#BettingPeople: Barry Hearn rose from lowly beginnings in the East End of London to become one of the most successful sports promoters of recent times. He was responsible for the rise of Steve Davis and the popularity of snooker and went on to make household names of countless sportsmen and sports. His Matchroom empire is now headed by his son Eddi…

#BettingPeople: Terry Allen is an ex-Jockey Club Betting Intelligence Officer, SP Returner and SP Validator who has also clerked for on-course bookmakers, run betting shops worked as a Pontins Bluecoat and once appeared as a dancer on Ready Stardy Go and shared a dressing room with The Kinks. In this three-part interview, he talks about his career.…

#BettingPeople: Dual-purpose trainer Joe Tickle has worked his way through the ranks in racing as a Jockey and assistant trainer, he’s now training under his own name and is expanding his operation and enjoying winners in both codes. In this four-part interview, he talks about the reality of getting a foothold on the training ladder.…

#BettingPeople: Rolf Johnson has worked directly under and knew and been balled out by Phil Bull, Ryan Price, David Elsworth and Toby Balding as well as working at The Scout at the Daily Express writes for Highclere and various publications worldwide. In this interview he talks about his life in racing and beyond which has seen him work with the gr…

Award-winning racing journalist and author Geoff Lester got a job at the Sporting Life in 1964 after being told by his careers teacher he couldn’t become a racing journalist. He stayed at the paper until it closed in 1998. In this four-part interview, he talks about his long career where he mixed with the royals and rascals on the turf and travelle…

Veteran professional punter Alan Potts was one of our first #BettingPeople interviewees back in 2017. We caught up with him again to find out how the mop has flopped since that initial interview. Alan says ‘there’s lots of talk about winners but never forget there were also thousands of losing bets. But the losers don’t make such good stories!’…

Professional punter and now also tipster by necessity, Ian Richards has made a living by spotting value in a host of varied markets for decades. In this interview, he talks about the sorts of sports he has utilised to his betting advantage over the years, and how lockdown drew him to his current preferred value-seeking betting.…

One of the UK’s leading football tipsters, Kevin Pullein’s tips made a profit for an astonishing 27 consecutive seasons. In this interview, he talks us through his strategy for beating the bookmakers at football and tells us something of his career path that got him to the top of the tipsters.By #BettingPeople

Lizzie Kelly was the first female rider to win a Grade 1 jumps race in the UK, and came very close to matching that feat in France as a jockey she won The Betfair Hurdle, Betfred Bowl and Ultima and rode twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, since retiring to start a family she’s a TV and Radio broadcaster and runs Valentine Bloodstock alongside her Hu…

Darran Pearce specialises in betting and tipping on the lesser-known branches of popular sports, non-league football, hunter chases and Australian jump racing. In this interview, he tells us how he’s gained his edge by successfully betting and tipping on these sports while working for the broadcasting arm of bookmakers throughout his career.…

Racing commentator Simon Holt has been on the national circuit since 1988 having worked his way up to that position from a ‘poor’ upbringing via Superform and The Sporting Life. In this interview, Simon talks about his current work as a commentator, his career so far and outside interests including owning and breeding horses.…

TV presenter, pundit, journalist, jockey’s agent, commentator and now bookmaker Matt Chapman talks about his career so far with some juicy topics along the way.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Racing Journalist, broadcaster, successful, previously professional punter and stand-up comedian Ross Brierley talks about his approach to backing winners, strategy and mentors plus his background and that comedic streak.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Dave Roberts prefers the term ‘Seller of jockeys’ to agent, but whatever you want to title him he was without a doubt the biggest, handling 100’s of jockeys over his career, including AP McCoy from his very early days in the saddle. In this four part interview, we talk to the man behind some stunning careers.…

Simon Nott catches up with betting industry consultant Matthew Trenhaile, who remains one of the most respected in the industry, for his second appearance on #BettingPeople. Over five parts, plus a bonus episode.By #BettingPeople

‘The Successful Punter’ has plied his trades of punting, tipping and racecourse hosting from his Midlands base for decades. He’s now based in the Philippines finding his feet fathoming their one racecourse and intends to ‘commute’ to Hong Kong and Dubai to bet and host in the coming months. Here is his story in three parts.…

Training from state of the art Sarsen Farm in Upper Lambourn, Dan & Claire Kübler have virtually doubled their prize money each year over the last three years. They both achieved degrees before travelling then deciding on a career training racehorses. Here’s their #BettingPeople interview telling how they are making their training pay using science…

Mike Parcej, described by some as the ‘Phileas Fogg of racing’ is a prolific racegoer and passionate fan of the sport with some strong opinions about the game and the experience of attending the races in the UK and beyond.By #BettingPeople

Newcastle-born and-bred Paul Willis has lived in the USA since 1984 but started his sporting life working with his on-course bookmaking father in the Silver Rings of the North but venturing as far south as the Epsom Derby, working the floor, clerking and tic tacking. He was also a talented footballer, a contemporary of Paul Gascoigne signed to Newc…

Head of trading at TTP (Trade The Prices) Steve Couling is an odds compiler and ex greyhound trainer who has enjoyed an innovative career compiling prices for the industry on many sports including German Ice Hockey and Basketball as well as more conventional horses and greyhounds. He was pivotal to the rise of Stan James and the introduction of BOG…

Ex- Jockey now top bloodstock agent Tom Malone has purchased over 3000 winners for clients including Grand National Winner One For Arthur, Gold Cup winner Native River and Royal Ascot winner My Dream Boat. In this three part interview, he talks about his humble beginnings, time as a jockey, point to points and the big money world of bloodstock.…

Birmingham-born and bred journalist and author Chris Pitt has turned his childhood fascination with racing, fuelled by visits to the long time gone Birmingham races, into a career. His passion for racing has taken him all around the world, to racecourses long since forgotten and a wedding at the races. Here’s the fascinating story of Chris Pitt.…

#BettingPeople: Jonathan Powell has been a racing correspondent for the News of the World, Sunday People, Sunday Express, Sunday Times, and the Mail on Sunday as well as writing books on Bob Champion, Paul Nicholls, David Nicholson, Frankie Dettori, ‘tidied up’ autobiographies of Jenny Pitman and Patrick Veitch, not to mention Desert Orchid and Mon…

Professional punter Shane is considered by many to be the shrewdest judge in Ireland whose opinions make the market. He started his working life working in a betting shop before taking the plunge to work in Paddy Power’s trading room. After four years he jumped shop taking the plunge as a full time professional punter and has never looked back. Sim…

Professional punter Jeff Laughton has been beating the bookies professionally for almost 20 years. His apprenticeship was an unusual one, he started working life as a policeman as part of the team that caught the Yorkshire Ripper, was a DJ while still a policeman, ran an entertainment business that used to pay Gary Barlow £60 to perform at one of t…

Dave is a freelance racing and betting journalist that writes for GeeGeez.com and The Sporting Life, writes paddock notes for ‘Blue Delta’ works as a frontman for racecourse bookmakers and gets a few quid punting too. Here’s his story. Meeting Dave Massey with Simon Nott.By #BettingPeople

Ian Watkinson’s 13 year career as a national hunt jockey ended with a near fatal fall at Towcester in 1979, cutting short a career that included winning eight times on Tingle Creek, five times on Night Nurse and three on Sea Pigeon. He was of the old school of hard man jump jockeys, strapping broken bones in order to take the next ride and a social…

#BettingPeople: Luiz Cunha has recently launched ‘Pedigree To Win’ which is an added tool to the punters’ armoury highlighting the most likely winners of races purely on their bloodlines. This service is a culmination of a 45-year labour of love studying the pedigree of horses. Luiz, father of Newmarket trainer Dylan, has advised trainers and owner…

#BettingPeople: Sir Rupert Mackeson, aka ‘The Bad Baronet’, makes his second appearance within the #BettingPeople series. Whilst there’s plenty of his personal story left to tell, this interview is predominantly centred around his latest book ‘Frankie Dettori’s British Classic Winners’ published under his pen name Rupert Collens by Pan And Sword bu…

Barry Beasley started in the betting business in 1975 working for Joe Coral, then the Tote, has been a commission agent, worked with City Index and been a private card marker and odds compiler since 1989 as well as still freelancing for the Racing Post. This is his story including why he’s been daubed ‘The Weatherman’. Meeting Barry Beasley with Si…

Trustee of Racing Welfare, Iggy’s Fund and 792nd Point Of Light Winner Richard Farquhar had a lifetime in racing before raising £500,000 ‘Walking The Courses’. Here’s his story with Simon Nott…By #BettingPeople

‘Juppy’ as he is affectionally known has been in the betting game all his life. He started working on course back in the 1990s at picnic races where they’d turn over large amounts of money in lively markets. After moving to London he worked with spread betting firm Sporting Index before relocating to Brighton and working for PanBet. Now back in Mel…

Professional Punter Paul Daily fell in love with racing after being taken to the races on a random Saturday, he was hooked by the buoyant betting ring. He went on to learn as much about the game, and particularly winning betting thereafter. However, when he left school he went on to form a flourishing business trading currency but continued to be a…

Peter Lawrence has been a professional punter since his teens and a one time on-course bookmaker. He found he had an aptitude for finding winners when his father made him record his bets.By #BettingPeople

Graham Thorner was champion jump jockey in the 1970/71 season with 74 winners and won the Grand National in 1972 on the gambled on Well To Do. In this series of four interviews, he tells his fascinating story to Simon Nott.By #BettingPeople

Simon Nott talks to the Vegas sports betting legend Steven ‘Fats’ Diano about his career corralling runners for a mysterious benefactor and working with Billy Walters before going it alone and establishing himself as a legend of sports betting in his own right.By #BettingPeople

Australian Libby Hopwood is a former champion apprentice then successful professional jockey and rider of 324 career winners before a tragic fall during a race ended her career. Since then she has forged a career as a jockey’s manager, Sky TV presenter and tipster, as well as working on the ground with horses and running an ‘Only Fans’ page.…

JEFF SEALEY #BettingPeople: Jeff Sealey owns and runs the Bicester schooling track, which has produced two Derby winners, two Oaks winners, one Trafalgar Cup winner, thirteen Produce Stakes winners, five Springbok winners. Following Star’s sponsorship of the venue – saving the track from closure – Carly Philpott visited Jeff at the track to underst…

#BettingPeople: Jon Roberts is a professional football trader, winning since 2010 and professional since 2017. In 2014 he launched his ‘Predictology’ website helping others to win alongside him. Originally from the UK Jon now enjoys the trappings of his success living in The Philippines.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: ‘Spinning Mick’ has been in the on-course bookmaking game since 1987 when he was 14 years old. He’s now Chairman of ARB and a Director of the FRB heavily involved in bookmaking’s politics as well as earning his living from on-course bookmaking.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Mattie Batchelor has been described as one of racing’s good guys. He’s enjoyed a career spanning over 20 years and ridden over 300 winners. He’s also well known in racing as an hilarious raconteur and presenter something he’s looking to pursue after hanging up his boots. Meeting Mattie Batchelor with Simon Nott.…

#BettingPeople: Craig Day is well known on the greyhound racing scene for having owned some top dogs, to bookmakers for having landed some notable touches and the pool fraternity for his prowess with a cue and having the nerve to back himself to win.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Joe Oliver has bet on course under the name Dick Oliver since the 1970s and has had his son and Daughter working with him over the years. Joe is now officially ‘retired’ after Dax took over at the helm. Here’s their story. Policeman, banker, bookie, the story of the Dick Oliver firm.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: In a Q&A Special, Johnny answers questions from social media and beyond, in three parts, nothing ducked.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Jamie Benson is a sometimes PR man and man behind Tote Fantasy. He’s also the man punters have to beat with the Tote’s ‘Beat Benson’ promotion, where if you beat him, you cop, so it’s a high pressure job, but he’s up so far. In this interview Jamie talks about the public school, university role into the City at age 21. His real love…

#BettingPeople: Professional Punter Johnny Dineen talks to Simon Nott about his career as a professional punter, from his early days clerking at weekends for bookmakers to betting on course and now purely punting for a living, in five parts.By #BettingPeople

#BettingPeople: Tipster and Broadcaster Tony Calvin has worked all of his adult life in the racing industry involved with both The Racing Post and Betfair. He’s also become known as a big personality on TV and social media. In this interview, he talks about it all and more. Meeting Tony Calvin with Simon Nott.…

#BettingPeople: Professional Backer – he doesn’t like the term ‘gambler’, Paul Chandler-Burns started his betting life working for Tote Credit. Based in Newmarket he’s been making money backing horses, betting on golf, football and reality TV for years. He was once a full time professional but now spends a lot of his year at sea working in entertai…

#BettingPeople: Edward Chanin was an aspiring young jockey who dreamed of being the next AP McCoy. He had a job with Philip Hobbs and had not long ridden his first winner under rules when on the 19th of December 2001 his suffered a near fatal schooling accident. He was airlifted to hospital but his parents were told that he ‘had no chance’. Edward …

#BettingPeople: Mick Fitzgerald won pretty much every big race in his riding career, including The Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1999 on See More Business and the 1996 Grand National on Rough Quest the highlights of his UK 1303 winners. His career ending fall was in the 2008 Grand National. He has since become a familiar face on our TV screens working for…