Horse racing has seen many and varied journalists, commentators, presenters, and published authors. And even though you may not have seen him on your TV screens of late, if you want to be reminded of a real powerhouse of journalism, then look no further than Brough Scott.
I’ve enjoyed horse racing since the 1980s, and Brough Scott was one of the first racing men I took notice of. Even in those formative years, I could sense he spoke with both professionalism and authority.
Born on 12th December 1942, John Brough Scott grew up during the war years—a time of great uncertainty. Interestingly, his grandfather was none other than General Jack Seely, known as Galloper Jack, who fought in the Boer War (1899–1902) and World War I (1914–1918) as a dispatch rider. He galloped on his trusty mount, Warrior, between units to deliver orders—a truly dangerous role. Remarkably, both man and horse survived the entire war.
I can only imagine a young Scott was inspired by these exploits and that such bravery instilled in him a lifelong love of everything equestrian.
It’s also worth noting that Galloper Jack had a close relationship with Winston Churchill, with both men serving in World War I. Later, Scott would go on to write two books—Galloper Jack (2012) and Warrior (2011)—celebrating his grandfather’s remarkable life.
Scott came from a privileged background, as detailed by his highly decorated grandfather, Lord Mottistone—a general and Conservative Member of Parliament. In fact, he was Secretary of State for War prior to the First World War. His great-grandfather was none other than Sir Charles Seely, 1st Baronet—a family of industrialists and significant landowners.
Scott was educated at Radley College, a public school for boys, which these days costs about £60,000 per academic year. Thereafter, he read History gaining a degree at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
He began riding as an amateur jockey while at Oxford University, before turning professional. His first of over 100 winners came with the victory of Tamhill at Woore Racecourse, a now defunct track, a village in Shropshire, on 21st March 1963.
He retired from race riding in 1971 to become a full-time journalist and broadcaster.
Race fans will remember him joining ITV that same year, and in 1972 he introduced The ITV Seven, reflecting the number of races shown each week. Gamblers may remember it as the name of a fashionable bet at the time—The ITV Seven accumulator—where you needed to predict the winner of all seven races. This led to some colossal winning bets. There was a story in the 1970s of a painter and decorator winning £50,000, which was an enormous sum at the time. In today’s money, it would be worth £750,000.
Brough Scott worked for ITV from 1971 to 1985, and then made a belated return in 2017—after 32 years—when the channel resumed horse racing coverage.
He was also the anchor for Channel 4 Racing when it launched in 1984, and he worked as a broadcaster and presenter for the channel for over two decades.
Those who still enjoy The Racing Post have Scott to thank, as he was a co-founder alongside Sheikh Mohammed. The first edition was published on 15th April 1986 (I’m pretty sure my dad purchased that first copy for my brother and me).
Alongside this, he was a racing correspondent for The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Independent on Sunday, among other publications.
His work ethic is an example to us all, and his love of horse racing and history has seen him transition into a respected author of many noted publications:
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1984 – On and Off the Rails: The Best of Brough Scott
A collection of his writings, offering insights into the world of horse racing. -
1988 – The World of Horse Racing (with Gerry Cranham)
An exploration of the global horse racing scene, complemented by photography. -
1992 – Front Runners
Details about this publication are limited, but it contributes to his body of work on racing. -
1993 – Willie Carson: Up Front (with Willie Carson)
An autobiography of jockey Willie Carson, co-authored with Scott. -
2002 – Sports Betting: And How to Make It Pay (with Derek McGovern)
A guide discussing strategies and insights into sports betting. -
2004 – Galloper Jack: A Grandson’s Search for a Forgotten Hero
A biography of his grandfather, General Jack Seely, highlighting his military and equestrian achievements. -
2008 – Of Horses and Heroes
A compilation of Scott’s writings, reflecting on six decades of horse racing experiences. -
2010 – McCoy: A Racing Post Celebration
A tribute to champion jockey Tony McCoy, celebrating his career milestones. -
2011 – Warrior: The Amazing Story of a Real War Horse
The tale of Warrior, the horse ridden by General Jack Seely during World War I. -
2013 – Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius
A biography of renowned trainer Henry Cecil, detailing his life and career. Winner of the Horse Racing Book of the Year at the 2014 British Sports Book Awards. -
2017 – Churchill at the Gallop
An exploration of Winston Churchill’s relationship with horses and his equestrian pursuits.
Scott is noted for his charity work, particularly with the Injured Jockeys Fund, of which he has served for over 40 years as a Trustee and Chairman. In 2009, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his service to sport.
Very few horse racing commentators have achieved the status of Brough Scott, who stands as a paragon of professionalism and a passionate advocate for the sport of horse racing across all forms of media—a career that has spanned over five decades. You can learn more about his career and latest news by visiting his personal website: broughscott.com.