BBC scraps daily horseracing tips on flagship Radio 4 programme

The BBC is set to “break tradition” with the scrapping of its daily horseracing tips on the Radio 4 Today programme, effective today, 24 June.

The tips, which were aired at the end of the sports bulletins throughout the morning on the popular news broadcast, will be reduced to flagship racing events throughout the year.

The Today programme has been broadcasting daily horseracing tips for 47 years, with the Daily Mail first reporting the possibility of the slots scrappage in January 2023.

The programme’s host Amol Rajan revealed the decision this morning in a light-hearted conversation with sports reporter Mike Williams.

Speaking at the end of the sports bulletin, Rajan said: “No racing tips from you today, Mike. That is because we have decided to break the tradition of having racing tips every day of the year.”

Rajan continued: “Instead, we’re going to reserve the tips for the biggest days in the racing calendar.

“We will very much continue to cover horseracing, 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.”

News agency the Press Associationhas reported the Epsom Derby, Ascot’s Gold cup and the King George VI Chase at Kempton are expected to merit tips during the programme.

A BBC spokesperson 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.”

The Racing Post said the decision “will be seen as a significant blow for the profile of the sport as it battles to maintain relevance with the wider public” as part of its reporting on the matter this morning.