When I sit down to compose my weekly ruminations about races past, I invariably find my mind drifting off to warm reminisces of my childhood, and the golden days of television coverage that planted the seeds of my lifelong love of this wonderful sport.
The names and faces of the great characters of the 1970s and 80s terrestrial coverage are indelibly printed on my memory. Peter O’Sullevan, John Rickman, the “Noble Lord” Oaksey, Brough Scott, Richard Pitman, Derek Thompson, Raleigh Gilbert, Julian Wilson and John McCririck – to name but a few – all roll off the tongue.
One face that many racing fans wouldn’t have recognised, but whose voice they certainly would, belonged to the wonderful commentator and race-reader John Hanmer, who sadly passed away last weekend aged 82.
Originally a spotter for O’Sullevan, John’s laconic tones graced the BBC Grand National coverage from 1972 to 2003, seemingly effortlessly guiding us through the chaos of the early fences from the Melling Road to Becher’s, then bringing the field from Valentine’s back on to the racecourse proper before describing the unfolding drama of the second circuit with brilliant perception, such as in 1988 when he calmly observed “One making significant progress towards the outside is Rhyme ‘N’ Reason”. No prizes for guessing who won!
Hanmer also commentated on the final three races of Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven in 1996 and acted as agent to jockeys including Steve Cauthen and Cash Asmussen. At last year’s Derby Awards, he was presented with the prestigious President’s Award.