Simon's Racing & Devon Diary #9 Welcome 2025

To say that my blogging under this title has been a little tardy would be quite an understatement, it's been almost a year, I only wrote one in 2024. Mind you, I haven't had anyone notice so I'm guessing it doesn't matter that much.  

I'll get most of the negative stuff over with at the start. I hope you have had a great 2024 but I hardly know anyone that has. Friends from the world over have been suffering ill health and general bad luck, in that respect things can't be much worse in 2025, and if you are listening Mr Fate, that's not me tempting you, we have suffered enough. 

Betting wise, things didn't go well for me. I thought that I had a bullet-proofed tank considering the size of stakes I was having. I didn't, I have made modest money almost every year for over 20 years, all on the back of other people's hard work, this year the wheels came off. I did my tank in so pretty much pulled up stumps to reflect back in the summer. Of course, like the huge majority of people that bet I'm not addicted to betting so didn't miss it. I've always bet to win money rather than entertainment and quite often didn't watch the races that I bet on several times each day. That's a worry for the betting industry, I didn't miss betting. That's going to be the same for almost all of the people that have told and continue to tell bookmakers to go forth and multiply when asked for private information for affordability checks. 

The only people who will find a way if they are either stopped from betting are those because they win, or because they are deemed to have a problem. The former will always be able to bet because if they are clever enough to beat the odds they can beat their restrictions too. The latter, and the very people these rules are supposed to protect will always find a way to scratch that itch because they need to, they are ill. Either the black market if they are addicted to betting on horses, a big price, or machines in pubs, FOBTs, on-line casinos hosted by dodge-pots and scratch cards if they are just addicted to gambling, long odds on.

These ridiculous rules are bringing racing to its knees, lets hope some leadership emerges to combat things before the sport we love is damaged irreparably. The knock-on effect will be felt far and wide in horseracing. not just directly. It's affected me personally. My work for Star Sports has been reduced by about 75%, #BettingPeople has been rescheduled from one a week to one a month. Still, life moves on at a pace when you are freelance, doors open and shut when you least expect them, it keeps you on your toes and certainly makes up for not betting in the excitement stakes. Mind you looking for new avenues of work and income are less fraught when you are lucky as I am to have an understanding wife when things get a bit ribby. 

Talking of #BettingPeople I enjoyed talking to so many interesting people up until the rapid slowdown. Here are links to short clips of three of my favourite moments. I entered these for the Derby Awards but didn't get nominated but think they epitomise what the series I'm so proud of is all about. 

Jeff Laughton

Jerry White

Dean Valentine

To watch the full videos just google Star Sports #BettingPeople and you'll find them. Talking about my mate Dean Valentine. He has been suffering terribly with the negative effects of the Covid vaccine. He and his family are on social media trying to raise awareness. Reposting the post below would be hugely appreciated by Deano and family.   

There were many personal highlights of the year for me, not least covering all the major meetings for Star Sports writing betting blogs. It has been fantastic to witness the resurgence of the betting ring first hand and I look forward to working with them again this year. I also thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Ireland with AK Bets, especially Killarney and Listowel which were firsts for me, as well as a revisit to DRF and Laytown, you couldn't wish to meet a nicer bunch of lads than the AK team. Of course the Star Sports #BettingPeople interviews were a weekly highlight, I love creating that content. I also write my own betting ring blogs which can be found HERE

I didn't get out to Nigel Hawke's THORNE FARM as much as I would have liked but did get to travel to the races at Kempton in the horsebox with him and Albert Park of whom I have a cherished 5% share. He ran well without winning that day, but watch this space, here's a video of made of the trip if anyone is interested. Albert Goes To Kempton. There are plans afoot for 2025 emanating from Nigel's yard, also watch this SPACE . I also enjoyed hosting Raceshare owners also at Kempton back in the summer something I hope will become a regular spot of freelancing. You can find out more about Raceshare Here I've also really enjoyed writing my 'Tales From The Betting Ring column for RACING AHEAD MAGAZINE a title I've written for one and off since issue #2 back in 2005. I've also enjoyed entertaining hospitality clients for Exeter and Wincanton prior to racing. It's weird, I get very nervous prior to each first box, by the last one I think I'm Bruce Forsyth!

Apart from my horseracing and betting work my other love is music, I've enjoyed writing reviews and the odd feature for VIVE LE ROCK MAGAZINE and UK ROCK N ROLL MAGAZINE for whom I also sell advertising space. Here's a proud moment with the late guitar legend Duane Eddy. 

The year ended on a very sad note for me personally. My much loved Dad had been suffering ill health for most of the year and was in and out of hospital for much of it. He was admitted again in October for what turned out to be the last time. I was on a train with my wife when the hospital called to say that we needed to come straight in as they feared the worst. That was on the Sunday, dad fought for every day to stay with us but slipped peacefully away the following Friday. My siblings and I were with him night and day for much of that week. It's the first time I've had the privilege of being there when a loved one leaves us. It's not like the films. What it does do is drive home how fragile life is, how fast it goes and  that each and every one of us should live ours to the absolute full. None of the problems we think we have now will seem like much when it's our turn to take our leave. 

Here's to 2025, let's grab it with both hands and do our best to be positive and enjoy every moment. Wishing everyone, especially those who made it this far a very healthy and happy new year. 

Simon Nott 

18+ | BeGambleAware.org