Collmus to replace Durkin?

[Arletta]

Great article by Joe Drape @ NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/sp...reer.html?_r=2

[ateamstupid]

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

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

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

Well said.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

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"??

I immediately thought of this:

[Pants II]

"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.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Pants II

"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.

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Cardus

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.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpoEMCJdj1M

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

You wanted Durkin to do a flying dismount yesterday?

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

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

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

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

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

Good grief; that's hilarious. I guess the jockeys must have hired the same graphic artist when they commissioned Durkin's gift.

[casp0555]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

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

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

they got it right on the flowers

[Storm Cadet]

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?

[Benny]

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet

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?

LC takes over the beginning of April, donot know when the Wood is run. fter his Gulfstream job.

[Gate Dancer]

Originally Posted by bigrun

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

Tell me about it.................

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cardus

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.

Nice touch on grammatical error..lol

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Gate Dancer

Tell me about it.................

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Storm Cadet

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?

Aqueduct in the spring I believe.

[TouchOfGrey]

NY Times Video -The Voice of Horse Racing in New York

In the booth with Tom Durkin as he calls his final Belmont Stakes.

[tbevans]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

NY Times Video -The Voice of Horse Racing in New York

In the booth with Tom Durkin as he calls his final Belmont Stakes.

Thought this was just spectacular. As he says, he's a fan first, and that much is clear just from watching his body language and hearing his voice.

[Benny]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

NY Times Video -The Voice of Horse Racing in New York

In the booth with Tom Durkin as he calls his final Belmont Stakes.

Thanks for that. It was great to see him calling it. There will never be another in my lifetime like him. Simply the best.

[MaTH716]

Good stuff, thanks for posting. I felt bad for him at the end, when you could see his disgust, disappointment and threw his headset.