Ranking Tom Durkin

[DogsUp]

Originally Posted by DogsUp

Track Announcers are a waste and a bore. I liked when Keeneland went without an announcer. I think track announcers ruin the race.

What I posted has been bothering me all day. It sure does come across bad. I apologize if I offended anyone. I should have said this: a race caller does not add any value to a race for me. I rarely listen to the call when I am at the race track. When I am home, I do not listen to the call at all. The race call may add some excitement, but it doesnt really do anything for my horse. I do think an announcer is important for scratches, inquiries, etc etc. But during the race, I do not notice the call at all.

[Bravado2112]

Durkin has had some absolutely classic calls in some of the great Breeders Cup races and really made them even more special with his calls. He does such a great job of capturing the drama of a rivalry within a race, or of a particularly momentus situation. For a true racing fan, some of his calls in these races just give you goosebumps. For some good strolls down memory lane involving some Durkin classics:

1989 Breeders Cup Classic - Absolutely Perfect. "Sunday Silence bracing for the ONCOMING POWER OF EASY GOER who's right at his neck...and the stage is set with 3 furlongs to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKR3_shx7p4

1987 Breeders' Cup Classic - "Ferdinand has the lead. Alysheba, a final surge...and the 2 Derby winners HIT THE WIRE TOGETHER!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8G8AR7TaM


1988 Breeders Cup Distaff: "And the Derby winner is loose on the lead." "Winning Colors is there...Personal Ensign, a dramatic finish..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2vKTJ69z0I

[KirisClown]

Ive always enjoyed this call... shows Durkin does a great job even when it's not a big event...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqsRc9O9dHg

[letswastemoney]

When I'm at an off track place and they forget to turn on the volume, I get bored easily during the race.

I mean if my horse is winning, the whole damn room better know that horse is winning Of course I assume they all have eyes and can see but still...I want them to hear it.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Ive always enjoyed this call... shows Durkin does a great job even when it's not a big event...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqsRc9O9dHg

I miss Harvey Pack doing the replay show....

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I'll add the '05 Belmont Stakes to the list. It was such a great depiction of the mood of the moment, the happenings on the track and the overall feeling.

"Birdstone wins the Belmont Stake!"

Such simple words, yet very powerful. His voice was excited yet dissapointed, yet not too much of either one.

Personally, my wanting to call races spawned purely from my passion for the game. If you know me personally, I live and breathe it. Heck my dog is named after a race horse. I also enjoy entertaining and merging the two together ended-up being the ideal recipe.

Hopefully someday I'll get to call the big races and folks can critique me here too!

You have called big races and done a great job with them.

[ArlJim78]

how about a movie?

first there was Saving Private Ryan

then Being John Malkovich

why not Ranking Tom Durkin?

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

You have called big races and done a great job with them.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate it!

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I miss Harvey Pack doing the replay show....

So do I.. he could have made a replay of paint drying interesting...

[azerica]

"Scrappy T takes out Afleet alex!!!" Oh man, Tom was right on it this day in 2005. Tom is my favorite caller. He totally brings a person into the excitement of the moment and is great at letting you know what is going on with the rest of the field. "Afleet Alex....AWESOME!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op78_8CYZ0Y

[Travis Stone]

azerica... I think you might have Tom Durkin mixed-up with Dave Rodman, who I believe used the "Afleet Alex... awesome!" line in his call. He calls it for Pimlico and the simulcast feed, Durkin calls it for the NBC audience.

Speaking of Rodman, if anyone has a few moments, YouTube his '08 Preakness calls, it was fantastic.