Another great Durkin call!

Hickory Hill Hoff · #1 09-17-2006, 07:37 PM

Did anyone think Tom Durkin's call of the 9th race @ Belmont - the Ashley T. Cole was a little disingenuous toward Chantal Sutherland on Retribution?
"There gaining quickly on Retribution and the lead is shrinking" Yeah, they were getting closer, but not as much as you would think from his call.
The race was never in doubt if you saw the video, his call made it a race in the stretch. I'll try to find a link to it on the NYRA website for replays, but the new site isn't as "fan friendly" as the old one.

Hickory Hill Hoff · #2 09-17-2006, 07:43 PM

http://www.racereplays.com/nyra/inde...start=gen_nyra

You may have to log in. "Thier starting to swarm...hanging on by three and a half". Just listen to the audio and then watch the race. Final margin was four and a quarter...but no doubt!

DiscreetCat=Monster · #3 09-17-2006, 10:17 PM

He is getting worse by the day now he is acting like those horses were making a race out of it at the 1/8 pole and it was all over.

sumitas · #4 09-17-2006, 10:55 PM

just click on Retribution under videos
http://www.nybreds.com/

they were starting to swarm - 10 lengths back.

repent · #5 09-17-2006, 11:24 PM

he might be a nice man for all I know,
but the announcement that he will NOT be calling the Breeders Cup is the best news I have heard regarding the event.
he is just plain bad at this point and nothing brings it to light more than when you listen to Luke Kruytbosch's call of the KY Derby(for the CD replay show) after listening to Durkin's call for NBC.

Denman is an excellent choice for the event.

he is probably a close 2nd behind Vic Stauffer for me as far as race callers go.

#6 09-18-2006, 07:08 AM

This is getting pretty funny.
I mean if you wanna nitpick I could cut Denman to shreds each and every day.
That deal where Denman spends the last 10 seconds of the race using adjectives to describe how the winner looks and who is riding him rather than telling us who has moved into 2nd and 3rd to complete exactas and trifectas may be the worst thing in all of race calling.
In this case a horse who often quits had a 15 length lead reduced to 3 1/2 lengths and he was trying to anticipate what was going to occur.
He rightly pointed out the shrinking lead, but then with surprise in his voice called the winner winning.
I guess I don't know what the problem was.
But I do know that at Fairplex twice yesterday the camera was isolated on the runaway winner and while people were dying to know who was going to complete the tri and exacta in the race, Trevor was too busy telling us about how "easily, and put a circle around this one blah blah"". These are just terrible threads.

SentToStud · #7 09-18-2006, 07:25 AM

No announcer ever made a bad call on a race I won. And as long as the camera angle shows the 2,3,4 finishers, I could care less about the call. Far worse than a "bad call" is when the camera focuses in on a 5-length winner and you can't see the drive for the other positions. The downside of betting and watching from your living room vs being in the grandstand.

The Bid · #8 09-18-2006, 07:48 AM

You must have never won a race at Greatlakes Downs

SentToStud · #9 09-18-2006, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bid

You must have never won a race at Greatlakes Downs

I'm both undefeated and winless at Great Lakes Downs. Somehow, despite it all, I'm doing ok.

The Bid · #10 09-18-2006, 08:11 AM

I just said that because that guy at Great Lakes is so bad. If youve ever heard a bad winning call it would be from him.

DiscreetCat=Monster · #11 09-18-2006, 02:39 PM

He is probally a really nice guy, but its just the biggest day in racing should have the best race caller at the time. Durkin was awesome in his prime.

Gander · #12 09-18-2006, 02:43 PM

I didnt expect Great Lakes to have a good race caller. Thats like going to Applebees expecting a good steak. Toy tracks get by with mediocre callers. Applebees gets by with good burgers.

#13 09-18-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repent

he might be a nice man for all I know,
but the announcement that he will NOT be calling the Breeders Cup is the best news I have heard regarding the event.
he is just plain bad at this point and nothing brings it to light more than when you listen to Luke Kruytbosch's call of the KY Derby(for the CD replay show) after listening to Durkin's call for NBC.

Denman is an excellent choice for the event.

he is probably a close 2nd behind Vic Stauffer for me as far as race callers go.

I agree with you, but I would add Larry Collmus and Kurt Becker to the list of excellent race callers.

#14 09-18-2006, 04:24 PM

Makes alot of mistakes specially misses horses on the inside
in deep stretch and yea he makes it sound much closer then it is.
Maybe for radio audience?
Trevor also makes many mistakes and tries to anticipate the "Winner"
all too often sometimes even calls the wrong horse the winner
but generally these guys are Good!

Ciao

#15 09-18-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repent

Denman is an excellent choice for the event.

he is probably a close 2nd behind Vic Stauffer for me as far as race callers go.

VS to me is ridiculous as a race caller. HIs over the top calls, telling who has to do what, and what they are going to do has made me cringe and hit the mute button on a regular basis. When there is a full field, he struggles greatly and trips over his tongue. IMHO, he would be a much better commentator on TVG etc. where he can opinionate all he wants; I don't care for it in a race caller though.

repent · #16 09-19-2006, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by point given

VS to me is ridiculous as a race caller. HIs over the top calls, telling who has to do what, and what they are going to do has made me cringe and hit the mute button on a regular basis. When there is a full field, he struggles greatly and trips over his tongue. IMHO, he would be a much better commentator on TVG etc. where he can opinionate all he wants; I don't care for it in a race caller though.

well,
now that you mention it,
I think he offers the very best commentary of anyone employed by TVG, and that includes stevens.

but I totally disagree on your analysis of him as a racecaller.
I dont see any overanalysis from him during the calling of a race, but thats just me.

the racecaller is not a huge deal to me and really does not effect my race watching experience, but Id rather listen to Vic than anyone else.
If I cash a ticket, then merasmag can call the race for all I care.

Repent

#17 09-19-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repent

well,
now that you mention it,
I think he offers the very best commentary of anyone employed by TVG, and that includes stevens.

but I totally disagree on your analysis of him as a racecaller.
I dont see any overanalysis from him during the calling of a race, but thats just me.

the racecaller is not a huge deal to me

Repent

I agree, a race caller has never been a big deal to me either. It is only when they are overshadowing the race,, sometimes trying to be too witty or telling the viewers what a horse has to do or will do before he does it. Also, Stauffer has a reputation for giving overactive calls when it MIGHT be a horse he has wagered on. I strongly dislike his race calls and turn off the sound when I can. Unforfunately on track, I don't have a choice.

DiscreetCat=Monster · #18 09-22-2006, 03:23 PM

Belmont Park race 7 Prime example of the fact that he is over the hill

I bet the 7 horse, Pablo clips heels and gets unseated before going into the far turn and Durkin doesn't even pick it up untill the are in the home stretch cause he can see the loose horse on the outside, they pay this guy to announce and some people think he is the best.