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by: Racing EditorPosted on:

The Racing Blogger: Is Twitter Tipster Stephen R Power the Real Deal?

The sport of horse racing has long been littered with big and often divisive personalities. From Prince “I gotta horse” Monolulu to John “Big Mac” McCririck, and on to Matt “Yeehah” Chapman, racing’s larger-than-life stars have entertained and irritated viewers for decades.

Until the relatively recent past, such characters needed the support of a television broadcaster to enter into the mainstream. However, in 2026, budding racing personalities can create their own platform thanks to the wonders of social media. In the sphere of horse racing, few have harnessed the power of social media to better effect than Stephen R Power, aka The Racing Blogger.

From humble beginnings in 2016, @racingblogger now has over 220,000 followers on X, is an official ambassador for a betting company and France Galop, and has conducted face-to-face interviews with racing luminaries, including Aidan O’Brien. All of this without the support of any of the major racing channels.

Like many in the public eye, the Racing Blogger’s success hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Fans suggest he is a boon to the racing industry and just what the sport needs to attract a new, younger crowd. Critics, on the other hand, label him the “racing blagger” and suggest his success is built on little more than talented use of a selfie stick and a large slice of hype. But which, if either, side has it right?

Who Is Stephen R Power?

In the words of the man himself, “I am the greatest racing influencer in the history of the modern era”. Whatever Stephen R Power is, he certainly doesn’t lack in the confidence department. His backstory – as outlined in this 1 hour documentary – resembles that of many a racing fan.

Hailing from Irish stock, Stephen grew up on a council estate in Kilburn, London. A mad Arsenal fan, he was a self-confessed football nut as a youngster. First becoming aware of horse racing through his racing and bet-loving grandmother, Power credits an interview with Aidan O’Brien following Istabraq’s Champion Hurdle success as the moment he began to fall in love with the sport.

Taking to Twitter (now X) following the death of his grandmother, Power cited the ability to chat with fellow racing fans as the main attraction of social media. And chat he did. Slowly but surely building a steady following with his tips, tales of his betting exploits, and trackside videos, Power progressed from racing fan to become one of the sport’s biggest “influencers”.

The Racing Blogger: The Tipster

Some of the criticism levelled at The Racing Blogger centres around his record as a tipster. Accusations include deleting losing bets, consistently tipping only short-priced runners, and being in league with the bookmakers.

Whether you think his betting recommendations are dreadful or insightful, the quality or otherwise of The Racing Blogger’s tips is hard to assess. While his feed is littered with punting highs and lows, there is no documented evidence displaying the all-important profit and loss column of his selections.

The Racing Blogger: The Influencer

In fairness to Stephen R Power, he doesn’t market himself as a tipster, at least not in his X bio. The terms social media influencer or content creator are a much more accurate description of his output.

Some may find his persona brash and over the top, but his trackside videos undoubtedly portray the excitement of a day at the races. From the infamous triumph-to-despair of Enable’s near miss in the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to more positive outcomes, Power effectively portrays the tension and thrill of watching live racing.

Why the Criticism?

Smartphone Under Spotlight

In 2026, racing faces a battle for business with an ever-expanding list of competitors in the leisure industry. As such, you might think that anyone who brings the sport to the attention of so many would be welcomed. However, that isn’t the case with the Racing Blogger.

Most would agree that racing needs more publicity. The disagreement concerns the type of publicity. Invariably suited and booted, often with a drink in hand, and betting with substantial wads of cash, some suggest that Power glamourises gambling without paying due regard to any potential negative consequences. Included in that number is none other than Matt Chapman, who noted in a 2024 X post that:

“betting huge sums (allegedly) while boozing and being a thug is not the way to get young people into racing. It’s the way to get them in trouble.“

Is The Racing Blogger boosting the sport’s broad appeal, or is he only increasing interest within a subset of society, i.e. 20–40-year-old men who are happy to treat a day at the races as an opportunity to blow some money on booze and bets? Whether that is the case, or even if that is a good or a bad thing, is tough to assess. Some would argue that any increase in crowds is a boost. Others maintain that a crowd full of “Racing Bloggers” may drive existing customers away.

So is he the Real Deal?

Whether The Racing Blogger is the “real deal” depends on what you define him as. Is he a proven, top-class tipster, with a solid record of producing a profit for followers? There simply isn’t enough evidence to prove conclusively whether that is or isn’t the case.

Is he one of the most influential social media personalities in the sport? He almost certainly is. 220,000 X followers is more than many more mainstream racing personalities, including Matt Chapman, who had around 150,000 in January 2026.

Whatever you make of him, Stephen R Power certainly seems to be doing rather well out of The Racing Blogger. 10 years after first opening his Twitter account, Power has enjoyed perks such as invites to Australian racing events, a press pass for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a sit-down interview with Aidan O’Brien, a personal tour of Ballydoyle, and much more. Not bad for a man who set out with the intention of interacting with fellow racing fans.

Not for Everyone, But Who Is?

The Racing Blogger may never appeal to the type of racing fan who spends their hours poring over the form book, analysing speed ratings, and breeding lines. However, there are many ways to enjoy the sport, and not everyone has the time or inclination to dive so deeply into the racing world. In an era where racing is constantly assessing how to attract the next breed of fans, there may be a place for the Racing Bloggers of the world.

Universal popularity is hard to achieve in many walks of life, especially in the combustible social media environment. Real deal or otherwise, Power’s status may resemble that of one of his early idols. Reflecting on the golden era of Channel 4 racing, which helped get him into the sport, Power stated:

“I always loved Big Mac growing up as a kid – outspoken and brash. All the jewellery and funny hats, he was a real character who people either loved or hated.”