Sport is made for betting

The image of racing. Look at racing in the media and what do you get? A lot of old faces with little appeal to the younger generation or non-racing followers. Case in point - John McCririck. Failed bookmaker, failed punter, know-it-all, sexist bigot and regularly tarnishing the image of the sport with his 'They knew' comments. All that does is add to the negative connotations of the industry from people that barely follow it. That racing is for old people. That racing is corrupt. That racing is an old boys club. How many people have a clue what he is doing when waving his arms about? How many under the age of 45? How many under the age of 30? What other industry would allow one of its frontmen to be so politically incorrect at a time where racing is desperate for a higher profile? I'm not a fan of Matt Chapman but a lot of people are. He does have an opinion, he does come across well on camera and he is not on the wrong side of 50. Hayley Turner looked good on camera during...

First race at Ascot today, the favourite in the 2yo race plays up at the gates, sweats up but eventually goes in. It drifts from 2.0 (evens) to 2.62 (13/8) on Betfair in the last couple of minutes, gets beaten and then John McCririck on ATR proclaims someone knew! Of course they bloody did, they were watching TV unlike the mindless buffoon! He then goes onto blame Sean Boyce for interviewing the jockey who didn't give the most positive tip for the horse, but that was shown well before the race. The drift would barely have happen with bookies simply because everyone has left the ring by the time the horses get to the stalls. Betfair don't stop until the finish post. Betfair once paid him to be an ambassador of the company for racing promotions, despite the fact the guy couldn't recognise a computer if it was sat in front of him. Eccentric, egotistical and clueless.