Bill Gahr.

There's something to be said about letting the local guy doing it. I think Dave Rodman is an excellent caller and his Preakness calls have always been very solid. It will be tough to listen to anyone but Durkin call the Belmont.

That being said, if it has to go to someone I hope it's Larry Collmus.

I'm no xenophobe, and Johnson is a very good caller, but I'd prefer an American call America's biggest race. Forgot about Dooley, he would absolutely be a great choice and it's overdue he get to call something more significant than the Arlington Million (like that Scav?).

There are some good options out there (and some bad ones) but for me personally - no matter the choice - it just won't be the same without Tom Durkin. On racing's biggest days, he's the best. My favorite one of his TC calls was probably the '03 Derby, but there have been a lot of good ones over the years (the '04 and '09 Preakness and the '98, and '07 Belmonts come immediately to mind). I hate to see him step down.

The BC certainly hasn't been the same without him, and even if NBC selects a better replacement for the TC than ESPN did for the BC (let's hope) I imagine I'll still miss Durkin when the gates open.

NYRA Spotlight -Track Announcer Tom Durkin

Went to watch my DVR'd Thoroughbred Weekly on MSG+ and they were showing this instead. Pretty cool.

I went to the Hall of Fame induction when he was the guest speaker and it was so funny and inspirational you just couldn't wait for that afternoon's races. A lot of passion is put into each and every race he calls and I can understand why he is so stressed.

Mike Battaglia.

'Nearing the wire, Uncle Mo is in front. On the outside, Dialed In is closing. Mucho Macho Man to the inside. At the wire, Dialed In wins by six."

You forgot:

"GGGGGAAAAIIIIINNNNIIIINNNG GGGGRRROOOOUNNNDDD!!!!"

He called the Derby in like '95 or '96. Awful

I vote for Terry Wallace. :tro:

1986 was just as bad. I don't think Ferdinand got a call until the 1/8th pole.

Mike called the races at Churchill for at least ten years, maybe 15-20. Kurt Becker was there only two years, I believe.

I've noticed that for some runnings of major Euro races, such as the Arc, the British media have used a racecaller and a commentator during the broadcast of the race. The caller goes through the field for the first half mile or so, the commentator chimes in for a furlong or two, then the caller takes over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctctz...eature=related

Something like that may be appealing to a TV audience. The replacement for Durkin can take the field through the first turn. Byk can provide some perspective as the field runs down the backstretch about the pace and where particular horses are placed. The announcer can take over again as the field hits the far turn.

Mike called 22 Derbys.

I think it's a unique case as Longchamp is quite difficult from a calling angle, probably a good half of each race is called from a television save the sprinting distances on the backside course. Not sure how much Euro racing you catch now, but the tactic of more than one person calling a race is, to my knowledge, used only amongst French racecallers. In the UK for the Grand National where it is practically impossible for one caller to cover all the action.

In the US, with oval courses, there's really no need for it, and you can almost be assured not all 20 horses would get a call if you were tossing it to someone else. No chance of this happening here.

It is amazing the race is still a success...

There are a few choices out there...Your name certainly should be in the mix.

FTFY

john dooley

NBC just got Larry Collmus for the job. Congrats Larry!