Brough Scott
Among the best-known figures in racing, John Brough Scott was born on December 12, 1942. His grandfather was the noted Great War soldier ‘Galloper Jack’ Seely.
Among the best-known figures in racing, John Brough Scott was born on December 12, 1942. His grandfather was the noted Great War soldier ‘Galloper Jack’ Seely.
Brough was educated at Radley College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he read history. He started his racing career as an amateur rider and had his first mount in public on Tamhill at Woore on March 21, 1963, finishing unplaced in a 28-runner hurdle race, a massive field for such a small track.
Brough was educated at Radley College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he read history. He started his racing career as an amateur rider and had his first mount in public on Tamhill at Woore on March 21, 1963, finishing unplaced in a 28-runner hurdle race, a massive field for such a small track.
He rode his first winner on Arcticeelagh in the Richard Marley Memorial Cup, an amateur riders’ Flat race, at Lingfield on August 24, 1963. His first winner over jumps was Arcticeelagh, trained by Frenchie Nicholson, in the Monmouth Handicap hurdle at Chepstow on October 26, 1963. He rode Time in the 1965 Grand National, parting company at the fence before Becher’s on the second circuit.
He rode his first winner on Arcticeelagh in the Richard Marley Memorial Cup, an amateur riders’ Flat race, at Lingfield on August 24, 1963. His first winner over jumps was Arcticeelagh, trained by Frenchie Nicholson, in the Monmouth Handicap hurdle at Chepstow on October 26, 1963. He rode Time in the 1965 Grand National, parting company at the fence before Becher’s on the second circuit.
Having ridden 40 winners over jumps as an amateur, Brough turned professional in 1967. He scored his most important success in the 1968 Imperial Cup on Persian Empire. He also won the 1969 Mandarin Chase on The Otter.
Having ridden 40 winners over jumps as an amateur, Brough turned professional in 1967. He scored his most important success in the 1968 Imperial Cup on Persian Empire. He also won the 1969 Mandarin Chase on The Otter.
He suffered his share of injuries, including a broken back, broken neck and a punctured lung, before retiring from the saddle in 1971, having ridden a total of 100 winners. He then turned his attentions to journalism and TV presenting.
He suffered his share of injuries, including a broken back, broken neck and a punctured lung, before retiring from the saddle in 1971, having ridden a total of 100 winners. He then turned his attentions to journalism and TV presenting.
He joined ITV in 1971 and served as horse racing’s anchor-man for the next 30 years, presenting coverage of all the major races, both in Britain and overseas, firstly for ITV and then with Channel 4 Racing.
He joined ITV in 1971 and served as horse racing’s anchor-man for the next 30 years, presenting coverage of all the major races, both in Britain and overseas, firstly for ITV and then with Channel 4 Racing.
In addition, he became racing correspondent for the Sunday Times, succeeding Roger Mortimer, and also wrote for The Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph, not merely on horse racing but on a wide range of other sports, covering Wimbledon, the Open, the Olympics, the Football World Cup and a Rugby Lions tour. He has three times been voted Sports Feature Writer of the Year.
In addition, he became racing correspondent for the Sunday Times, succeeding Roger Mortimer, and also wrote for The Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph, not merely on horse racing but on a wide range of other sports, covering Wimbledon, the Open, the Olympics, the Football World Cup and a Rugby Lions tour. He has three times been voted Sports Feature Writer of the Year.
He also co-founded the Racing Post in 1986 in collaboration with Sheikh Mohammed, and was involved as a consultant in the creation of various events including the Arlington Million, the Dubai World Cup, and the inaugural Aspire4Sport in Qatar in 2010.
He also co-founded the Racing Post in 1986 in collaboration with Sheikh Mohammed, and was involved as a consultant in the creation of various events including the Arlington Million, the Dubai World Cup, and the inaugural Aspire4Sport in Qatar in 2010.
Brough has long been involved with considerable charity work, most notably with the Injured Jockeys Fund. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2009.
Brough has long been involved with considerable charity work, most notably with the Injured Jockeys Fund. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2009.
An acclaimed author, his books include ‘Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius’, which won the ‘Best Horse Racing Book’ category at the 2014 British Sports Book Awards. His other works include ‘World of Horseracing’, ‘Galloper Jack’ (the biography of his grandfather), Churchill at the Gallop, and Of Horses and Heroes.
An acclaimed author, his books include ‘Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius’, which won the ‘Best Horse Racing Book’ category at the 2014 British Sports Book Awards. His other works include ‘World of Horseracing’, ‘Galloper Jack’ (the biography of his grandfather), Churchill at the Gallop, and Of Horses and Heroes.
In 2017, 46 years after his first appearance on ITV, Brough returned to ITV Racing when the channel resumed broadcasting horse racing, having taken over coverage from Channel 4.
In 2017, 46 years after his first appearance on ITV, Brough returned to ITV Racing when the channel resumed broadcasting horse racing, having taken over coverage from Channel 4.