Top Broadcaster Rupert Bell had a childhood immersed in horses. ‘We were hunting brats,’ he chuckles, describing how his father Brian was an MFH. They moved round Gloucestershire, to the foxhounds of Andoversford and Berkley. When Rupert turned thirteen, they settled outside the Cotswold town of Moreton-in-the-Marsh.
It wasn’t just horses though; racing ran deep within his blood too. ‘My Grandfather rode, my parents rode… My Father was a steward and the first judge to call a photo finish just after World War Two at Birmingham Racecourse. They used old technology from the war, from reconnaissance with Spitfires.’
Rupert’s brother is the successful Flat trainer Michael, who trained Motivator to win an Epsom Derby, Sariska to win a British and Irish Oaks and Big Orange to win two Goodwood Cups and an Ascot Gold Cup. Son Oli Bell is the presenter on the BAFTA-winning ITV Racing. In 2017, both father and son shone with pride in the Bell family name after Big Orange’s Royal Ascot victory. Passions ran high as he prevailed by only a short head, beating Coolmore’s Order Of St George: Rupert in his ‘biased’ and heartfelt commentary and Oli for his emotive post-race interviews.
Rupert is director of Lloyd Bell, a TV and radio company and regularly talks on horseracing and golf for Talk Sport Radio. Married to Laurie, Rupert lives outside Chipping Campden and they have a pet cat called Percy.
Did you have a horsey childhood? Much to the annoyance of my family, I never sat on a horse.
What is your boyhood racing memory? Despite never riding, I was always fascinated by racing. At school, from the age of ten, I used to write the racing results into a book.
How did you get into broadcasting? I went into the army, had dreams of becoming an actor having gone to the National Youth theatre but I wasn't good enough, then I thought I'd like to broadcast so I worked for the British Forces Broadcasting when I lived in Cyprus.
In 1987, I started working as a Sports Racing Broadcaster on Turf Call, which used to be the premium rate numbers you called to get race commentaries. I branched out but that was how I started in racing. I am the chairman of the British Equestrian Media Association and, at the Horserace Writers and Photographers awards, I won the Most Biased Commentary of the Year, a special award for my biased commentary of Big Orange, which went a bit viral.
Favourite racehorse: When my brother started training, I had a half share in a horse called Fair Titania. She was quite decent and won some nice races as a two- and three-year-old. Then I got divorced and I couldn’t afford it!
Favourite racecourse: My brother Michael won’t thank me for this but Cheltenham is my spiritual sporting home.
Favourite meeting: Although my patience is tested a bit, I’m still excited by the Cheltenham Festival. In terms of racing, the Festival still resonates.
Which trainer do you admire? My brother has done remarkably well to have won the Derby, Oaks and a Gold Cup when he doesn’t have the big guns behind him.
In terms of training, what Willie Mullins is doing is extraordinary, even though it’s also having a negative impact as success is now so centralised. When Willie won all those races at the Cheltenham Festival, especially on the Wednesday, it was wonderfully brilliant but the element of story is lost. I understand that if owners are spending half a million on a jumps horse, you want it to go to the best and Willie Mullins is the best. Yet, racing used to be much more open.
Which jockey do you admire? Even with the pressure Paul Townend is under, he rides with an extreme sense of calm. Over here, I admire how well Harry Cobden copes with pressure.
Where have you gone racing abroad? I’ve done lots of Breeders Cups, which I love. Once, I shook Willie Nelson’s hand at Lone Star, Texas. The Kentucky Derby was amazing. The Melbourne Cup was bonkers. When my brother had Big Orange as top weight, he led the street parade through Melbourne in a mini sports car, which was a great family moment. I’ve been racing in South Africa, where there’s beautiful racecourses with stunning backdrops.
Earlier this year, I went to Garrison Savannah in Barbados. The racing was pretty ordinary, bar the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, but the racecourse was wonderfully true to itself. There was a real Caribbean vibe and everyone was having a great time. It was a magical afternoon of racing.
Generally, what does racing do well? Racing is very spectator friendly when approached in the right way, particularly as you can have a leisurely afternoon watching sport. It can still be good value for money but it’s getting increasingly expensive. Luckily in this country, we still have great tradition and uniqueness to our sport, which enables the racing occasion to be elevated, despite the prize money doesn’t compare to the rest of the world. For instance, the Aintree meeting is just a buzz of Merseyside people. British racing puts on a great show but there’s a lot of paddling underneath to keep it on the road. Racing is a hard sell to the general public but once the public are on a racecourse, they have an enjoyable day out.
Where can improvements be made within racing? The sport is at a crossroads, especially with the ongoing gambling situation. Racing is so dependent on the levy because it funds so much. If this doesn’t resolve itself in a positive way then the sport could be in a major difficulty.
Another problem is that outside the racing bubble, the sport doesn’t resonate. Who could name a Derby winner? People knew who Frankie Dettori and Tony McCoy were but outside of racing, no one would know that Harry Cobden is Champion Jockey. Racing is lucky to have terrestrial television coverage – if it didn’t, it would be in dire straits like showjumping and eventing.
Is racing under continual threat from animal rights activism? Welfare is a huge issue because it’s a big stick to beat people on. Most people don’t have a clue what a horse looks like, let alone have come in touch with one, so people assume racing is cruel. It isn’t cruel, but it’s still good that racing is trying to get on the front foot of trying to explain why it isn’t cruel.
Seeing a faller is horrendous but the statistics are 0.2% fall out of 90 000 runners. There is an element of risk in all sports and it’s all too easy to elevate the shocking in racing. These animal rights groups know how to press that button, running with the idea that racing is cruel.
Rupert with Hayley Moore at the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Lizzie
Kelly on Talksport and with the Royal Ascot fashion experts in 2021
Favourite food: I can eat absolutely anything anywhere. But I love going to Italy, sitting outside and eating lovely Italian-type salad and pasta.
Favourite drink: On Talk Sport, I’m known as the Malbec Monster.
Favourite holiday destination: I love Italy but I also love Cambodia.
Other hobbies: I play golf badly.
Favourite book: I’m fascinated by spy stories, especially the spying side of the Second World War. The best racing book is the one about Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. Doped by Jamie Reid is another I really liked.
Favourite film: Casablanca – I can watch it over and over again.
Favourite music: Supertramp.
Rupert with the Royal Ascot crew in 2019
*Many thanks to Old Gold Racing for the help in securing this interview. They published it first in their fabulous newsletter Racing Weekly. To sign up, go to https://mailchi.mp/2f6ba62d6182/racing-weekly-lead-capture
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