New Channel 4 racing coverage starts tomorrow

Channel 4’s new racing team is to start work tomorrow (Tuesday, 1 January) with a visit to the yard of top trainer Nicky Henderson. Originally the show was due to be broadcast from Cheltenham racecourse, but racing has been abandoned due to the ongoing wet weather.

With its team headed by Clare Balding and Nick Luck, the channel — which is now the sole terrestrial broadcaster of the sport — will show 88 days of racing a year, with Clare as the lead presenter for 40.

Channel 4 has suggested changes to the show, which may include moving the major Saturday race to 3.50pm, to fit in with the half-time break in football. Exceptions will include the Derby and Grand National.

There are also plans to make photo finishes more exciting to the viewer and to run an onscreen stopwatch during races.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (28 December 2012)

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