Jim Aloysius McGrath (born circa 1952 in Charlton, Victoria, Australia[1]) is the BBC's senior horse racing commentator. He was previously deputy race commentator, and sometimes a paddock commentator.
McGrath initially commentated in his native Australia but found few opportunities so he moved to Hong Kong in 1973.
In 1984 he moved to Europe, initially commentating at Phoenix Park in Dublin. In the same year he covered the Ebor meeting at York, receiving positive reviews from some national news sources.[2]
McGrath joined the BBC in time for the 1993 racing season.[1] He succeeded Sir Peter O'Sullevan as the BBC's senior race commentator in December 1997. Since then he has commentated on all the BBC's major meetings including the Epsom Derby and the Epsom Oaks, Royal Ascot, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Irish Derby, the Hennessy Gold Cup, Glorious Goodwood, the Welsh National, and perhaps the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National. For the Grand National he covers three portions of the 4½-mile race: the start until the first fence, the 13th to 17th fence, and from the 29th fence to the finishing post. McGrath has called home the winner of every National since 1998.
McGrath has also commentated on the Melbourne Cup in Australia.[2]
In 2004 he became a presenter on At The Races.[3] He has also been a journalist for The Daily Telegraph since the 1990s.[1]
In 2010 McGrath was dropped by the BBC from the Guineas meeting at Newmarket, but returned for later races.[4]
McGrath won the Royal Television Society's Commentator of the Year award in 2001.[5]