I like when track announcers call close finishes. Denman and Vic both do this all the time. Durkin wont call something unless its over a half length. He simply leaves it as too close to call or a head bob either way or simply a close finish that could have gone either way. Denman and Vic also both go out of their ways to correctly say the names of the horses too. Thats neat.

Doubt it. Poly won't save horses who shouldn't be racing.

I agree it's good to call a photo if you are pretty sure you saw it right, but missing one is never a good thing.

It depends greatly on where the announcers booth is. Some tracks its right on the wire, and some are far away from the line. River Downs was right on the line and i think i maybe didn't call 3 photos in 3 years. Portland Meadows i'm atleast 50 or 60 feet up the track from the wire, thus i call a lot more "photos" or "too close to call" as you say.

I mean Keeneland's booth is halfway between the 1/16th pole and finish line, so you'll hear becker call photo finish on races that on TV look pretty clear.

My booth is on the wrong side of the building. I use a large set of strategically placed mirrors to call the race. Similar to those vertical mirror devices used at golf tournaments.

Honestly, I thought that Bejarano might have been dead. He looked like he got kicked in the head. I was surprised to see him up. Then, he seemed to slowly pass out again(as they were putting the neck brace on.) Maybe there was so much pain that he wished he was dead. A beak like that? Hitting the ground real hard must have been incredible pain.

If the booth is in that bad a location, I think its time to move it. I am not talking about the very tight head bobs that one would have to guess on. Talking about the real easy ones that are obvious. Tom to use to call those no problem, but lately he doesnt go out of his way to try and make the call.
Still the greatest "voice" out there and will be missed when he soon retires.

Moving announcer booth's in terms of potential racetrack capital projects is probably on page 25 of the list of things to do.

he might have been dead on real dirt, its much softer on the plastic

I hope you're being sarcastic.

Jocks will tell you hitting Poly/Rubber is much harder than dirt. There is no bounce and you just stick. Seems like it would be the other way around, but it isn't

what about "cushion ":rolleyes:

I was being sarcastic. I'm sure the location of his booth has zero to do with him not being able or wanting to call the winner of a close finish. He use to all the time. Maybe he got one wrong and decided to play it safe. I've heard Vic get one wrong but it didnt faze him.

That matches that it's designed to prevent the uncontrolled "slide" of the hoof when meeting the track that contributes to injury.

you should try it, jump of a horse running full speed on dirt and than do it on the poly...the dirt will kick your butt, the poly you only be mildly hurt.

I wonder if this is the stupidest most unfeeling post I've ever read. Or only #2?

Bite him.

Exactly!

do you think trainers really care about the riders, in general. He probably cares because it was his horse but as Lukas said "these guys are paid well for the choices they make" (i paraphrase)

of course they do. they work day in and day out with these guys

Go for it Vic!