Churchill Downs announcer
 

Dont know his name but he is pretty good.
Good Choice!

In the Derby Trial, he kept calling Gato Go Win "Gay-Toe Go Win".. I mean, really?

I didn't like him the first weekend but he is growing on me.

If Gato was an actual english word than I would agree with you.

He has too much to say before a race. I didn't care for his constant jibber starting at 3MTP as the horses were being led to the gate last weekend.

His race calls were very difficult for me to understand when I was sitting in a clubhouse box on Saturday. Maybe that's because of the PA system but I felt it was more due to his accent.

:zz:

So no one's allowed to put any other languages in their horses' names? You don't even have to phucking know Spanish to see that name and realize it's a pun for "Gotta Go Win". He's obviously from the Denman school of name mispronouncing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn-0jAqqFd0

This caller is awesome too

With unemployment rates sky high in this country I find it infuriating that Churchill hires a guy from Great Britain to call the races. It's bad enough they make the locals feel like outcasts.

And before the defenders of political correctness swarm my post be sure to find me a few american announcers calling races at prominent tracks in foreign countries. Thanks and stfu.

To me it doesnt really matter from where the guy is from. The idea if he brings excitement to the race. Some callers lack that intensity but very few are born to do it like:

Trevor
Vic
Tom Durkin
Dave Johnson
(new churchill downs caller)

Missed that pun

Trevor is absolutely horrendous. It's bush league to not call the fractions during the race.

His name is Mark Johnson :zz:

Never understood the reason callers NEED to call the fractions. I am either watching it on TV or at the track and in both the times are displayed for me. Unless the call-out is for jockeys info.

Steve interviewed Mark and I've not gotten a look at him physically I don't think but his voice just sounded lovely. He discussed the fraction calling and how it's more of an American thing. There's just a type of voice where you go 'look you need to be doing this for a living' and I think he's got it.

For the Derby, my biggest requirements besides the standard 'not confusing the horses with other horses' is a good hearty 'and they're off' or something and then a thundering 'and down the stretch they come.' In fact if he can just get the 2nd one, I'm good. I'll take "and away they go" at the beginning too because that's grown on me.

Some people dont have the luxury to actually watch the races all the time and sometime can only listen via other ways like the phone. Its nice to know if my horse is dead last down the back side that he actually has a shot with the fractions up front

He should try that "Boogity, boogity, boogity ... let's go racing" thing.

Actually, I think MJ is pretty darn good. Tough shoes to fill, but I like this guy's style and voice.

I like the guy alot. I like the increased discussion before the race, the commentary, and I like the race calls. Good choice for the next 20 years by Churchill.

In the Oaks, didn't this Churchill guy say something about Stone Legacy unleashing a "massive run" in 2nd?

What did he think of Twice A Prince in the '73 Belmont?