Betfair Official Blog

The hunt for betting.betfair.com's Editor-In-Chief

Our yard insider on elusive Editors-In-Chief, missing tips surrounding Black Jack Ketchum and advice to those looking for a career in racing

The Editor-In-Chief (EIC) of Betting.Betfair is an elusive character.

I've never met them. Nor have I met anyone who has met them. I use the pronoun "them" as I don't know if EIC is a boy or girl - or indeed an hermaphrodite.

All I know is EIC controls his writing minions with ruthlessness. In my case, this means firing regular email missives highlighting inadequacies and suggesting (stating) future direction.

This is what I've been told to do.

First, provide an insiders' insight into the goings-on of a racing yard. Second, where possible, demonstrate how this can inform a reader's punting. Third, where this is not possible, at least make the subject interesting, informative and interactive.

Lastly, don't tip. In fact, don't express any opinion as to a horse's chance in a race.

Well, last week, as I've so spectacularly failed on all the other counts, I thought it time to break that ultimate taboo. Yes, I decided to tip.

In reaction to Graham Cunningham's article: "Black Jack the value as he finally crosses swords with the Hardy Fella" I wrote that his opinion was nonsense, and that Black Jack would be easily beaten.

But the article was never published.

The reason, I am told, was an "administrative anomaly", meaning no-one came to post said article until after the race.

But I'm not so sure. Was this not the EIC just making a quiet statement? "I told you not to tip, so this doesn't get published."

Or perhaps Cunningham himself is EIC and wouldn't tolerate a dissenting a voice?

Now obviously I have no proof of anything, but I think we need to start asking ourselves some questions. What are we part of here? They've already shipped off the Brigadier with no explanation. Who's next? People who wear glasses? Women?

This website is nothing without you, the reader, so join me in demanding to know who EIC is. They'll listen to you. It's time they were held accountable.

****

A few weeks back Andy posted a question asking how a London based carpenter can find a job in racing.

The simple answer Andy is to start looking in the right places. The BHB website has a careers section (http://www.britishhorseracing.com/careersinracing/html/welcome.htm) and most racing yards advertise positions on either the Racing Post (http://www.rpjobs.co.uk/), Land Force (http://www.land-force.com) or Yard And Groom (http://www.yardandgroom.com).

But I guess the bigger question is what job you could do. You need to ask yourself what skills you have. Without any direct experience of working with horses, you'll find it difficult to find someone to take you on in that type of role, even as a trainee.

The British Racing School (www.brs.org.uk) and Northern Racing College (www.northernracingcollege.co.uk) do offer courses for people outside the industry - with guaranteed jobs in racing yards at the end of them - but all the trainees are teenagers, and you would have to convince the powers-that-be to let someone of your age attend.

If it's a job in racing more generally you're after, rather than a job in a yard specifically, then there are many more options. The industry is large and far reaching, and you could look at options in bloodstock, racecourse management, betting, transport or a whole host of others.

If you want some more specific advice, then please post a question and I'd be happy to respond.