Nicky Henderson dismayed after BBC delivers 'another kick' to racing by ending daily tipping on Radio 4's Today show

Nicky Henderson has called the Today programme's decision to end its daily racing tips as "dreadfully sad", while the Betting and Gaming Council's Michael Dugher described the move to ditch a guaranteed regular mention of the sport on Radio 4's flagship morning news show as carrying "more than a hint of snobbery".

It represents a significant hit to the public profile of racing on a programme with an average daily audience of 5.7 million listeners.

Rumours first surfaced in January 2023 that the future of the racing element which traditionally finishes each sports bulletin on Today was under consideration, although at the time the BBC said no decision had been made.

The racing section was missing without explanation from the first bulletin on Monday's programme at 6.25 and then again at 7.25, when Today presenter Amol Rajan said: "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."

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, although the BBC insists racing will not disappear from Today's sports bulletins.

A 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 understands that the continued presence of daily tipping is seen by the Today programme's senior editorial staff as akin to special pleading for racing in a sporting landscape that is much more varied than the one which existed when the segment was instigated in the late 1970s, and that it is more appropriate to focus on big events including the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, the Derby, Royal Ascot and the King George VI Chase.

Nicky Henderson: "What's amazing is the number of people who get in touch to say, 'I was listening to you on Radio 4 this morning'"Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

But Henderson – a go-to contributor on Today when racing coverage has extended beyond the tipping pay-off to the bulletins – believes the loss of a regular slot on a show with such a wide reach is bound to be detrimental to the sport's profile.

"It's rather sad," said Henderson. "I listen to Radio 5 Live and back in the day Terry Wogan used to do a show on Radio 2 with a feature called Wogan's Wager. Radio 4 has always done the same thing and I think it's dreadfully sad.

"It's an awful pity and it was just another little platform for racing to go out to the world. It's another kick in the back for the sport. It's always been there and it's rather nice that racing has had that daily mention."

• Cornelius Lysaght: 'It's a chipping away at the profile and the standing of racing in the UK and somebody ought to at least give the impression they care'

Henderson has personal experience of the way the Today programme reaches beyond racing's diehard fanbase.

"I've been on the programme many times and have always enjoyed doing it," he said. "When I've been on, what's amazing is the number of people who get in touch to say 'I was listening to you on Radio 4 this morning'.

"It tells you that a lot of people listen and the people ringing would be friends of mine that aren't necessarily into racing. But if their way of staying in touch is by listening to Henderson bumbling along on the radio, that's fine. It shows you the reach the programme has."

The BBC ended more than 60 years of live television coverage in 2012 when Channel 4 was awarded the exclusive free-to-air rights to British racing, while the number of live commentaries featured on Radio 5 Live has decreased in recent years.

Michael Dugher: "There's more than a hint of snobbery" about BBC decision

Dugher, chair of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: "This is sad news but unsurprising. It also says a lot of about the current standing of the sport at the BBC. I suspect there have always been people at BBC Radio 4 who regard the racing tips as a bit 'below stairs' and, if they like racing at all, they only care about the big 'dressing up' meetings like Royal Ascot or Cheltenham.

"Millions of ordinary people enjoy a regular bet – whether that's on bingo, the lottery or sports like racing. There's definitely more than a hint of snobbery from the Today programme with this decision."

Reacting to the BBC's move, a BHA spokesman said: "Racing is the second-best attended sport in Britain and enjoys considerable media coverage as a result. Through ITV Racing, the sport is live on free-to-air television on almost 120 days, as well as enjoying further coverage from two, dedicated racing channels in Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV.

"From Royal Ascot to the Derby, Cheltenham to the Grand National, British racing is internationally unrivalled in its prestige and tradition. It is why British racing is broadcast around the world and the consistently high-quality coverage of our sport reflects its continuing importance as a cornerstone of our national sporting culture and heritage."

Read these next:

Cornelius Lysaght: 'It’s a chipping away at the profile and the standing of racing in the UK and somebody ought to at least give the impression they care' 

Chris Cook: What did Radio 4's tips ever add to racing's status? If the BBC won't show us respect we'll rub along without them 

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