From The Horse's Mouth - Mark Van Deventer

Many people engrossed in racing also so happen to love other sports. Though the technical, tactical and emotional aspects vary across different games, there is a commonality/cross-over appeal to all types of sporting endeavour.

Punters, who are likely to follow and bet on multiple sports, and industry participants, such as trainers and jockeys, may, for example, enjoy relaxing on the golf course, playing tennis or padel, dashing around the action cricket arena or kicking a soccer ball with mates.

Apart from the fitness benefits, it also fuels their competitive fires and provides practical learning opportunities.

Gaining those wider “life lessons” prompts the suggestion to follow the excellent Tennis Insider Club podcast series.

Hosted by articulate and gracious, recently retired, Top Tenner, Caroline Garcia and her very bright, well-educated husband, Borja Duran their show features interview with famous current and past players, renowned coaches and even, tennis parents.

The pods I’ve watched so far are candid and insightful, covering a range of tennis topics but with broader resonance across sporting codes.

For example, the challenges jockeys go through in their careers such as dealing with race-riding pressures, coping with injuries and spells of rehab, psychological issues like depression/ eating disorders or handling the rigors of constant travel and then, at some point, eventually confronting retirement has direct parallels with the issues of pro tennis players.

Wisdom conveyed by elite coaches of World No 1’s, such as Darren Cahill, Brad Gilbert and biomechanics guru, Gavin MacMillan are relevant to trainers in racing who are effectively not just conditioning racehorses but also managing the competitive aspirations of stable staff, jockeys and owners.

When you have some spare time, I strongly recommend visiting Garcia and Duran’s tennisinsider.club site.

Comments made by their prominent guests on the stimulating buzz and exacting rigours of modern, professional sport make for compelling viewing.

And you may well uncover nuggets of “life-coaching” wisdom which can prove helpful…