BETTING ODDITIES: Journalists, influencers, bloggers & vloggers

BETTING ODDITIES: In his latest weekly blog, DAVID STEWART takes a sideways look at some of the stories making the news in the betting world and beyond.

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BLOGGER WINS ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND

Even the Racing Blogger’s harshest critics surely must have budged an inch or two after his whistle stop tour of Ireland? There was some great content from both the racecourses and seeing him meet equine heroes, three-times Champion Hurdler Istabraq and the legend himself Galileo.

It also surely doesn’t get much better than having a chat with Aidan O’Brien in the ‘coffee room’.

Blogger’s content has seen other like-minded individuals giving it a go and again the subject of filming at racecourses has come under the spotlight.

I get that the TV companies pay plenty of cash for exclusivity but that surely is essentially for the live pictures which in no way threatened by bloggers.

In fact it’s the opposite – the widespread social media coverage of UK Horse Racing PLC to, often a new, audience via Racing Blogger(s), Simon Nott(s) in the betting ring, Joe Public(s) can only lead to more sign-ups and can you really believe that a TV channel would lose a SINGLE subscription because of social media generators? Preposterous.

I’ve also seen debate about what these guys should be called: journalists, influencers, bloggers, vloggers? In the old days it was just called old fashioned PR and for racing to turn away free PR in 2020 is surely a seismic own goal that even VAR can’t correct?

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ANOTHER GAP IN THE HIGH STREET

Same story all over – shops leaving the UK High Street. The latest on my patch being GAP in Kingston.

The Christmas trading reports didn’t bring much relief either. Even Edgar the Dragon couldn’t save John Lewis and M&S fortunes continue to head south.

One thing that bemused me by M&S’s explanation of yet another downturn …

They admitted to “overestimating demand for tight-fitting men’s clothing in the run-up to Christmas.” Staggering, judged by my own over-consumption, clothes that go, er, the other way would be more in demand.

Dear M&S. I’m available for retail consultancy. And not just any retail consultancy, this is David Stewart Retail Consultancy.

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I’M GOING TO BE A BOOK MAKER

A book shop is my happy place.

I’m increasingly curious though about the number of get rich quick books. “Become the next Amazon, Google, Apple from your front room for just £100” etc.

Mugs like me occasionally buy them, so I’m now wondering that the quickest way to get rich is just to WRITE a damn book about getting rich.

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ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS

My sequence of runs has been paused at 81 daily runs. Pleased to have smashed the 66 original target and delighted to have raised over £1,000 for Prostate Cancer. Thank you to everyone who has supported me.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidstewartroute66

The running legs needed a break so I switched to two wheels today, ignored Storm Brendan and cycled to Kingston. The route is vaguely squarish yet I was cycling into a head wind every which way. How is that even possible?

Toto, we’re not in Kingston any more.

David

DAVID STEWART is a freelance digital betting producer and journalist. His CV includes: The Sun, The Sporting Life, Racing Post, At The Races, The Sportsman, lead feature writer for Sky’s Betview magazine and senior producer Timeform Radio.

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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