Stauffer's call of the 6th tonight.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I think Jballs explanation and Vic's response were both spot on.

It seems some folks around here are trying to tweak Vic. I'm pretty sure his skin is thicker than most. He can handle himself in an internet exchange (I've witnessed some on other boards). He doesn't need my defending, but this whole bias thing is silly.

When you are a the top of your profession in your half of the country, people are always going to try to knock you down a peg. We have several other race callers on this board that never seem to get "critiqued" like Vic does here.

I actually enjoy Vic's calls and I have defended his rider many times on here. And your points are well taken Bigs. But isnt the fact that there is room to question the relationship at all enough to say that there is a conflict of interest?

[TheSpyder]

And no other announcer bets on races? Of course there's a conflict, but, it doesn't change the outcome of one race and anytime you have one person calling a race with more than one horse, you are bound to hear some biased if only based on how they take in the race.

.

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I actually enjoy Vic's calls and I have defended his rider many times on here. And your points are well taken Bigs. But isnt the fact that there is room to question the relationship at all enough to say that there is a conflict of interest?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

And no other announcer bets on races? Of course there's a conflict, but, it doesn't change the outcome of one race and anytime you have one person calling a race with more than one horse, you are bound to hear some biased if only based on how they take in the race.

.

Its not the gambling aspect. Its business.

And, really, I didnt know anything biased about the call in the 6th race and I really don't notice much of one if at all ever. Thats not the point.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I actually enjoy Vic's calls and I have defended his rider many times on here. And your points are well taken Bigs. But isnt the fact that there is room to question the relationship at all enough to say that there is a conflict of interest?

There is room and everyone is allowed to state their opinion. As a horseplayer trying to eek out a profit on a daily basis, that perceived conflict of interest does not affect me in any way.

If I am watching a race in a 3" x 5" box on my computer screen, I want a racecaller to tell me who that is making a move because I may or may not be able to make out the silks or saddle cloth in that tiny box. When I am at the track, I am not a binoculars guy, so I want the dude upstairs (shout out to Richard Grunder ) to help me out a bit when a horse is making a move 1/4 mile away from my failing naked eyes. The thought of who that jock's agent is or who the racecaller is representing never enters my mind, I just want to know what's going on in the race and I just want to cash tickets.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

There is room and everyone is allowed to state their opinion. As a horseplayer trying to eek out a profit on a daily basis, that perceived conflict of interest does not affect me in any way.

If I am watching a race in a 3" x 5" box on my computer screen, I want a racecaller to tell me who that is making a move because I may or may not be able to make out the silks or saddle cloth in that tiny box. When I am at the track, I am not a binoculars guy, so I want the dude upstairs (shout out to Richard Grunder ) to help me out a bit when a horse is making a move 1/4 mile away from my failing naked eyes. The thought of who that jock's agent is or who the racecaller is representing never enters my mind, I just want to know what's going on in the race and I just want to cash tickets.

Question. It may be a dumb question but it is what it is. Can/do jockeys hear the call of the announcer during the race?

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Question. It may be a dumb question but it is what it is. Can/do jockeys hear the call of the announcer during the race?

Good question. I would think they would be concentrating on what they are doing and if they could hear the track announcer, it would be white noise in the background of what they are trying to accomplish.

They do love to sneak peeks at that big screen in the infield.

[MaTH716]

I thought the call was fine. Not only did the horse make a gigantic move, but he was the only one really making up any kind of ground. Maybe instead of taking him to task for the call maybe you should give Vic some credit for actually picking up a horse and acknowledging the move that was being made. These are the types of trips that Durkin & Denman have been crucified for missing (in very big races) and picking up way too late. I understand that this wasn't the Kentucky Derby, but it wasn't a 4 horse field either. Like I said, I thought it was a good call that would have been made whether Rosario was on the horse or not.

[TheSpyder]

"What was by far the most biased call of a race occurred in the 6th tonight at Hollywood. I think Hollywood Park really needs to sit down with Vic S and say "either you are a jockey agent or our announcer....not both".

Steve, don't think this was a "measure tone". Vic has been trashed on this site pretty hard in the past. Given the history of posts towards Vic I think he has complete poetic justice to express himself as he likes. As other have said, it is an internet message board.

I think to say that the more connected you are to racing, the less artistic expression you are allowed, is an uneven balance that goes against the freedon of such a communication vehicle.