For the record, this isn't the first time he's completely missed a move like that. Pleasant Home's move in the Distaff, up the rail and then 3 wide to in front he missed until she was in front. But I couldn't hear his call from the rail so I was just happy to see the saddlenumber since the idiots at the BC can't allow colors.

They should do what del mar and Kenneland does and put transmitters on the horses to determine the positions of the horses.

I said to Tina right after they crossed the wire. "OMG the way that race unfolded I could really have botched the call badly"

Exactly, vic have you ever called a race with 19 horses.

I agree, Trakus would be great for the Derby.

The biggest field that I've called is 17. It was a Michigan Sires Stakes at DRC.

I will say this. Many have surmised that European announcers are more talented because they regularly call fields of 20 or 25 or even more. Suggestiing that North American announcers would struggle.

IMO that's total rubbish. Kurt Becker could call 50 and not be fazed.

I feel very confident that there are many of us. Tom. Trevor, Larry, Frank, Dools, Wrona, Rodman and many others that could make excellent calls of the racing in Europe. We just haven't had the opportunity.

Similar scenario. 30-1 shot wins by 10, if you were him wouldn't you pause to make sure you had the right horse? Pleasant Home at least had the recognizable Phipps silks, but same idea.

Like I said before from what I've read and heard from him, he handicaps every race and has expectations of where to look for certain horses. When a seemingly impossible horse makes a huge move on the inside and shoots through for a convincing win, he probably wanted to make absolutely certain he had the right one (especially given the angle they come at there, you can't see the saddletowels to in fact confirm it was the #8.) Everybody in our group had the same reaction. "Who the f*ck was that?" At first I thought it was Fresian Fire, because at least that would make sense. Then it dawned on everyone that only Borel would make that move up the rail- and I'll be damned, it was.

Tell Becker to give up that NASCAR crap and call year round. He's great.

I think you should give it a go.

Even when I realized it was Borel I still had no clue what horse it was.

Okay, I think we're hammering this one from a few different angles. My point is he missed the horse COMPLETELY, twice, not that he didn't know who it was. At some point during the last half mile of the race, don't you think he might have looked up and noticed the only horse moving forward? Whatever, 20 horses or 6, Mr Durkin is slowing down. He is too much to into the "show" of the call, rather than the call itself. Isn't that why people started jumping all over "and down the stretch they come"?

agreed.. first I said... "what just happened"... after that it was "What NUMBER is that" then "its the 8?? Who the fucl< is the 8??" after going to my DRF "Who the fucl< is Mine that Bird?"

Put me in coach I'm ready to play!

The entirety of Churchill Downs basically said "the 8? Who the hell is the 8?" as we all simultaneously checked on our programs.

All due respect Vic, and you're terrific, but I think the the most underrated guy on this list is Dave Rodman. I wish he would get out of cruddy MD. and get a crack at a big time job. Listen to his Preakness call of '07.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjt4SiRatB0

For what it's worth I agree that Durkin is slowing down on all days, not just derby. It seemed like by the time he noted MTB being last, it was over 1/2 mile into the race. It's his style to add drama to the story and that is great when the race sets up well. The new announcer at CD was great for two days and was offering his handicapping analysis before each race on the track feed.

Dont have anything to add on the Derby call but does the Churchill announcer double as the guy in those Guinness commercials

"Brilliant"

must have said it three times in the oaks call.

ky derby race call
 

I loved the race visually but it certainly wasn't Durkins best!

He didn't see the winner until he was three lengths in front. Tough conditions and all but ...the best is suppossed tobe the best

i think we covered this one already. lets pick on someone else like grunder or that guy from the meadows harness track

Or that guy from Louisiana Downs.