Mark Dooley from British Racecourses awarded "Excellence in Horse Racing Analysis" at The European Awards 2026

Mark Dooley, co-founder of British Racecourses, has accepted the award for Excellence in Horse Racing Analysis at The European Awards 2026. The award recognises the racing analysis British Racecourses publishes, and much of that work starts with Mark himself.

From racegoer to racehorse owner

Mark has spent decades at racecourses across the UK and Ireland, working his way from racegoer to racehorse owner. He grew up wanting to be a jockey. Today he co-owns horses through Dooley Thoroughbreds, which he co-founded.

One of his best days in the sport came at the Galway Festival, where his horse Saltonstall won the Galway Mile. It was his first visit to the Festival, and the win was not one he expected.

Reviewing every course in person

At British Racecourses, Mark acts as racing editor and course reviewer. He personally reviews every racecourse the site covers and visits the venues in person.

That first-hand approach shapes the guides. They cover how each track runs on race day, its layout and character, the facilities, access and atmosphere, and what a punter needs to know about the betting.

Among his favourite racecourses are Ascot, Haydock, Windsor and Galway. He also rates Lingfield as surprisingly charming.

What the judges said

The European Awards placed the award in its Sports Betting category. It reports that British Racecourses won 68% of the total vote.

The jury said: "British Racecourses stood out for the sheer depth and reliability of its horse racing analysis." The expert panel praised the detail in the racecourse guides and the practical betting insight.

Mark's response was simple: "We are truly honoured to receive this award."

His other work

Besides British Racecourses, Mark founded Sports Betting Tipsters, which covers horse racing and football, and SmartPicksAI, a betting intelligence platform. He is also the author of The Practical Guide to UK Horse Racing, an ebook drawn from his racing and betting experience.

British Racecourses was founded in September 2020 by James Dooley and Mark Dooley.

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