Flamboyant British horse racing pundit John McCririck dies aged 79
- McCririck, who is survived by Jenny, his wife of 48 years, passed away on Friday at a London hospital, according to a statement issued by his family
John McCririck, the flamboyantly attired and garrulous British racing pundit who became a household name as the face of Channel 4’s racing coverage, has died at the age of 79.
Typically clad in a trademark deerstalker hat and clutching a cigar, his gesticulating style was known even to many of those who were uninterested in the sport, about which he started broadcasting in the 1980s for ITV.
Born in Surbiton, Surrey, he worked variously as a waiter, bookmaker and as an award-winning journalist before going on to racing punditry.
In 1981, he joined ITV Sport’s horse racing coverage, which later moved to Channel 4. He spent decades at his familiar spot in the betting ring.
Other television appearances included on Celebrity Big Brother, before he acrimoniously left Channel 4 Racing in 2012, subsequently losing an age discrimination case against the station and production company IMG Media Limited.
After the loss of his case against Channel 4, he had described himself as “a pariah”, adding: “I’m now unemployable because of what’s happened here. My ability is unimpaired, my merit is unimpaired. It’s not as if they [Channel 4] brought other people in who are better than I am.”
McCririck, who is survived by Jenny, his wife of 48 years, passed away on Friday at a London hospital, according to a statement issued by his family.
It traced his interest in horse racing and betting back to his time as a pupil at Harrow, where he was the school bookie, before he graduated and spent time working for an illegal street bookmaker.
He later worked legally on-course, where he learned the art of tic-tac, clerking bets and making a book. His entry point into racing journalism was Formindex, a tipping sheet otherwise known as the Golden Guide, in advance of writing for the Sporting Life, where he won British Press Awards including specialist writer of the year and campaigning journalist of the year.
His first appearance for ITV came in 1981, when the celebrated horse Shergar won the Epsom Derby, and he continued to work for Channel 4 Racing until 2013, as well as the satellite channel At The Races.
“Despite suffering ill health in recent months, John continued to make several TV and radio appearances,” the family statement added.
“He is survived by Jenny, his wife of 48 years. His funeral will be private.”