#BettingPeople

Simon Nott from Star Sports catches up with ALAN POTTS who is a punter that has stood the test of time. He’s punted on a professional level for decades and written books on the subject. His first ‘Against The Crowd’ has been mentioned as influential by several present-day professionals. Alan didn’t go too much on the idea of winning millions and spending the lot but rather that he’d like to be known as the punter that won half a million and kept it!

MEETING DAVID PIPE: I was very pleased to be granted an interview with the master of Pond House Stables David Pipe. 

Interview: BARRY ‘PINNO’ PINNINGTON: Barry ‘Pinno’ Pinnington is a true professional on-course bookmaker. He bets from Exeter to Perth as well as the perilous waters of trotting and point to points. He bought enough pitches to keep him in travelling the turf 7 days a week and regularly does so. He learned the art of bookmaking at an early age from his father taking the plunge going into business himself after an unexpected windfall when in a share with his father. This interview with Simon Nott, chronicle the life of a stalwart from the dying breed of full time professional on-course bookmakers. Meeting Barry 'Pinno' Pinnington.

Interview: MARK PHILLIPS Mark was born into the racing game, his bookmaker father had and still has racecourse pitches all over the South and South West of England. Inspired by the lifestyles of his father’s workmen who earned on course all summer and travelled in the winter Mark started working in casinos, ultimately on cruise ships to facilitate his urge to travel. On his return he started working for fledging Internet bookmaking firms and discovered just how many shrewd punters there were out there making it pay. Prompted by his father, Mark’s career took a change when he answered an advert in the racing press to join the Jockey Club Security team including using the exchanges to ensure those up to no good ultimately got the tap on the shoulder. After moving to his wife’s native Australia, Mark set up Global Sports Integrity working to aid investigation into suspected corruption in sport. Meeting Mark Phillips. (interview by Simon Nott)

Interview: DAVE PHILLIPS Dave Phillips became an on-course bookmaker in 1970, travelling to Leicester on a Monday in November to bet in the back row of the Silver Ring for the first time. 15 years later he was president of the Devon & Cornwall bookmakers Association. Dave was one of the pioneers of using a computer and printed tickets on-course in the 1990’s. He was part of the negotiations on major betting ring events, buying and selling pitches and allowing boards on rails and how the betting ring was changed for ever. He was also on the appeals committee and talks about a curious case involving parentage. Dave was present and making a book when Frankie Dettori rode his ‘Magnificent 7’ at Ascot and remembers it fondly. In addition to bookmaking, Dave and his partner Susan owned racehorses and had a winner with Martin Pipe, he became a magistrate, oh and Chairman of Torquay United Football Club. Meeting Dave Phillips. (interview by Simon Nott)

Interview: RISHI PERSAD Rishi grew up in a family of Indian origin in Trinidad. In this interview with Simon Nott, he talks fondly of his life in the Caribbean and his first sporting loves Cricket and Horse Racing. After senior schooling in the UK he embarked on an extensive career in broadcasting with has included At The Races, Channel 4 Racing, ITV Racing, BBC and ITV covering sports from lawn bowls to the Olympic Games and Ryder Cup. Meeting Rishi Persad.

Interview: TOM PARK Tom is editor of the Racing Post Weekender, Racing & Football Outlook and the new Racing Post ‘Betting Guide’. In this interview with Simon Nott, he talks about his background, love of racing and Sunderland Football Club, why the world needs a new betting guide and divulges the more prevalent piece of advice for punters therein. Meeting Tom Park.

Interview: STEVE NOYCE A regular at racecourses of the South and South West of England, professional gambler and occasionally bookmaker. He tells his story, reflects on his past career and what the future holds for professional backers in this interview with Simon Nott. Meeting Steve 'Rucker' Noyce.

Interview: MADDY O’MEARA & JASON WATSON Maddy O’Meara and Jason Watson are head girl at Andrew Balding’s yard and professional jockey respectively. The couple talk about working in the racing industry, its plusses, minuses and what’s on offer to a young person. Jason, who won the 2018 apprentice title with 110 winners, talks about his dreams for the future as well as reliving his horror Kempton fall. Meeting Maddy O’Meara and Jason Watson.