The BBC has axed its daily horse racing tips on Radio 4 Today to bring an end to almost 50 years of tradition on the flagship news programme.
It will come as a major disappointment to the racing industry, which is increasingly marginalised by the growth of betting in other sports.
Racing tips have been part of the Today programme for 47 years, delivered at the end of sports bulletins through the morning.
However, at the conclusion of the sporting update just before 7.30am on Monday, presenter Amol Rajan announced: “There are no racing tips today as we’ve decided to break the tradition of having racing tips every day of the year. Instead, we’re going to reserve the tips for the biggest days in the racing calendar.
“We will very much continue to cover horse racing, as we do so many other sports, not least through interviews with leading lights in the racing world. And we will sometimes continue to broadcast from the big-ticket events like the Grand National festival or Cheltenham Gold Cup week.”
The decision comes two years after the BBC dropped the Saturday classified football results on Sports Report, abruptly ending a 74-year radio tradition in a move which also angered sports enthusiasts.
Racing coverage has been repeatedly targeted as part of BBC attempts to establish itself among new audiences.
In 2020, the channel presided over a strategic cull which led to Cornelius Lysaght, its voice of racing, leaving, along with fellow staffer and host Jonathan Overend. Mark Pougatch – another respected anchor – was also told there was no regular work.
As well as the Grand National and Cheltenham, other major events expected to merit tips include the Epsom Derby, Ascot Gold Cup and King George VI Chase at Kempton.
A statement from the BBC said: “After careful consideration, we have decided to focus racing tips on the big races across the year.
“The Today programme remains committed to covering racing news and this will continue on the programme’s sports bulletins.”
Lysaght was among leading figures in racing to express disappointment on Monday. “A pity @BBCRadio4 @bbcr4today dropping [without real explanation] the tips that have been an enjoyable part of prog since 1977,” he posted on social media. He said he was making the point “just as much [maybe more] as a fan of Today than horse racing”. “The tips [that continue on big days] provided smiles and priceless moments of levity,” he added.
