Originating from Australia, Jim Aloysius McGrath was born on June 13, 1952, in Charlton, Victoria.
In his late teens, McGrath found few opportunities to commentate in his native homeland, so he moved to Hong Kong in 1973, working as a race caller for the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (RHKJC). He was well received for his clear and authoritative commentary, which led to him becoming chief commentator.
Based at Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses, he was known as “The Voice of Racing” in Hong Kong throughout the 1970s and 1980s. His energetic style transformed racing broadcasts.
In 1974, he joined Timeform, a highly respected racing publication originally founded by professional gambler Phil Bull. McGrath worked his way up from race analyst to Managing Director in 2000.
After over a decade in Asia, he used this experience to hone his commentary skills and reputation. He then moved to Europe, initially working as a race caller in Ireland at Phoenix Park Racecourse.
This led to an opportunity to cover York’s Ebor meeting in August of the same year, where he received positive reviews. However, he spent the next eight years in Ireland, traveling to racecourses across the country as a race caller.
In 1993, McGrath joined the BBC as a co-commentator and analyst, working alongside Sir Peter O’Sullevan, John Hanmer, and Julian Wilson.
He commentated on the following high-profile races:
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Epsom Derby
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Oaks
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Royal Ascot
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Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
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Irish Derby
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Hennessy Gold Cup
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Glorious Goodwood
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Welsh National
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Aintree Grand National
The Grand National commentary was shared between two or three commentators—Jim McGrath, Julian Wilson, and Sir Peter O’Sullevan. After O’Sullevan’s retirement in 1997, McGrath called the finish of the Grand National from 1998 to 2012.
McGrath’s promotion to Senior Race Commentator was controversial, as Julian Wilson claimed he had been promised the position following O’Sullevan’s retirement. Wilson later stated that he felt betrayed.
Timeline of the BBC Racing Team:
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Sir Peter O’Sullevan (1950–1997)
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Julian Wilson (1966–1997)
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John Hanmer (1972–2004)
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Clare Balding (1995–2012)
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Jim McGrath (1997–2012)
Although a UK resident, McGrath never forgot his Australian roots and commentated several times on the Melbourne Cup.
Other work included:
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1991–2014 – Racing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, writing under the pseudonym “Hotspur.”
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2004 – Became a presenter with At The Races.
McGrath was awarded the Royal Television Society’s Commentator of the Year in 2001.
Sir Peter O’Sullevan once said: “Jim [McGrath] is brilliant—the best I have heard. Accuracy is the lynchpin of race commentary, and he has no peers in that respect. He is a great caller. There’s no question that he will take over from me.”
Much to the horror of Julian Wilson.
McGrath retired from the BBC in 2012 when they lost broadcasting rights to Channel 4. He was particularly critical of the BBC for loss of the Aintree Grand National and other major races.
He retired from Timeform in 2013 after nearly 40 years of employment.