mage source: Freepik
Nick Mordin: An Introduction
Nick Mordin was once a leading light in the UK horse-racing world: a writer, researcher, systems-analyst and punter whose work in the 1990s and early 2000s was eagerly read by serious bettors and enthusiasts. He combined data, wit, form study and market insight in a way that stood out. But today, few hear from him. His presence has faded. The question many now ask: where has Nick Mordin gone, and why?
Early Career and Advertising Roots
Before Mordin became known in horse-racing journalism and systems advice, he worked in advertising, as a copywriter. That early career sharpened his writing style: memorable, clear, persuasive. It also seems to have given him discipline in presentation – how to explain complex ideas in engaging prose. Possibly, the advertising world also taught him about messaging, persuasion, finding the attention of an audience.
He gradually moved from writing advertising copy to writing about racing;e had both a passion for racing and a talent for turning statistical observations into narrative. He made the switch from “selling” in ads to “selling ideas” in racing. That transition was not instant, but it became his path.
Timeline of Publications and Work
Here is a rough timeline of Nick Mordin’s major publications and his work, particularly during his peak period:
- 1992 Betting for a Living – In this book, Mordin lays out a systematic approach: combining form study, data, betting markets and strategies so that a punter could hope to make regular return, particularly on weekends and public holidays.
- 1994 – The Winning Look – This book examines how observing horses in the paddock (their look, behaviour, conformation etc.) can help punters pick winners, or at least avoid losers. Also around this time he was writing “Systems” columns for The Sporting Life Weekender.
- 1995 – The year my brother’s research was published in the Weekend. Approximate date when Mordin published in *Weekender* a double-page “Systems” feature: *“In a Class of their Own: How to Spot & Back Potential Top-Notch Two-year-olds”*. This was part of a major 5-year study done by other enthusiasts (including a twin brother named Tony) on group-entered two-year-old racehorses. He followed up the next week with further thoughts.
- 1996 – Mordin on Time – This work goes deeper into time-based analysis, speed ratings, what time means in measuring a horse’s performance. It has become something of a collector’s item among racing punters.
- 2002 – Winning Without Thinking: A Guide to Horse Racing Betting Systems. This was built on many hours of research (tens of thousands of hours), analysing betting markets, system performance, patterns, rules. A more advanced work.
- Mid-1990s to 2000s – Regular contributions via the *Weekender*’s “Systems” columns. Readers remember his weekly systems drawings, data observations, insights into trends, trainers, odds movement. He was frequently cited and discussed in betting and horse racing communities.
What Made His Work Stand Out
Several aspects of Mordin’s approach made him different from many others:
- He was rigorous about research. Not just anecdote, but data, system back-testing, form study.
- He understood that horse racing is more than just past wins; how a horse looks, how it travelled, the conditions, speed, timing – those often reveal more than simple form.
- His writing distilled complexity into usable rules. His advice could be followed by amateur punters who were willing to study, often giving them tools rather than just tips.
- He operated in an era before big-data and mass internet analysis (or at least before it was common). So his use of systemic thinking, especially speed/time ratings and odds market behaviour, was relatively ahead of its time.
The Disappearance: When and How He Faded
Despite success, eventually Nick Mordin became much less visible. His books remain in circulation (though rare in some editions). His “Systems” column in *The Sporting Life Weekender* ceased to be a regular feature. Over time, fewer new publications appeared. Fewer interviews, fewer mentions.
Some speculated reasons:
- He may have found the public exposure tiring. Systems writing means you are judged, criticized. Errors or misses are noticed. Critics questioned retrospective / back-fitted systems (where horses are included as winners only because their official ratings were adjusted after races, etc.).
- The racing and betting world changed: markets moved more quickly, more people with access to data and racing software, more internet forums, tipster saturation. It might have been harder to maintain an edge or to maintain unique content.
- Personal reasons: perhaps a desire for privacy, a wish to step back. We don’t have reliable confirmation of health or family issues, but many people who once knew him remark that he simply withdrew.
- Possibly moved location or turned to private consulting or non-public forms of involvement. Some speculation in communities suggests he may be involved in Far East or overseas betting syndicates, or living abroad (though nothing confirmed).
Where Has He Gone?
No one knows for sure. Some of the ideas are:
- He retired from public writing, preferring to stay out of view.
- He may still be writing or analysing, but for private audiences or privately-published systems.
- He may have changed career direction, or shifted focus away from racing columns to other forms of work.
- He might have relocated geographically, perhaps outside the UK. Some chatter suggests United States or Far East, but that is unverified.
Why His Absence Is Felt
For punters and horse racing followers, Mordin’s disappearance is lamented because:
- His work balanced thoughtfulness and practicality. Many pundits give predictions; Mordin gave reasoning and tools.
- His “Systems” columns were not just predictions but invitations to learn: how odds, paddock observation, speed, ratings all combine.
- He held a rare credibility: not just writer, but someone who bet, studied, tested, published. His books still fetch attention.
Legacy
Even though he is not currently active (so far as public evidence shows), his influence persists.
- Many later writers and system designers build on ideas similar to Mordin’s: speed ratings, time-analysis, combining form and observation.
- His books are still read among serious punters, collectors. *Mordin on Time*, for example, is considered rare and valuable.
- Research done by others continues to reference or republish parts of his old Weekender articles, especially the “how to spot top-notch two-year-olds” piece.
Conclusion
Nick Mordin’s story is one of brilliance, insight, and eventual withdrawal. From an advertising copywriter, he became a respected racing author and systems analyst, publishing several important works in the 1990s and early 2000s. But after a period of success, he withdrew from the public eye. No confirmed statement as to why or where he is now.
His disappearance may be the natural end of a phase: perhaps burnout, perhaps loss of interest in public scrutiny, perhaps just a wish for privacy. Regardless, his work still matters. For anyone interested in horse racing systems, speed ratings or serious betting, Nick Mordin remains a reference.
If you want to know about the secret email… (You will have to comment and I may well reveal more…)
Photo: Freepik
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In the realm of horse racing, few names have resonated as profoundly as Nick Mordin’s. A trailblazer in betting analysis, Mordin’s innovative approaches and publications transformed the way punters approached the sport. Yet, in recent years, his presence has faded, leaving many to wonder: where did Nick Mordin go?
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