It was actually ITV in the early 80's, before all the racing went to C4.
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BBC has actually been covering horse racing for 64 years - Royal Ascot was first televised in 1948.

According to another forum, this is exactly what is happening tomorrow (I'm sure someone can confirm this).

That is the final insult to racing fans and those that have worked on the BBC's racing coverage over the years.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...ll-over-it-now

The original listings for tomorrow was Racing from 12.45pm to 3.05pm

The BBC Two website has a film called North West Frontier tomorrow from 12.45pm to 2.55pm and Coast for the other 10 minutes.

While not being a massive horse racing fan and just watching the big days at least the BBC made a big deal of the Champions Day at Ascot in October because the Welsh National at Chepstow is always in danger because of the weather

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rac...acing-BBC.html

peter o'sullivan's view of no racing on bbctv

He goes on about "ignoring national events" etc, but you have to draw a line in terms of how much it's going to cost the licence fee payer somewhere.

extraordinary the BBC aren't broadcasting a farewell show to horse racing

They marked it at the end of the last meeting. In one respect you'd be silly for making too much of a big deal for the corporation no longer providing that service.

Very true, it isn't a bottomless pit


Quite agree. Why make a fuss of something that isn't going to happen

dose anyone no if channel 4 have plans to us one of it's other channels to cover race's along side channel 4 it's self.

The only fit would be More4 but my understanding is everything will be on C4. As the racing is in the afternoon it does not clash with their Primetime evening schedule.

As a racing fan, I am happy to use At The Races (mainly for the Irish racing) and Racing UK which is very professional. I should say that, although John McCririck comes across as a buffoon on Channel 4, he is at his knowledgable best on ATR.

I shudder at quoting the bout of illiteracy above, but by all accounts More4 will be used to ensure that all races at Royal Ascot are shown.

I suppose that's the closest thing Channel 4 have to a red button stream.

The Express does seem a rather appropriate resting place for Julian Wilson, seeing how when he moans in his autobiography about having to co-present with Clare Balding in 1997, he refers to her as having "survived" the "jungle radio" of the (actually overwhelmingly white) Chris Evans breakfast show.

So is this Saturday the last of the 2012 season for C4 racing?

Yes. I think it will be Fat Al & Francome's last appearances - Thompson & McCririck have already departed, yesterday (and Lesley Graham on last Saturday's Morning Line).

The EPG for Saturday says that Big Mac is on on Saturday.

I had very little time for the man, though I did hear that he and Coleman nearly came to blows on a few occasions. I predict it would have been "One-Nill" to DC had it actually happened

Yeah I saw that and also Fat Al said on Boxing Day it was goodbye for Thompson but didn't mention Francome and Big Mac so unless something happens between now and then expect to see them at Newbury tomorrow.

Big Mac is on today. Did they do a goodbye for Tommo the other day?

Very nice tribute at the end of The Morning Line this morning to all the people that have worked on C4 Racing. I guess they will show it at 320 today too.

My own thoughts on the new line up is that they are losing touch with the "common man". Claire Balding is very good and knowledgeable as we know but the likes of Fat Al, Thommo and Francome resonate with the man in the bookies and on the course. I fear this new line up is a little too middle class

Quite a savage piece about the new line-up in today's Sun - and, rather sadly, McCririck apparently still waiting for a call from the new producers.

He said that on The Morning Line