10 years ago to the day I broke rules & persuaded nurse to smuggle a tv in to cancer ward at Southampton GH for Festival. Chemo drip fell out as Wichita Lineman jumped last!
En route to Cheltenham determined to appreciate it more than ever.
I hope you enjoy
@itvracing
coverage
The Virtual Grand National
- 4.8 million watched on tv
- £2.6 million raised for the NHS
- some v funny posts on Twitter
Well done the “racing family” 👏🏼👏🏼
9.6 million people watched the Grand National on
@itv
.
(Over a million up on last year).
Plus huge increases on Thursday & Friday.
Jump racing is one very popular sport right now
I’ll never forget Ray Wilkins taking me aside before presenting one of my first Premier League games: “I’ll look after you fella”.
Always a team player. A ‘terrific’ man.
Keep fighting Razor
I can safely say that was the most enjoyable week in my 19 years in television. Thank you
@Ascot
& the
@itvracing
team in front & behind the camera.
Most importantly: I hope everyone enjoyed it at home
It’s been a dark few days for the sport. It’s makes me feel desperately sad for the many thousands who have total commitment & devotion to their horses. The light:
#fortheloveofhorses
&
#RacehorseWelfare
which we’ll continue to showcase on
@itvracing
4.8 MILLION people watched the Virtual Grand National on
@ITV
yesterday. Well done to all involved.
Now let’s hope lots of money was raised for the
#NHS
Shop in Stockbridge:-
Stranger: “Really enjoyed the ITV Royal Ascot coverage. You were brilliant”
Me: “Thank you. That’s kind. Enjoy your day”
Stranger: “Has made my day to meet you, Oli”
Great.
These guys were brilliant this week. "Irish corner" clapping every winner & then donating €25,000 to
@WellChild
was pure class.
I can’t thank you all enough 👏
@HRIRacing
Yesterday on
@itvracing
1.45 million watched the 2,000 Guineas
(double last year)
A million viewers is always our holy grail - every Newmarket race had over a million.
1.30pm start today 👍
A weird yet wonderful week
@ascot
. A monster effort behind scenes to produce 24 hours of tv in difficult circumstances. We didn’t get everything right but did engage with a staggering amount of people.
As Damien Lewis said:-
“Horse racing is spine tingling”.
❤️ Team ITV
I’m lucky to work with such a talented ITV production team.
After months of planning this was Tuesday’s ‘Irish’ Cheltenham Festival opener inspired by the brilliant
@Rachjackson11
Woken up to so many kind messages about the SJA Sports Broadcaster of the Year Award. Thank you.
A lovely surprise & hopefully good for the sport of horse racing
Today was one of my most challenging days as a broadcaster. Sport was watching racing.
Hopefully we were a safe pair of hands, especially with the empathy & professionalism of
@RichardHoiles
.
So proud of all the team at this most testing of times
35 live races on
@ITV
. 30 hours of coverage. A Royal Ascot where the love was shared amongst so many owners, trainers, jockeys & grooms👏🏼.
Events need people. People need events.
🤞
@ascot
test event showed the Government it’s safe to open up. Hope you enjoyed
Has anyone started a petition to get the racing coverage away from
@itvracing
yet.... Omg a dead cat has more charisma than Ed Chamberlain
#CheltenhamFestival
Been stopped by countless people recently & told that watching racing has kept them going. Rest assured ITV Racing will do everything we can to keep lifting spirits during lockdown by bringing you the best racing every w/e & the brilliant stories that make our sport so great 🙏
When I was ill one of the first letters I received in hospital was from Sir Alex Ferguson. Gave me a huge boost.
All at Newmarket thinking of Sir Alex & his family
Annual cancer check-up. Done. All clear. Phew. Next:
@SportingLife
podcast then off to Newbury to prepare for a Super Saturday of racing & rugby on ITV
Loved
@nassercricket
’s line:-
“For one final time the long, lonely walk back to the dressing rooms for Alastair Cook - but this time he goes with the thanks of a cricketing nation.”
Class broadcasting
Didn’t win. ETA in Wetherby 3.12am.
BUT thrilled the Sports Presenter of the Year is the ace
@laura_woodsy
👏🏼👏🏼
Great night with Team ITV ❤️
Thank you for the nomination
@broadcast_sport
🙏
Anthony: great jockey. Even better human being.
Especially the work he does behind the scenes for the
@IJF_official
As you enjoy the racing this weekend please keep Graham & the Lee family in your thoughts 🙏
🗣️ "It's been the most horrendous week...It's going to be a long road."
🗣️ "He'll get all the support we can give him."
Sir
@AP_McCoy
updates us on Graham Lee ❤️
ITV Racing “Christmas Festival”!
26th Dec Kempton
(King George moved to 2.30pm)
27th Kempton & Chepstow
28th Leopardstown
29th Leopardstown
31st Newbury
1st Jan Cheltenham
The best racing from both sides of the Irish Sea…
Delighted to say the audience on
@itvracing
at
@CheltenhamRaces
yesterday peaked at 1.4 million - up 300,000 on last year.
1pm start today: Altior & the Tiger as headline acts.
I hope you enjoy
Lovely to hear Mark Taylor at the cricket talking about the Neville family in glowing terms. When picked up at the airport by Neville Neville “I thought he had a bit of a stutter at first.”
@GNev2
@traceynev
An on air power cut, a -4 windchill, a massive gamble & a Monkfish. A nice, quiet Sunday afternoon on
@itvracing
! Hope people enjoyed the bonus day, the racing & the distraction
Aldaniti & Spartan Missile hooked me. I wonder how many youngsters will follow horse racing now because of Tiger Roll?
The “little rat” has become a racing giant.
*I held it together on
@itvracing
. Just!
@itvracing
@JohnnyMurtagh
@chamberlinsport
Stick to the racing, we all have mental health issues but there is a time and place to discuss this... NOT ON ITV RACING! Stick to the racing and leave these issues for others. No time given to John Quinn's winner or his jockey! Focus on racing!!!!
Dave Clark has presented the World Championship Darts every festive season for 20 years.
In 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's but defied the odds and carried on presenting live sport for 10 years.
Thanks to everyone who watched & gave horse racing a whirl this weekend.
Fun to have live sport back.
Roll on Newbury AND The Irish 2,000 Guineas
@curraghrace
live on ITV on Friday evening
Lord’s ticket for my 12-y-o son today: £10. Brilliant.
Best things about The Hundred: terrestrial tv coverage & cheap kids tickets.
Horse racing needs to shout from rooftops to families that accompanied children can have a great day out for FREE!
I think I showed just how hard the job was - & just how brilliant Jeff was - when presenting Soccer Specials. A broadcasting legend bowed out in style 👏🏼