowledge of the field with Sky Racing viewers, but Andrew ‘Marto’ Martin, is much more than a one-trick pony, cementing his position in racing media, with previous stints on 2UE, 2GB and Nova.

Marto says his love of horse racing was sparked in high school, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I went to a boarding school and in Year 7,
I went with some school mates to Rosehill (Racecourse) because their parents owned race horses and that kickstarted my love for the sport,” he says. “I have been an owner of a few race horses myself. Bow River raced and won in Bathurst recently and that was the first time I have been at the racetrack when my horse has won — it was very exciting.”

AT HOME WITH TIM BLACKWELL

Today, on what is The Championships Day Two (Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day) at Royal Randwick, he’s backing the mighty Winx to break Black Caviar’s record of 25 straight wins.

But it’s not all about the races. Other things that create a buzz in Marto’s life are photography and carpentry. He is an accomplished photographer, selling his images of beach life through his company Sydney Summer.

“I have loved it ever since I was a kid,” he says. “Dad was a good photographer back in the dark room days.”

Carpentry also runs in the family.

“I’m self-taught,” he says. “I started to build the cubby house and I thought it would take me a week, but it took two months. I kept adding to it, so now it’s a proper retreat with separate sections for the kids and parents.”

Pictures Tim Pascoe

More:australianturfclub.com.au; skyracing.com.au; sydneysummer.com.au