David Baddiel incurs wrath of horse racing community after 'toffs' tweet

The top hats and tails of Royal Ascot might suggest differently, but the insinuation that horse racing is a sport for "toffs" is a persistent bugbear for its loyal followers, as David Baddiel discovered on Sunday evening.

The British comedian incurred the wrath of the racing world when he replied to a tweet from Health Secretary Matt Hancock that read: "Thanks to the nation’s resolve, horseracing is back from Monday. Wonderful news for our wonderful sport."

Baddiel, who regularly airs political views on social media, responded to Mr Hancock by enquiring to whom "our" was referring. "The whole country, most of whom have not much interest in horse racing? Bookies? Toffs?" he added.

Horse racing returns in Newcastle on Monday afternoon and Scott Bowers, a director at the Jockey Club, responded to Baddiel's remarks by outlining details of racing's positive effect on the UK economy. "85,000 jobs rely on racing - ordinary people, £4.1bn industry, massively important to the rural economy and 60 local economies around Racecourses UK wide. No issue you’re not a fan but toffs comment is so out of touch. Stable staff are toffs?? Welcome to visit a racing yard."

Kate Austin, who works for the London Racing Club, compared racing's popularity with that of football as she suggested that "along with penicillin, the Thoroughbred is 1 of 'our' greatest exports to the world". Jim Bell, meanwhile, added: "Toff? most of the people who go to the races wouldn't describe themselves as Toffs, York races near me are thronged with working class people from Northumbria, North and South Yorkshire etc, but there again you metropolitan luvvies can't see outside the M25."

Those disagreeing with Baddiel were supported by James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, who stood by Mr Hancock by highlighting that his Conservative colleague's West Suffolk constituency contains the racing hotbed of Newmarket, with its two racecourses and headquarters of British Horseracing. "Horse racing is the backbone of the town’s economy. Not unreasonable for an MP to be pleased about local good news," he said. Steven Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, added that "Matt Hancock has spent his entire Parliamentary career championing racing".

Kubler Racing, racehorse trainers in Berkshire, was also staunch in its defence of Mr Hancock, who himself is an accomplished rider. "Second most attended sport in the country, more days terrestrial television coverage then (sic) any other sport, with its own dedicated newspaper, two dedicated television channels, employs 1000s in the rural economy. Enjoyed by people of all classes and backgrounds," it wrote, while Molly Giles claimed that Baddiel was "clueless".

Horse racing is estimated to register around six million attendees annually, taking place on 362 days a year across 1,500 fixtures. The sport featured on the front cover of every red-top newspaper on Monday, too.

Baddiel, meanwhile, who is famed for his collaborations with fellow comedian Frank Skinner, seemed to climb down from his initial stance in a later post. "Ok. It was just a query from the perspective of one of the many who lives here and doesn’t give a toss about it," he added.

The British Horseracing Authority did not wish to comment on Baddiel's remarks.