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All of the great calls require get races. Save the earthquakes and other extraordinary events. You can't believe in Miracles, unless a miracle is happening. Trying to make a great call without a great race is like trying to make a world class meal with crappy ingredients..No matter how well you cook the food will only be so good.
I believe in the entertainment value of race callers very much always have suggested that callers can greatly enhance the racing experience. I just wish I heard more informative information with a 1/8th to go then the obvious "Sprouting Wings" etc stuff. PS Nothing against Denman I have found many of his calls tremendous |
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"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! |
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How about the 2007 Preakness...
STREET SENSE WITH THE LEAD CURLIN GIVE IT HIS ALL COMING UP TO THE FINISH STREET SENSE THE LEAD HERE COMES CURLIN CURLIN SURGING STREET SENSE IN DEEP WATER...(great line by the way) TOO CLOSE TO CALL; TOO CLOSE TO CALL!!! WHO WON THE RACE? Just a great call. I love Durkin. |
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anyone know where letterman is calling races? i'll never forget his call of "theyre bungee jumping off the grandstand roof" during one tight stretch drive |
Originally Posted by Travis Stone
"Birdstone wins the Belmont Stakes!" I love Durkin also, but it was pretty funny when he mistakenly called Birdstone as winning the Belmont Stakes again at the finish of the Travers... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg-TQS12M3c |
Track Announcers are a waste and a bore. I liked when Keeneland went without an announcer. I think track announcers ruin the race.
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Since I don't, I agree that a good race call adds a lot of value to a race. |
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--Dunbar |
I like Durkin everywhere except Saratoga. He calls the races like its everyones first time watching a horse race. I think its insulting that he thinks Saratoga is filled with a bunch of amature horse players. He always says "too close to call" constantly when the horse wins by a head. Annoying.
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haha, imagine secretariats belmont without "moving like a tremendous machine". it adds to the history to have the race called, and called well i might add. there are some that detract rather than add any value.
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Personally, I think Tom Durkin is the best of the best in the game. I've seen the negative comments/posts before about mistakes, slip-ups, etc. -- and my reaction is so what. Do what you do day in and day out, a few hundred thousand times, in the heat of the moment, anyone is bound to make a mistake -- period. Those mistakes don't take away from the overall stature and quality of the man and his performance as a professional.
Now, as far as style, some may not like his style, diction, whatever. That's fine, I understand and accept that. However, that too doesn't take away from the quality aspect. I like chocolate, someone else likes vanilla, and another likes strawberry, and so on. That's what makes the world go 'round -- likes and dislikes. I've also heard people say that he "misses" things -- moves, nuances, etc. and that he calls things perhaps late, too late, etc. To that, I'll respond with the following: I've heard Tom Durkin speak in public settings and forums regarding racing, calls, horses, etc. More importantly, I've had the honor and privilige to sit and talk with Tom Durkin on many occsaions. Don't ever confuse "what he sees" with "what he calls" -- this guy is extremely sharp. There is very little that he truly misses. He sees things that most of us could only hope and dream about seeing. The fact that it may not be represented in his call, or it's called late -- that is not reflective of whether or not he saw it or when he saw it. Like I said -- the best of the best. Eric |
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Durkin is so good that when he does make a mistake, it is really surprising. On Wednesday, I thought I had missed a horse when I was going over Belmont's second, because I didn't recognize the name of the early leader. It wasn't until the replay that I realized he had reversed Onion Queen's name - he called her "Queen Onion" at least twice.
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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 |
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 |
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. |
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how about a movie?
first there was Saving Private Ryan then Being John Malkovich why not Ranking Tom Durkin? |
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"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 |
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. |
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