Why Durkin will always be a ***
 

Durkins call of the suburban was like listening to somebody scratch there nails on a chalkboard.

Did he bet invasor? Is he screwing F. Jara? Sick call

Invasor gallops to the lead.....Jara Looks around for competition......Invasor rolling through the stretch .....Invasor in complete control midstretch.....Invasor much the best here invasor invasor invasor ...

I am a Track announcer I do it for a living as well if I ever give 1 horse 10 calls in the stretch I hope a sniper shoots me from the crow's nest.

Please Tom Step down , Go write a book . Become a retired announcer soon .

Thanks for the eary race call that will be etched in my mind forever.

Oust Durkin

He may be over the top sometimes, but he's still the best.

He was never my favorite, but I used to think he was one of the best.
But lately when I listen to him he is really irritating. You can usually tell when he bets because he keeps calling on the horse even though sometimes the horse is doing nothing. Also he doesn't give a good accounting of the race and makes mistakes. The Invasor call today was over the top and I'm sure that he bet on it by the way he called it. I find him annoying and hard to listen to.

I love to hear his voice, and his calls, just my opinion. It adds for me the excitement of the race.

He is, to this novice Horse Player, the Barney Hall (motorsports) or Joe Buck (Baseball) of Horse Racing.

You gotta be the "They Are Off And Racing" guy!

Fair to assume Durkin ain't on your BBQ invite list for Tuesday?

Durkin.... you love him or you hate him.

That was a HORRIBLE call - Invasor is a good horse, but awesome? LOL That was a terrible field for a grade 1 and not even a good field for a grade 2; I don't mean to take anything away from the winner, but that was sooooo over the top. I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel this way about Durkin's call.....man, that was painful to listen to. Next time, Tom, save that call for a race that really deserves it. Sheesh.

His call during Borrego's JCGC win was just as bad, if not worse.

Durkin is the best in the business, but he goes over the top more and more these days...think he's on his last legs as an announcer.

Question is, who will replace him? Stauffer? I know everyone here loves Denman, but I can't stand him...

Speaking of Stauffer, what was his call at the finish of the CashCall? Something about vindication.. Didn't understand what he said.

Ez

Durkin can get annoying, but he is still the guy I want behind the mike for a big race like the Kentucky Derby or the BC Classic. He just adds that extra something.
If I EVER have to listen Vic Stauffer call a big race like this I'll puke. The guy is flat-out TERRIBLE. I will seriously watch the race with the volume turned down if this guy is calling the race. He is an absolute disgrace.
Durkin's call today was definitely over the top, but there is, in my opinion, nobody better than him in the game right now.

As far as I know from the inside Larry Colmus is being groomed as Tom Durkins replacement. In any event That call was disgusting I really dont make a habit of bad mouthing other announcer's but sheesh enough is enough . Make a clean precise call and let me know whats happening to the back not Praise the same horse over and over and over from the top of the stretch to the wire. I mean please if you thought that call was good than you can keep durkin forever , Maybe he will get to be like the old mountaineer announcer whom was there for 40+ years and at the end of his career couldnt get through a six horse field going 6 furlongs, Just sad is all when somebody you admired has lost a few steps and doesnt know its time to hang it up.

Its all about image. He's more popular now....so he needs to "outdo" himself each time out on major telecasts. I think that is why he's more over the top nowadays.

$0.02

He said" Dance in the Mood with United States vindication...Yesss!!!!"

The vindication comes from avenging her second place finish in the American Oaks two years ago, which I believe was her only other start in the US.

I like Colmus, not flashy or emotional, just clean and accurate.

BTW, if someone wanted to rate your race calls where would we have to tune in.

I like Tom Durkin. And he does announce like he has the winner, just as he should. Somebody needs to spice things up. Yes he goes over the top, but he is the best of the guys I have heard.

Durkin used to be the best ... and he still shows flashes of his former self ...

... for instance ... today when a horse named Tipperary was trailing the field ... he said "... and it's a long way to Tipperary."

But his call of the Suburban was way over the top. Shame on you, Tom ... for allowing your personal interests to bias your call.

You can always tell who Vic and Durkin bet when they are calling a race. Trevor Denman is the best in the US. He can spot a horse making move before the horse even makes it. Durkin and Vic will say a horse is making move when the horse has already gotten the lead. Both are average at best. The guy who calls those races in Japan is about the best I have ever heard. But I will take Denman over anyone in the US.

Who are you?...I hate all this 'secrecy' among the chat colony...if you make a bold comment and take a stand then at least let everyone know who you are...you may gain more respect for your post if you did...not insulting you, but I think if you are an announcer and can come on here and bad mouth another announcer then you should reveal who you are....just my opinion....some people think that I'm controversial and I also work deeply in the industry...still, I don't hide behind an unrevealing screen name and talk about other people as if I am God...

I'd like to know who you are out of curiosity....You might be right...you might be wrong..I just want to know who is making these comments...

Trevor
 

Trevor is so far and away the best in the game. It is a shame he does not get to call the Breeders Cup races just because he is a foreigner....

And away they go.....

If you bet on .... go to the window and cash....

Her ears are pricked and she is running away from the field....


Durkin is just okay.....

PSH

She was MUCH the best in last years Oaks, horse received a Laviolette/Doocy type ride in that race last year.....Today, the horse basically said "Forget you, i am going to do it myself"....Victor was just a passenger today, didn't have to do much

He is, so it seems, the "They Are Off And Racing" (taoaracing) announcer from Sam Houston or Evangeline or Delta. Mike something I think.

He's been trashing Durkin and other announcers on horse racing sites.

Looking for a better job or just for the hell of it. Maybe he'll humor himself and tell us.

Refers to Tom Hammond as Liberace's twin. Down on Charlsie Cantey. How can you really diss Charlsie?

Can't spell worth a sh!t.

But, as many do, he likes to hate on others in the industry.

Nobody is better at horse racing coverage than Hank Goldberg. Do not try to f*** with the Hammer's gig.

Trevor is easily the best technical caller in the game....I agree...He simply sees the race better than any other...he calls moves before they happen and is about the only race caller that a serious horse player can and will listen to....

Announcers are an odd breed...I'm friends with a few of the good ones, but the good ones are class....I have noticed that the bad ones with second-rate gigs are the ones that love to bash other announcers....I've heard it a lot first-hand from these types...

Last year the Oaks was won in very convincing fashion by another Japanese bred horse named Cesario. DITM ran second I believe in the previous year.

You are correct....Damn, I wish ceario wouldn't ahve retired....Her Am. Oaks win last year as breath taking to me, and what a big, good-looking black mare...Wow..she looked like a freakin' colt...I really liked that filly, and NO, not just cause I made $ on her...she was a superstar...

It was one of the most dominating wins I can remember. She absolutely crushed that field.

hell of a race by cesario last year in the oaks...i think she suffered an injury and it just wouldn't completely heal. shame when the good ones have to quit.

She was so big and yet so fast that you could tell it would be hard to keep her sound....she wore front wraps when she won last year....can't wait to see if her babies are as big as her!

when they announced her retirement they said no breeding plans...wonder who they send her to.....SS sure stamped his progeny, and theirs as well! too look at cesario, you'd think she was one of his, but she's a granddaughter. ligament injury, they said she'd be off at least a year so they retired her.

just saw in the newest bloodhorse that Sunday Silence is #1 on the international sires list. he was to japan what northern dancer was to the u.s. and europe. amazing the impact that horse has had.

First and foremost : I am not Mike Chamberlain , He is tho a great announcer whom gets no respect. Also I am not from evangeline or delta. I am an announcer you hear everyday . Does it really matter who I am . I made an opinion. I do not bash announcers unless I think they are horrible and if you had any clue about how hard this job is or what it takes to do it than you would understand. In any event I am who I am

They Are Off And Racccciiinggggggggggggg


Down with battaglia the horror this man brings to my occupation

It matters who you are when you come on claiming to be an announcer and then calling out and trashing numerous people by name. Why hide in the closet? Have some stones and come out and tell us who you are. I highly doubt that you are someone heard every day and if you are you sound like you're very bitter and don't have much in the way of class.

Wow : Im sorry that I have to be called out to have credibilty on this board. I thought this was a message board not a who is who of horse racing? If you must know whom I am well. I dont see why it matters and actually Im just joking . I would never say whom I am because that would actually hurt my career. In any event You listen to me every day well 5 days a week . I seriously would not put down any other announcer's except durkin whom in my opinion oh and battaglia have worn out there welcome in the sport. (NBODY SAID I WAS A T_BRED ANNOUNCER ) Hint and clue #1. :)

If you call harness I definetely never listen to you, much less five days a week. Your post does not make sense, and you cannot spell. I don't see how you could be paid to speak.

Possibly I announce JAI LAI Opps.


I kid I kid look jim I announce races. Im not trying to get in a pissin match with you as to whom I am . Alls I know is I like this board and respect you and every one elses opinion's .

I am A Harness announcer so leave that as it is.

to be honest, i don't even remember durkins call. i never really pay a lot of attention to any of the race callers when i watch on t.v. pretty much paying attention to the race itself.
tom durkin is ok--about the only time i really waited impatiently for him to say something was during this years preakness, i thought he did a good job with calling while still mentioning barbaro--since that was the only reason i kept the race on. he managed to continue to concentrate on the race, and kkeep us informed about the favorite.
of course it's much easier to bash someone when they do something you don't like, than it is to praise when they have to do something completely unplanned, and do it well.

as for going over the top, maybe he's just trying to generate some excitement for those who tuned in--look how EXCITING racing is, don't you want to come back and watch again??

Might be a wild greyhound race caller..."and here comes the 5, followed by the 1, 8, and 4" classy.

This is so correct its not even worth reflecting on. As opposed to someone like Battaglia who calls a move 15 seconds after it has passed.

now mike battaglia is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. every time i hear one of his races i wonder how he got the job....must have a pic of someone with a goat.

I've got it !!!!

You're Jan Rushton !!!

Jan wouldn't be knocking Tom.

With all the turf sprints being run in NY these days I wish someone would tell Tom that 21 4/5 is not only not " blazing ", it's not even fast. Can anyone say " runup ".

How about monmouth these days with that new course? What the runup 100 yards? No way can those fractional times be correct.