Radio 4's Today programme has shocked listeners by revealing the extremity of a astir 50-year contented of having regular equine racing tips.
On this morning's show, big Amol Rajan, unexpectedly announced that starting contiguous it would 'break the tradition' of giving retired the tips each day.
He added that from present connected it would alternatively 'reserve' the tips for lone the 'biggest days successful the racing calendar'.
But the determination sparked an contiguous backlash from listeners who branded the determination 'very sad' and a 'win for joyless puritans'.
One well-placed manufacture source, speaking to the Mail, blamed the 'PC brigade' who had 'always hated it', saying determination were figures astatine the BBC who felt it was not 'appropriate'.
On this morning's Today programme, big Amol Rajan (pictured), unexpectedly announced that starting contiguous it would 'break the tradition' of giving retired the tips each day
Horses racing astatine Royal Ascot past weekend. There is speculation the equine racing determination is linked to disapproval by some carnal rights campaigners and concerns it encourages gambling. A radical called Animal Aid antecedently called for Today to halt broadcasting its extremity of the day
The determination follows erstwhile contention aft the BBC axed the classified shot results from Radio 5 Live connected Saturdays, a contented dated backmost to the 1950s.
There is speculation the equine racing determination is linked to disapproval by some carnal rights campaigners and concerns it encourages gambling. A radical called Animal Aid antecedently called for Today to halt broadcasting its extremity of the day.
Others judge the determination was much astir concerns the conception sounded precise aged fashioned.
A root astatine the BBC claimed the crushed was that the BBC wanted clip to screen a wide scope of sports successful the bulletin.
The racing tips person reportedly been portion of the programme since 1977.
But they volition present lone beryllium reserved for the large events specified arsenic the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National, Epsom Derby, Ascot Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase astatine Kempton.
At the extremity of today's sports bulletin connected the show, Rajan addressed sports newsman Mike Williams, saying: 'No racing tips from you today, Mike.
'That is due to the fact that we person decided to interruption the contented of having racing tips each time of the year.
'Instead we're going to reserve the tips for the biggest days successful the racing calendar.
Today will present lone springiness equine racing tips for the large events specified arsenic the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National, Epsom Derby, Ascot Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase astatine Kempton. Pictured: horses racing astatine the Grand National successful April this year
'We volition precise overmuch proceed to screen equine racing, arsenic we bash truthful galore different sports, not slightest done interviews with starring lights successful the racing world.
'And we volition sometimes proceed to broadcast from the big-ticket events similar the Grand National festival, oregon Cheltenham Gold Cup week.'
But the announcement sparked an unhappy absorption from listeners.
One wrote connected X: 'How bittersweet that BBC Radio 4 Today person seemingly ditched the racing tips. Another motion of racing moving from the centre of the nationalist conversation. And different triumph for joyless puritans.'
Another added: 'BBC Radio 4 has abandoned its regular equine racing tips. They were ne'er immoderate bully but it kept racing relevant, thing that is proving harder and harder these days. Very sad.'
One manufacture root told Mail: 'I deliberation it's conscionable the PC brigade, they person ever hated it. My guess, from the somewhat curled articulator you get from people, is they conscionable don't deliberation it's appropriate.'
They believed determination was an constituent of snobbery successful the decision.
There was besides speculation astir whether the determination is linked to the forthcoming departure of Today's agelong serving sports presenter Garry Richardson.
Ex-BBC equine racing analogous Cornelius Lysaght (pictured) wrote connected X: 'A pity BBC Radio 4 Today dropping (without existent explanation) the tips that person been enjoyable portion of the prog since 1977; accidental that conscionable arsenic overmuch (maybe more) arsenic a instrumentality of Today than equine racing'
The BBC's Broadcasting House headquarters. A BBC spokesperson said: 'After cautious consideration, we person decided to absorption racing tips connected the large races crossed the year'
Ex-BBC equine racing analogous Cornelius Lysaght wrote connected X: 'A pity BBC Radio 4 Today dropping (without existent explanation) the tips that person been enjoyable portion of the prog since 1977; accidental that conscionable arsenic overmuch (maybe more) arsenic a instrumentality of Today than equine racing.'
He added that the tips had 'provided smiles & priceless moments of levity'.
A BBC root said: 'The scope of sports covered connected Today is overmuch broader than erstwhile the racing tips archetypal started truthful it's a spot retired of kilter to person 1 athletics which is covered regular via the tips -when each different athletics isn't.
'This has not been an casual decision. We volition beryllium focussing tips connected the high-profile races of the year, including Cheltenham Gold Cup, Grand National, Epsom Derby, Ascot Gold Cup and King George VI Chase astatine Kempton.'
A BBC spokesperson said: 'After cautious consideration, we person decided to absorption racing tips connected the large races crossed the year.
'The Today programme remains committed to covering racing quality and this volition proceed connected the programme's sports bulletins.'
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