Radio 4 makes huge change to daily schedule after 40 years

Daily racing tips will no longer be a feature of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, it was announced on Monday. The tips, which were read out during the sports bulletin each morning, had been a feature for over 40 years.

Presenter Amol Rajan said: “There’s no racing tips today because we have decided to break the tradition and reserve the tips for the biggest days on 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 or Cheltenham Gold Cup week.” Cornelius Lysaght, who worked for the BBC for over 30 years covering racing before his departure in 2020, called the decision “a pity”.

He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “A pity @BBCRadio4. @BBCr4today dropping (without real explanation) the tips that have been enjoyable part of prog since 1977; say that just as much (maybe more) as a fan of #Today than #horseracing; the tips (that continue on big days) provided smiles & priceless moments of levity.”