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I rarely discuss horse racing at work. This is partly because not many people are interested but mainly because I don’t want people to think I am a louche sort of person.
However, I think it’s a bit sad. Why is it ok to speculate idly on who might win the football World Cup whereas attempting to discuss the Derby is seen as a bit weird?
Has anyone tried ‘coming out’ at work?
No don’t do it. It’s all very well discussion who might win a future race but the gits are bound to tell you all the results of a big meeting that you have recorded and are just about to go home and watch and ruin all the excitement.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I’m looked on as even weirder as I’m a woman who loves horse racing and doesn’t mind going into betting shops
those awful dens of iniquity full of swearing, boozed up elderly gents with rolled up sleeves. flat caps and a copy of the Daily Mirror under their arm 
Well that’s what they all think. I had a Saturday Job in a betting shop when I was younger so never think twice about going in them it’s a means to an end for me. I must admit they have come a long way and we have free teas and coffee and a smoke free atmosphere now. I only go in on a Saturday to see a couple of friends and chat horses, most of my time is spent on the Internet and at Newmarket where I rarely miss a meeting.
The only drawback I find in talking about horse racing at work is come Derby Day or Grand National everyone is asking you to pinpoint the winner for them, I had a few lucky calls but when they lose you feel awful.
If I’m at work and there is a big race on TV I usually sneak my laptop in and tune into Channel4OD and listen in through earphones, the problem comes when my horse is in the lead, jumping up and down shouting come on Hughsie is a dead give away..don’t you agree Nathan
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...We’ve got a tv in our staff canteen at work and I regularly put the racing on on a Saturday afternoon. They laugh at me in a sad kind of way, but it’s no use talking about it as their eyes glaze over after about ten seconds
Well, I was a receptionist at a small medical centre and chatted to
my captive audience about upcoming races. They didn’t seem to mind. And, as the main surgery was near to several bookies, they, [the staff, that is] got used to the fact that I’d be nipping there after work. In recent times I did start to keep quiet about the National though, because I got fed up of being told how cruel it was, but the girls in the office were always keen to talk about Royal Ascot [hence my defence of the TV coverage of the fashion side of racing]. One of my bosses was keen on racing and always had to have an IJF card from me each year.
We did have a store manager once who was very keen on racing, but he knew far more than me, and would regularly floor me with questions like "What d’ya fancy for the two thirty at Ripon tomorrow then?" I’d mumble that I hadn’t decided yet or something, but I don’t think he was fooled.
Of course it’s safe to talk about horse racing at work (unless you work in a betting shop in which case you must talk about FOBTs).
Mike
jumping up and down shouting come on Hughsie is a dead give away..don’t you agree Nathan
yes.
When over the hospital working I often say I’m going to the men’s room and go and find a tv. When Toronado was in the York International room I made my apologies to the receptionist in a outpatient department and changed the channel over to watch the races I told her I had, had a few quid on the Hannon horse as he was the ‘dogs bollocks’. Minutes later and with the horse trailing in last I change the channel back over walk off tail between legs past the receptionist who said ‘he sure was bollocks’…….Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
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I work in field sales and have done now for about 5/6 years. I often drop into into conversation with customers in hope I can find a fellow enthusiast, but 6 years on and I have still not found one!
Its the same with work colleagues really, they all know its my passion and some of them will chat and humour me, but thats all really.
We have one guy who is what I would call a ‘Saturday bookies punter’ but he is full of BS. These people always make me laugh, they underestimate your knowledge of the game/industry and come out with outlandish comments that you know are just not accurate.
To be honest, i would rather have no conversation on racing than painful conversation with mug punters.
Most people where I work think I am weird and cruel. Most of the people I know are vehemently anti-racing and think it is animal abuse. I try very hard to convince them otherwise….then we get articles in the Guardian that look as if they back up their views.
When I was moving house a friend came to help me box up books. They remarked that they had never seen "so many books on horses…..& gosh, Fiona aren’t you weird…."
Would have been all right if it had been football.So no, I don’t talk about racing at work. In fact there is no one for me to talk to about racing at all.
Crepello, you have my sympathy – mixing with people who read
The Guardian
An interesting topic Kasparov. That it needs to be asked is, in some way, indicative of the sport’s decline.
I don’t talk about racing to people who I know have no interest in it and, with luck, they don’t speak to me of their interests.
Golf enthusiasts are the greatest breakers of this protocol. They seem incapable of grasping that – to non-players – it’s as boring a topic as could be imagined.Personally, I’m all for working with the louche.
Unless of course one of your other pursuits is that you enjoy going walking ‘rambling’ to some people. Then you are regarded as weird.
One of the problems though is that lots of people expect you to know what is going to win any given race.
I have also come across many people in the past who are full of BS.
It is ok, each to their own, I have had to listen to countless people talking about baking.
I never have any fear about starting racing conversations at work and like to get some debates started most days. Working in a bookie’s office might have something to do with that, though!
As far as Joe Public are concerned anyone who likes a bet is a loser. "Everyone loses in the end, you never see a poor bookie".
Even if most punters don’t make a profit, do people make a profit from having a drink at a pub?
When I "worked", carpet fitting for my father’s business; he had/hasn’t got much interest in racing. Didn’t/doesn’t understand it… Up until fairly recently didn’t particularly like me talking to customers about it. Nobody tips you if they think it’s going to be "wasted" on the horses.
Now he tells anyone and everyone that’ll listen I make a living from it. You can see them thinking, "ye’ right".
Value Is Everything- Total Posts 22
As far as Joe Public are concerned anyone who likes a bet is a loser. "Everyone loses in the end, you never see a poor bookie".
Even if most punters don’t make a profit, do people make a profit from having a drink at a pub?
When I "worked", carpet fitting for my father’s business; he had/hasn’t got much interest in racing. Didn’t/doesn’t understand it… Up until fairly recently didn’t particularly like me talking to customers about it. Nobody tips you if they think it’s going to be "wasted" on the horses.
Now he tells anyone and everyone that’ll listen I make a living from it. You can see them thinking, "ye’ right".
You are spot on. Non racing people have no idea how technical it is and with some many different nuances to take into account.
They think we just sit in a bookies all day, backing favourites and backing the fastest horse in every race.
I don’t like speaking to anybody about racing who is not into racing at all. It is a pointless and irritating exercise.
Joe public know absolutely nothing about the sport in reality. You try talking to someone about it and you get comments like "it’s cruel", "the bookie always wins", "it’s all fixed" etc etc.
Then what really irritates is when the Grand National comes around. The same people that look down on the sport have their £2 per year bet and if ever their selection wins they talk like an expert "well McCoy was on it, always going to win" or "it likes the ground (picked up from a newspaper spotlight), was always going to win".
I don’t bet in the Grand National but if I did I guarantee I’d get "Where did your horse come, you follow the sport and I know more than you" (£2 punter).
It’s just not worth talking to people about racing unless they are fellow enthusiasts so I don’t.
As far as Joe Public are concerned anyone who likes a bet is a loser. "Everyone loses in the end, you never see a poor bookie".
Even if most punters don’t make a profit, do people make a profit from having a drink at a pub?
When I "worked", carpet fitting for my father’s business; he had/hasn’t got much interest in racing. Didn’t/doesn’t understand it… Up until fairly recently didn’t particularly like me talking to customers about it. Nobody tips you if they think it’s going to be "wasted" on the horses.
Now he tells anyone and everyone that’ll listen I make a living from it. You can see them thinking, "ye’ right".
You are spot on. Non racing people have no idea how technical it is and with some many different nuances to take into account.
."That horse beat the other one last time now this one beat it this time by miles. It’s fixed".
those awful dens of iniquity full of swearing, boozed up elderly gents with rolled up sleeves. flat caps and a copy of the Daily Mirror under their arm 
Well that’s what they all think. 
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