IT takes a lot to distract die-hard punters from their study when there is money to be made from punting.
But if the comments online are anything to go by it seems glamorous racing presenter Claudia Spadaro is doing just that.
Claudia has taken racing by storm and quickly grown into one of the most popular presenters
The stunning host has amassed an army of around 100,000 social media followers
The face of the rapidly-growing Hipica TV, Venezuela-born Claudia has shot to superstardom online.
She hit the big time with her exceptional coverage of last year’s Breeders’ Cup, where the awesome Flightline stole the show with his breathtaking Classic victory.
But away from the action on-track, it was Claudia making all the noise off it.
She has been with Hipica TV since it was set up five years ago.
And her love of racing is such that she wasn’t even getting paid when she first started hosting duties.
Explaining her meteoric rise to the face and voice of one of YouTube’s biggest racing channels, said told Thoroughbred Racing: “We started at Gulfstream with zero subscribers.
“But after getting a lot of attention we talked to 1/ST Racing about helping us to grow.
“They gave us the rights to all their tracks so right now we broadcast live from Wednesday to Sunday from Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Pimlico, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields – all the 1/ST tracks from the east to west coast.
“At the beginning I wasn’t getting paid at all but I had faith in Hipica TV as I knew one day it was going to blow up.
“Now we are one of the biggest racing channels on Youtube and I am so proud.”
And it seems she is a massive hit with punters too.
Claudia recently retweeted a message from one fan which read: “How can you concentrate on handicapping when that beautiful lady is on screen!”
Claudia said she worked for free until Hipica TV really took off
Her Twitter following of almost 70,000 and more than 30,000 Instagram followers single her out as one of the most popular presenters worldwide.
She said it makes all those free shifts to begin with worth it now she’s hit the big time.
Claudia, 29, said: “The first time we did it for free to show the Breeders’ Cup what we could do for them but we weren’t on-site
“The show was basically run from our studio in Miami.
“Then in 2022 we were paid to be at Keeneland and our numbers were crazy good.
“It was the most viewed social media live event for a horse racing event in history.
“It was really incredible and we were really happy with the numbers.
“It’s great to know the audience is loving it and that people in the United States are realising there is a hole in the market which we are filling.”
Explaining her own rise, ever-modest Claudia said: “The Latin people are so passionate.
Claudia says she hopes to present from Royal Ascot this year
“They are looking for horse racing tips and news 24/7. I think that’s why I get so many followers.
“I really try to do my best for them by creating content that makes them feel like they are in the first row at any track.”
So what’s next?
Well you can’t blame Claudia for not being too fussed on the traditional start of the Flat season at a boggy Doncaster last weekend.
But it looks like one event in Britain this summer is firmly on her radar.
She said: “One of my dreams is to go to Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Royal Ascot.
“It’s been a long journey to get this far but it is so rewarding to know so many people want to follow us.”
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/police-promise-robust-crackdown-on-vegan-mob-hellbent-on-hijacking-the-grand-national/
