Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up (Post 994035)

agree, horse never would have lost with a better rider that day. Glad you agree it was not the horse.

Originally Posted by Kitan (Post 994046)

However, for me this is the standard for how to impartially call a national hero losing while keeping the race caller etiquette.
http://youtu.be/CTHZrdyta5o

Originally Posted by Revidere (Post 994052)

I think you both need your heads examined if you think Mike Smith lost that race.

Originally Posted by Revidere (Post 994060)

I now realize thanks to Nick that I've been punked.

Sorry guys!!!

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey (Post 995691)

Can't believe his last day is almost here.

Durkin: The stories he has told

Durkin's greatest hits

HRRN's Anthony "The Big A" Stabile's Blog on Durkin

Tom Durkin: Erudite influences behind a celebrated voice

NYRA to honor legendary race caller Tom Durkin with special two-day celebration at Saratoga Race Course

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 995429)

This was tweeted by Mark Hennig of Tom Durkin on the Match Game in 1979. It is kind of funny what word trips up Durkin at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIfi...ature=youtu.be

Originally Posted by ScottJ (Post 995755)

Many years back, I met Tom Durkin and said two words : Speedy Gonzales.

His response was classic. Tom said, "Everyone knows the right answer is Pancho Gonzales".

We both laughed and everyone else was dumb-founded.

Originally Posted by tanner12oz (Post 995900)

I still can't believe Durkin is leaving...and like others said he us unreplaceable..im pretty sure that Durkin will not call his final race on Sunday...would hope and think he is the kinda guy who might appear somewhere down the road...what was the reason for leaving anyway? Just a " its time " thing right?

Originally Posted by Sightseek (Post 996386)

Hate to see him go, but the fans gave him a great sendoff.

Originally Posted by ateamstupid (Post 996469)

I'll just re-post what I put on Facebook about Durkin.

So the singular voice of horse racing in my lifetime retired earlier today. Tom Durkin was more than a racecaller. He was a poet, an author, eloquently elucidating everything we'd seen and clueing us into what we hadn't. It is a tribute to his brilliance that my favorite call of his was a race in which I felt as though my heart had been ripped out of my chest, one where disappointment reverberated throughout the 120,000 people I stood beside so poised to witness history. There has never been a bigger letdown in my racing life and there has never been a better call to capture the emotion of so many. Tom Durkin was a scholar, a dramatist and a virtuoso. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to his professionalism, his wit and his passion for making me fall in love with this incredible game. He will be sorely missed. #ThanksTom http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gAeTic_9Bo

Originally Posted by Cardus (Post 996465)

About the Winner's Circle ceremony gifts: how on Earth does someone -- or some people -- allow the jockeys -- I think it was the jockeys -- to present him with a glass-encased jockey saddlecloth with "YOUR THE MAN"? "YOUR"??

Originally Posted by Pants II (Post 996520)

"Your the man"

Serious question...is the Saratoga jockey colony into erotic asphyxiation?

It could explain the inexcusable grammatical error and the strangling of horses all meet by the little Rhodes scholars.

Originally Posted by Cardus (Post 996467)

My favorite Durkin call was the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic: "And here comes THE DERBY WINNER!!"; he had to yell it to be heard.

Favorite call.

Originally Posted by Cardus (Post 996611)

You wanted Durkin to do a flying dismount yesterday?

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat (Post 996770)

No, I'd MUCH rather see you do one. :p

Look at where it says, or rather should say, the word juvenile.

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat (Post 996770)

No, I'd MUCH rather see you do one. :p

Look at where it says, or rather should say, the word juvenile.

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet (Post 996851)

When does Larry officially take over for Tom? From what Ive read, it is not until next Saratoga meet? Imbraielle does it Belmont fall meet, Big A and then spring Belmont?

Originally Posted by bigrun (Post 996619)

My all time fav '84 breeders cup..Wild Again desperately holding on and on the outside Gate Dancer...I had Gate Dancer...boohoo.

Originally Posted by Cardus (Post 996465)

I agree that his speech was terrific, and it is difficult to gauge a retirement speech, since it is mostly about whatever (in this case) Durkin felt that he wanted to say. It is his career, and he is able to say whatever he wants to address.

The most interesting part of the speech was how he built anticipation for those listening to hear who he meant by the "most important person in his career". It was a neat way to highlight the "horseplayer". Nice touch.

About his final race call: he didn't make it all about him. And clearly, he had fun with it. "Splashtastic" was his last significant word as a race caller. Borne solely out of the circumstance of the sloppy track, not a forced, "signature" call. Again, a nice touch.

About the Winner's Circle ceremony gifts: how on Earth does someone -- or some people -- allow the jockeys -- I think it was the jockeys -- to present him with a glass-encased jockey saddlecloth with "YOUR THE MAN"? "YOUR"??

As for the crowd: excellent "Tommy Durkin" impromptu chant as he descended from the booth and headed towards the Winner's Circle. Nice Yankee Stadium-like touch.

Originally Posted by Gate Dancer (Post 996873)

Tell me about it.................:(

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet (Post 996851)

When does Larry officially take over for Tom? From what Ive read, it is not until next Saratoga meet? Imbraielle does it Belmont fall meet, Big A and then spring Belmont?