Jim McGrath (British commentator)

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For other people with the same name, see James McGrath (disambiguation)

Jim McGrath is an English based horse racing commentator, and Managing Director of Timeform

McGrath had an ambition to become a jockey, but after a summer at trainer Bill Marshall's yard at Whitsbury, he was advised that he wouldn't make the grade. On leaving school, McGrath joined publisher Timeform in 1974 "putting the glue on cards." After five years, he became a racecourse reporter, and in 2000 Managing Director.^[1]

McGrath joined Channel 4 Racing at launch in 1981 as a pundit. He was a member of the British Horseracing Board’s Jump Racing Advisory Panel from 1993 until mid-2004. In 2004 he stepped down a member of the Horserace Writers and Photographers’ Association Committee. In 2005 he became an independent director of the British Horseracing Board, a nominee of the Jockey Club.^[2] and retained this position when the BHB became the British Horseracing Authority in July 2007.

McGrath is a breeder and owner, with current interests in horses in training with Sylvester Kirk, Jamie Osborne and Jonjo O’Neill.^[3]