Gearoid Norris #BettingPeople podcast

‘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 to ensure they get the best from their horses with their innovative techniques.

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.

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 Newcastle United up to Under 19’s. Paul then moved to the USA where he won awards for soccer, set up his own football club and championed steeplechasing in the USA with horses in training in the USA, Ireland and the UK including his Atlantic Friends syndicate. Meeting Paul Willis with Simon Nott.

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. His story is a fascinating one, in four parts.

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 Monksfield. He’s also been involved with the IJF and the son of a Great Train Robber and guarded a racehorse armed with a shotgun. Phew. Meeting Jonathan Powell with Simon Nott.

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. Simon Nott meets Shane Reville.

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 their clubs then became a professional punter and successful owner. Simon Nott meets Jeff Laughton.