Simon's Racing & Devon Life Diary #2

For those that don't know, I have been working on racecourse mostly in and around betting rings for getting on 35 years. I was keen to do so after falling in love with being on course when I first went racing, in 1985. It was the Mackeson meeting at Cheltenham.

I started writing about racing in the mid 1990's, for a magazine called Final Furlong and my local paper the Mid-Devon Gazette. These articles were also betting ring orientated, I often used to talk about what went on there then the racing. There were enough colourful characters to tell stories about. This seemed to work as people often used to say that they weren't interested in racing but always read my column and even sometimes added that it made them want to go racing and see for themselves. That was mission accomplished and praise indeed. I've since written 'Tales From The Betting Ring' on and off for Racing Ahead Magazine since their second issue back in 2005 and was extremely proud to have several betting ring reports published in the Racing Post Weekender a few years ago. I've also written and self published 'Skint Mob' about my time in the betting ring in years gone by. It's no longer in print but can be still read via Kindle - Skint Mob

While I was at Turf TV one of my jobs was to collect the big bets from the bookmakers back when they were published in the results section of the Racing Post. As some of you reading this will know, I still write betting ring reports on-line, my main commission is for most of the major meetings with Star Sports for whom I'm embarking on my seventh year, I've done the same for DragonBet and Bet Goodwin and most recently for AK Bets at Punchestown last week. Pretty much all the bookmakers that I speak to are happy that I promote the betting ring and are happy to pass on any information that might get included in my blogs. I get positive comments from punters almost every time I go on course. I say 'pretty much' because in recent months there have been a couple of layers that have taken it on themselves to message me, and a bit more sinister, the people that commission me, suggesting that I should stop writing them  because they are bad for the ring for various reasons. The first was for highlighting the fact that some bookmakers take big cash cash bets and latterly mentioning that on-course bookmakers take decent bets might attract the attention of the people drafting the white paper. Interestingly, the last messages to me and one of my customers was on the same day that bookmakers were quoted in the Racing Post worried that future rulings might make them unable to take larger cash bets. It's a funny old game.

Talking of Punchestown, I really enjoyed my week there. There were eight races a day for five days, that's stamina sapping when you are just writing about it, goodness knows where people get the energy to drink and bet for those five days too. Mind you, I suppose I'd have given it a good go back in my youth. While I was there, working with AK Bets I noticed an advert for a product I thought was a strange one to be promoting anywhere, let alone on a racecourse, I won't mention the brand name but basically they are nicotine pouches that you put in your mouth to get a nicotine hit without smoking or vaping. The weird thing is, rather than marketed as what I assumed was an aid to quit smoking, they appear to be targeting young people. They are the demographic that feature in the adverts when you are invited to never miss a moment and chose flavours ranging from elderberry to mint. Given that smoking among the young appears to be considered a lot less cool than it was when I used to spent my dinner money on 10 No6 the cynic in me things that these things are being flogged purely to get young people addicted to nicotine and thus become customers for live as a result.  I was a bit horrified to be honest but consoled myself it would never catch on, despite free samples being offered. I was even more horrified when I got home and saw the same product for sale in one of the Witheridge shops. 

One of the commissions  that I only started this year is one that I've come to enjoy the most. That is visiting Nigel Hawke's Thorne Farm on a regular basis and posting what we record on social media. I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone the yard, it's only eight miles from me so very handy just to nip over when Nigel isn't too busy. They had an excellent season last year and started this one well with a win by Exmoor Forest at Warwick. Nigel's charge The Imposter was included in Dan Barber's Timeform Jump Season awards, the article is HERE. I'm not over at Nigel's this week but am looking forward to getting back there sometime next week and see what he has to say about the forthcoming season. Thorne Farm is not just a racing yard but also a working farm and also hosts Hawke Barn which can be hired as a wedding venue all the details can be found on this link HAWKE BARN 

Now there are a few things I have been accused of in the past haven't been that flattering but at least one of them was coined by my racing hero, the late, great Barney Curley. His barbed comment to the also now late and also great John McCririck that he was a 'Take out Merchant' has also been aimed at me. Bit harsh? Maybe, but I've been keen to get involved with Nigel as a customer as well as a client. I've bought shares in both of Nigel's syndicate horses. Professor Calculus & Ballymagroarty Boy. Both have given members of the syndicate a lot of fun. Professor Calculus won at Taunton at very rewarding odds while Ballymagroarty Boy has been the model of consistency without winning, losing by a nose at Exeter was so close. Nigel's syndicates are different in that members are treated as owners and can ring Nigel at any time to arrange a visit to the yard. If you're interested in getting involved all the details are  HERE.

Getting involved even in a modest way is fascinating, there's so much that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to training racehorses. Getting them to the racecourse really is the tip of a training iceberg. Keen to be involved on the flat too I also taken out a small share of a horse in Dylan Cunha's yard via Jordan Hopkins and Quest Thoroughbreds. I was going to quote Barney again and say 'Giving a little back' but really having an interest is so much more engaging than just punting. The last member of my 'stable' was pure luck, I won a micro share in two-year-old Treasure Time via Raceshare so have plenty of interest going forward for minimal cost. 

I try and walk the four mile 'triangle' at the top of Witheridge every day that work doesn't get in the way. One Tuesday I was striding back on the home straight down Fore Street feeling quite accomplished having completed it by 8.30 when I bumped into Adrian the Vicar and his wife Sue. They said good morning and asked me if I was walking Betsy and Monty to school that morning. I replied that I was, they told me that all parents were invited to have a cup of coffee at the school at 9am. I was something that they do on the first Tuesday of each month. I thought it seemed like a nice idea so joined the handful of other parents that could take the time from work or looking after smaller children in the school hall. Blimey, they didn't mention that each coffee would be accompanied by the biggest slice of chocolate cake you're ever likely to see. Of course, the combination of having no will power and it being rude not to, I tackled that cake even though it was only 9.10am. I'll have to ring the first Tuesdays in June in my diary as a double circuit of the Triangle in future. There next big village event is a beer festival next Saturday. We bought tickets before realising it clashed with Ascot. I'll have to nip in on the way home, mind you, there's not an all day beer festival in me any more so probably dodged a bullet there.

This week's Star Sports #BettingPeople interview is with jockey coach and previously successful jockey himself Rodi Greene. I loved talking to Rodi, check it out Rodi Greene #BettingPeople

I'm a huge music fan too, I have to pass this tip on. I was told by an old school friend via facebook messenger that there was a series of podcasts I need to listen to. I ignored the message for while but one day did seek them out and am so chuffed that I did, this podcast has kept me company on miles of driving and my daily walk and really is a fascinating listen and I'm still only on episode 44 'The Train Kept A Rollin' by Johnny Burnette and the Rock n Roll Trio, check it out here A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

Lastly, for this week, a moan up. My father in law Fred dropped me at Bristol Airport to save a week of parking exes while I was in Ireland with AK. Bloody hell, beware, they charge people kind enough to do you a favour running you to the airport £5. There's no escaping it, if you stop and let someone hop out on the road on those ominous looking red lines you can't, well you can but Big Brother is watching, you are warned that you could be fined £100 so you have to drive into the barriered drop off point and pay a fiver. That gets quite hairy when you are picking people up and delays are possible.  I posted about this on twitter but was soon informed that this appears to be common practise at airports these days, Bristol not being the most expensive!

That's it for this week. I'm off to Cheltenham on Friday and Newton Abbot next Wednesday. 

All the best 

Si

* Just a quick footnote, I have been suffering with an occasional burning sensation in my chest for a few months. Despite various tests, my Dr hasn't been able to diagnose if it's the beginnings of angina which would be a worry or just heartburn, which wouldn't. It was suggested that I provided a stool sample to analyse for bugs that cause heartburn and drop it in a Witheridge Medical Centre. I did so the the day I set off for Aintree. To save the receptionist having to look at it I put the sample in a jiffy bag, the sort I used to post my Skint Mobs in. I hadn't heard anything so this week called to check the results of my sample test. It appears that it's been lost. Was it a mistake to put it in a jiffy bag, has it been filed away, where do lost stool samples go? As Toyah once sang, 'It's a Mystery!'

Just a quick mention about the banners on my page, they are affiliate links to bookmakers. If you haven't had an account with either Bet Goodwin or Star Sports you are invited to give them a go. I get a few quid if you do. While I'm at trying to monetise this page, have you tried the plum app? It sets money aside automatically, meaning you might not notice how quickly it adds up. You can sign-up using the link below, I use it myself and have saved a few quid painlessly so am happy to promote it as I am the bookies. I get a few quid if you sign up with any of them. 

              https://friends.withplum.com/r/oCLWHi