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Originally Posted by DaTruth
Wallace is liked by the average person who attends live racing at Oaklawn. The crowd really gets into it when he acts as the master of ceremonies before some of their bigger races, especially when he plays up the local favorites. This is an important consideration because Oaklawn still attracts large on-track crowds. They had 60,000 on hand yesterday, and 24,000 last Saturday for a pretty bad Oaklawn Hcp card. The live crowd's opinion of Wallace is going to carry more weight than what some simulcast bettors think, and really, who avoids betting a track just because they don't like an announcer.
You step back in time when you go to Hot Springs and Oaklawn, and as long as Wallace is considered to be as much a part of the tradition of Oaklawn as the corned beef sandwiches, I think Cella will let Wallace leave on his own terms.
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While this may be true, like anything else in life, if you are unable to adequately perform your job it is time to place someone competent in that position. I know that Terry is an institution at Oaklawn and I have been to many Arkansas Derbies, but I am sure they can find another position for him. He already does raceday handicapping and could still be prominent in that role allowing for a competent racecaller. If the Arkansas Derby call doesn't scream it is time to hang it up, not sure what will.