YOUR TRUSTED GLOBAL SPORTS DATA PARTNER

1. In our latest staff Q&A, we find out about Josh Sparke, the new Podium Managing Director. Josh brings a wealth of industry experience to the business, but who is his childhood hero, what sports does he follow, and who is his team? Read on to find out.
3. Which athlete do you think demonstrated the best winning mentality throughout their career?

Tiger Woods, for me, is a prime example of an athlete with an exceptional winning mentality. His relentless drive to succeed, work ethic, and ability to perform under immense pressure over time demonstrate his mental toughness. As a try-hard golfer, I can truly appreciate the time, effort and focus it takes just to hit the ball straight.  

1. Who was your childhood sports hero and why? Which of their sporting achievements had the biggest impact on you?

My cousin was a massive Michael Jordan fan, so my weekends were filled with watching the Bulls and getting dunked on. I remember how much game time he played, and even when fatigued, he was able to create these memorable moments we all remember. Watching The Last Dance brought all those memories flooding back.

1. What sports team do you follow the closest? Is there a family team or local side etc., and what has been the biggest moment in your history of supporting this club?

Aston Villa – When I moved to the UK in 2007, my in-laws gifted me a season ticket. I’ve held one ever since, and it’s been a wild ride, from the Intertoto Cup, relegation, to Wembley, and now the Champions League!

1. Is there a team manager from any sport, whether that be football, rugby, NFL, NBA etc., who you think demonstrated the best leadership qualities?

Sir Alex Ferguson stands out as an exceptional team manager due to his extraordinary leadership and management qualities. His ability to nurture and inspire players, adapt his strategies, and instil a winning mentality for decades speaks volumes about his understanding of the game and, most importantly, his players.

1. What sports tournament do you think consistently provides the biggest thrills? Which moment from this stood out to you the most in recent memory?

The World Cup: Italia ’90 was the first one I remember. For USA ’94, I would wake up in the middle of the night just to watch Gheorghe Hagi because he was left-footed like me. When Australia lost the World Cup qualifier to Uruguay in 2001, I thought I would never see Australia in the World Cup. However, the penalty shootout four years later still gives me goosebumps, even now talking about it!

1. If you could travel back in time to any historic sporting moment to watch it then and now, which would it be and why?

Not a specific event or moment, but I would love to see how the sports we love watching first started. For example, ice hockey – just a few friends skating around, picking up sticks and a rock. One person says, ‘I’ve got to hit this rock into that bin. ‘ The other replies, ‘ No chance, I’ll absolutely smash you before that happens!’

1. If you could go out for dinner with any sporting figure, current or historical, who would it be and what would you want to learn from them?

I would choose to have dinner with Muhammad Ali. I would love to learn about his experiences, the motivations behind his actions, and how he maintained his strong principles throughout his career under pressure and adversity. I think the dinner would have everything; he’d make me laugh, cry and probably knock me out after dessert! 

Podium and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new racing widget, encompassing racecards, results, insight and live odds, which will be rolled out across Reach PLC’s extensive network of news sites.

The racecards launched on The Mirror’s digital platforms in time for horseracing’s biggest betting event of the week, the Cheltenham Festival 2025, which started on Tuesday.

The cutting-edge widget is designed to enhance the accessibility and popularity of British and Irish horse racing and will be rolled out across Reach’s other titles in due course.

Built by Podium, in collaboration with RMG), the leading UK-based horseracing media rights company, the racecards delivers a seamless and engaging experience for racing enthusiasts.

Designed as an embedded iframe, the widget is packed with Podium’s pre-race content, expert runner comments, and race verdicts, providing fans with valuable insights to help inform their betting decisions.

The product features real-time odds allowing Mirror audiences that are both existing and new customers, to view live odds and place bets directly through the widget. This integration leverages Paddy Power’s affiliate programme for a seamless betting experience.

Fully customisable to align with the look and feel of partner websites, the racing widget ensures seamless brand integration while maintaining an intuitive user experience. Hosted and supported entirely by Podium, the widget requires minimal technical integration, offering an expedient and low-lift solution for publishers and platforms looking to enhance their racing coverage with a visually engaging and educational tool.

Shane Davison, Marketing Director at Reach PLC said:

“We’re excited to bring this innovative racing widget to our audience, offering an engaging and informative experience just in time for Cheltenham. This partnership with Podium enhances our racing coverage, making it more accessible and interactive for our readers.”

Richard Duncan, Head of New Business and Strategic Partnerships at Podium said:

“This collaboration with Reach PLC and RMG underscores our commitment to delivering best-in-class digital solutions for racing fans. The widget provides seamless integration, expert insights, and real-time betting opportunities, ensuring a richer experience for both publishers and users.”

Clive Cottrell, Director of Marketing at Racecourse Media Group, said:

“We are delighted to team up with Reach PLC and Podium on this exciting project. RMG is always looking at ways to enhance the appeal of the sport, and these new, innovative racecards will no doubt prove popular with readers across Reach’s titles.”

Podium and BetMakers Technology Group have announced a partnership with Sportradar, agreeing to integrate the AdVantage Platform, a cutting-edge racing wagering solution, into the sports technology company’s multi-award-winning ORAKO sportsbook offering.

The AdVantage Platform, powered by BetMakers’ advanced trading and platform technology and Podium’s market-leading data content and FLEXHUB race engagement tools, provides Sportradar’s ORAKO clients with access to a full suite of horse and greyhound racing events from around the world.

Operators using the ORAKO solution can embed the AdVantage Platform into their sportsbook and receive a full-service racebook, including managed risk, fixed odds and derivatives, comprehensive tote pool access, form, branded insights, tips, streaming, and granular reporting.

Podium will continue to facilitate official content licensing, working with rightsholders to ensure control and visibility over data usage. Podium’s FLEXHUB tools, designed to enhance racing accessibility for recreational bettors, will launch on the AdVantage Platform in H1 CY25. The first ORAKO customers are expected to go live with the solution in Q2 CY25.

ORAKO is Sportradar’s customisable, high performance and feature rich player account management (PAM) and sports betting solution that provides a single point of access to Sportradar’s award winning portfolio of betting products and services.

Jake Henson, CEO at BetMakers: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Sportradar, the world’s leading sports technology company. This collaboration not only underscores the strength of our team and products but also creates significant opportunities to enhance the global reach of racing. Sportradar’s swift integration of our product demonstrates their strong commitment to the racing industry, rights holders, and industry partners alike. Together, we look forward to driving innovation and growth, delivering greater value to all stakeholders, and expanding the global presence of racing.”

Josh Sparke, (Incoming) Podium Managing Director: “At Podium, we are committed to revolutionising the racing wagering experience, and our AdVantage collaboration with Sportradar is a testament to that mission. This partnership underscores Podium’s role as a trusted steward of official racing data. It ensures that rightsholders retain visibility and control while expanding their reach to new markets. We look forward to working alongside Sportradar and BetMakers to drive sustained innovation, unlock new operator growth opportunities, and deliver an unparalleled experience for racing enthusiasts worldwide”.

Jacob Lopez Curciel, SVP, Managed Sportsbook Services at Sportradar said: “Racing is the second largest bet on sport in the world by handle and through this collaboration successfully crafted with Podium and BetMakers, Sportradar is providing its clients with a plug-and-play product to engage their customers onto a great racing betting experience.”