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If there’s one horse race that commands greater viewing figures than any other, it’s the Grand National. Thousands descend on Aintree Racecourse to watch the world’s most famous steeplechase in the flesh, while millions around the United Kingdom and Ireland tune in to watch on television.
However, not everyone manages to view the race. Many people will either be working, driving, travelling on public transport, or just busy with other things. This is where the good old fashioned radio comes in. The Grand National has always been broadcast to radio listeners and that’s not going to change anytime soon, as there are still plenty of people ready to tune in to commentary.
A race with a rich radio history
First run all the way back in1836, the Grand National is a longstanding British tradition, and although the broadcasting of the race doesn’t go that far back, radio coverage has long been in place.
This year will mark 96 years of radio coverage. It was in 1927 that the BBC first broadcast commentary coverage of the Grand National, and it was only ever available on the BBC, who held exclusive radio rights up until as recently as 2013. Things move on, though, and they’re now just one of many radio outlets to broadcast live radio coverage of the race.
Where can I listen to the Grand National?
As eluded to above, listeners now have more options when it comes to radio coverage. If you’re looking to listen to the race in the traditional manner, via a radio set, then you can do so by tuning in to BBC Radio 5 Live, which as always will provide build up as well as full commentary of the entire race. You can also access BBC’s radio commentary via the BBC Sports website, while if you’re on the move during race time, you can tune in via either the BBC Sounds app or the BBC Sport mobile app.
talkSPORT is now a hugely popular UK radio station among sports fans, so it should come as little surprise to find that they too provide Grand National coverage. You can tune in to talkSPORT on your radio at 1089/1053AM, on digital radio, via the mobile app, or online via the talkSPORT website. talkSPORT’s Grand National coverage will include all the build up, as well of full commentary of the race.
Nowadays, many sports betting apps also offer radio commentary, so if you are out and about, travelling on trains, buses, or simply on the move and not able to watch the race, you can listen to radio commentary via a betting app such as the William Hill mobile betting app.
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