Horse Racing Forum - USA Thoroughbred Races

Jim McGrath, the Australian born legendary horse racing announcer from England, retired on September 7th. Born in Australia in 1952, he began calling races in his home country until 1973, where he became the English speaking race caller for the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. In 1984, he became the race caller at Phoenix Park Racecourse in Ireland. In 1993, he became the racing analyst and race caller for the British Broadcast Company (BBC). McGrath was one of the race callers for the Grand National Steeplechase from Aintree for the BBC telecast from 1993 through 1997 along with Sir Peter O'Sullivan and John Hanmer. In 1998, a year after Sir Peter O'Sullivan announced his retirement, McGrath became the lead announcer of the BBC Grand National Steeplechase Announcing Team along with other race callers such as John Hanmer, Ian Bartlett, Tony O'Hehir, the professional race caller from Ireland, and Darren Owen. Throughout his race calling career, McGrath had called prestigious races such as the Melbourne Cup, the Epsom Derby, Glorious Goodwood, Royal Ascot, and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and most of them were televised on BBC. In addition, in his horse racing broadcasting career, McGrath is also a racing analyst for the international simulcast of the Dubai World Cup, along with fellow British race caller Richard Hoiles and HRTV's racing analyst Scott Hazelton.