EddieHeadshot

If I could go back in time I would love to have gone the career path of a jockey... their commitment to the sport is fantastic and they really put their bodies on the line.

How much pressure is there for the horses to get results? If you had a severe patch of not winning many races does this affect the finances of the yard?

The going has a massive impact from my experience, if the horse doesn't run well on a certain ground its a no-no.

When they state in the paper that they are wearing headgear or blinkers etc. do you think this can make a significant difference?

What does it take to train a good racehorse?

I live near Epsom, home of the Derby. The attendance was 125,000 in 2013 and its an absolutely fantastic day out.

Also very close by are Sandown, Kempton & Ascot. Surrey is a very affluent area and going to the races is seen as a chance to put your suit on and the ladies get dressed up for a good day out.

There are multiple betting shops in every town and most men who like football also have an accumulator bet at the weekend, so often may start to enjoy the horses too as the betting goes hand in hand. With online betting so accessible on smart phones i feel this is something that is growing more than ever.

Channel 4 has racing on nearly all day during Saturday and this is pretty much a prime time slot. Everyone knows what the Epsom Derby and Grand National are.

Its quite niche to follow it day to day, but certainly at the weekends and for the big festivals its very well followed.