Graham Goode
Encyclopedia
Graham Goode is a British
horse racing
commentator best known for his long association with ITV
and Channel 4
.
(mostly during The ITV Seven
, a part of World of Sport
). By the late 1970s, he was broadcasting regularly for the commercial network, but was still their third-choice commentator behind John Penney and Raleigh Gilbert
. From the beginning of 1981, he became ITV
's main commentator, remaining in this role (though on Channel 4
from the mid-1980s onwards) until New Year's Eve 1999 at Cheltenham
. Simon Holt
assumed the number one position during the broadcast at Uttoxeter
on 2 January 2000. He retired on New Year's Eve 2010 after calling his final winner at Uttoxeter.
During this period he commentated on 95 consecutive Classics, from the 1981 1,000 Guineas to the 1999 St Leger
, a run of Classic commentaries only beaten by BBC Radio
veteran Peter Bromley
. He also covered many other important events for Channel 4
, including the Eclipse Stakes
, Whitbread Gold Cup
, King George VI Chase
, the York
Ebor Festival
and, from 1995, the Cheltenham Festival
, as well as international races such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
, Prix du Jockey Club
, the Breeders' Cup
and the Arlington Million
. He continued as a racecourse commentator throughout this period, covering races such as the Grand National
which were televised by BBC Sport
.
His most memorable commentaries included his anguished "but oh! so much to do" when Dancing Brave
struggled to make up ground on Shahrastani
in the 1986 Epsom Derby
and his near-hysterical excitement at Desert Orchid
's fourth King George VI Chase at Kempton Park
in 1990.
Since 2000, when Simon Holt
replaced him as Channel 4's main race commentator, he has taken a lower-profile role, continuing to work for Channel 4 as a secondary commentator and also maintaining his career as a racecourse commentator, but now generally on lower-profile races.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horse racing
Horseracing in the United Kingdom
Horse racing is a popular spectator sport in Great Britain, with hundreds of years of unique heritage. Gambling on horseraces is also considered the cornerstone of the British betting industry....
commentator best known for his long association with ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Commentary career
Goode first became a racecourse commentator aged 18 in 1967, and from the end of 1969 onwards he made occasional broadcasts for ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
(mostly during The ITV Seven
The ITV Seven
The ITV Seven was an essential part of World of Sport in the United Kingdom. It started on 4 October 1969 when the programme began to show horse racing from two courses each week rather than one, under the title "They're Off". In the early 1970s it changed to the ITV Seven, reflecting the number...
, a part of World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
). By the late 1970s, he was broadcasting regularly for the commercial network, but was still their third-choice commentator behind John Penney and Raleigh Gilbert
Raleigh Gilbert
Walter Raleigh Willock Gilbert, known as Raleigh Gilbert was a British horse racing commentator active for 40 years.-Early life:...
. From the beginning of 1981, he became ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's main commentator, remaining in this role (though on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
from the mid-1980s onwards) until New Year's Eve 1999 at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
. Simon Holt
Simon Holt (commentator)
Simon Holt is a British horse racing commentator, who since the beginning of 2000 has been the main race commentator for Channel 4.-Commentary career:...
assumed the number one position during the broadcast at Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Uttoxeter Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, England.Uttoxeter is a left-handed oval shaped course of one mile two and a half furlongs in circumference....
on 2 January 2000. He retired on New Year's Eve 2010 after calling his final winner at Uttoxeter.
During this period he commentated on 95 consecutive Classics, from the 1981 1,000 Guineas to the 1999 St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, a run of Classic commentaries only beaten by BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
veteran Peter Bromley
Peter Bromley
Peter Bromley was BBC Radio's voice of horse racing for 40 years, and one of the most famous and recognised sports broadcasters in the United Kingdom.-Early life:...
. He also covered many other important events for Channel 4
Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television station Channel 4.-History:The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek coverage which had previously been on ITV...
, including the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
, Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
, King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, the York
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
Ebor Festival
Ebor Festival
The Ebor Festival is a four day race meeting held at York Racecourse in Great Britain during the month of August. The 2010 festival took place between Tuesday 17 August and Friday 20 August....
and, from 1995, the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, as well as international races such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
, Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
and the Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. He continued as a racecourse commentator throughout this period, covering races such as the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
which were televised by BBC Sport
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
.
His most memorable commentaries included his anguished "but oh! so much to do" when Dancing Brave
Dancing Brave
Dancing Brave was a thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1983, a bay colt sired by Lyphard out of Navajo Princess. He was purchased as a yearling by Khalid Abdullah for US$200,000 in Kentucky....
struggled to make up ground on Shahrastani
Shahrastani
Shahrastani is a European Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by HH Aga Khan IV, he was sired by Nijinsky and out of the mare Shademah....
in the 1986 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and his near-hysterical excitement at Desert Orchid
Desert Orchid
Desert Orchid , affectionately known as Dessie, was an English racehorse. The gallant grey achieved iconic status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running attacking style, iron will and extreme versatility. He was rated the fifth best National Hunt...
's fourth King George VI Chase at Kempton Park
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
in 1990.
Since 2000, when Simon Holt
Simon Holt (commentator)
Simon Holt is a British horse racing commentator, who since the beginning of 2000 has been the main race commentator for Channel 4.-Commentary career:...
replaced him as Channel 4's main race commentator, he has taken a lower-profile role, continuing to work for Channel 4 as a secondary commentator and also maintaining his career as a racecourse commentator, but now generally on lower-profile races.