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05th Jul 2019

Popular racing broadcaster John McCririck has died aged 79

Dave Hanratty

John McCririck dead

Very sad news.

Legendary racing broadcaster John McCririck has passed away at a London hospital at the age of 79, according to a statement issued by his family.

McCririck was an iconic fixture for horse racing fans, highly regarded for his unique fashion sense and boundless charisma.

Paying tribute on Twitter, the Racing Post hailed “one of the sport’s most recognisable figures” and the face of Channel 4 Racing.

McCririck also appeared as a betting guru for ITV Sport and produced memorable turns in entertainment shows such as The Weakest Link, Question Time, Celebrity Big Brother and Wife Swap, winning new fans in the process.

“John’s interest in horse racing and betting began at Harrow where he was the school bookie,” notes the statement issued by his family.

“On leaving he worked for an illegal street bookmaker then legally on-course where he learned the art of tic-tac, clerking bets and making a book.

“John cut his teeth in racing journalism on Formindex, a tipping sheet otherwise known as ‘The Golden Guide’. He went on to write for the Sporting Life where he won British Press Awards, Specialist Writer of the Year and Campaigning Journalist of the Year.

“His flamboyant broadcasting style from the heart of betting ring proved extremely popular with racing fans and beyond.”

McCririck is survived by his wife Jenny, whom he married in 1971.

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