Trevor Denman - Gio Ponti

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's the freaking Breeders' Cup and he misidentifies a 10-length winner until the horse is draped in flowers. Pretty inexcusable for a guy who's supposed to be the best. Then he completely fails to mention the breakdown of Pine Island during the Distaff. And I don't want to hear the nonsense about how he didn't want to upset the fans. He had no idea that it happened.

I'm not making excuses. Those were both big mistakes on his part. I'd imagine that it's possible that just like a lot of human beings, he recognized the stage he was on and the pressure he was under and perhaps didn't handle it as well as he'd have liked. I love the guy but I too was disappointed in those calls that year. I thought he did a much better job this year and I have every confidence that he'd continue to improve.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Dominguez pumped his fist right after the wire as well. About as much emotion as I've ever seen from him.

I couldn't tell if Gio Ponti won when they showed the finish in slow motion - but Denman called him, Dominguez was certain he had won, and the camera guy was showing him and not Ventura ...

It really seemed like they were all just setting me up for another meltdown when they would inevitably put Ventura's number up. The part delmation part something else mutt that I got from the pound gets spooked out and starts to cry when I melt ... like I'm blaming him for it or something.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Dominguez pumped his fist right after the wire as well. About as much emotion as I've ever seen from him.

I couldn't tell if Gio Ponti won when they showed the finish in slow motion - but Denman called him, Dominguez was certain he had won, and the camera guy was showing him and not Ventura ...

It really seemed like they were all just setting me up for another meltdown when they would inevitably put Ventura's number up. The part delmation part something else mutt that I got from the pound gets spooked out and starts to cry when I melt ... like I'm blaming him for it or something.

You got a pet?

I'm calling the SPCA.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Oh yeah. I forgot that one. I forgot that nobody is allowed to make a mistake. You have to call over 1000 races a year and you better not make a mistake. I would love to hear all of those that criticize him try to do it once. Then if they get through that one race, let's see how they handle a full card. Not one of those cards with four and five horse fields but full ones. With jockeys wearing the silks of owners that they aren't all that familiar with. It's not as easy as people seem to think it is. I think that's part of why you never see the announcers that are on here criticizing any others. Because they know how hard it is. I bet most of you that criticize them couldn't do it even if you were watching a replay and knew the results already.

Nope. That's a blunder of epic proportions. Like Webber, Buckner, and Leon Lett proportions. And making excuses for him not knowing the silks? He had MONTHS leading up to the BC to memorize unfamiliar silks. Come on, that's the man's job.

I also find the "you shouldn't comment because you couldn't do it better" defense when discussing announcers, jockeys, or trainers particularly idiotic. Did I say anything about being better at it? No, I simply offered my opinion regarding the topic. You don't like it? Cool, no problem, it certainly isn't the first time you and I have disagreed. I doubt it will be the last also.

NT

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Nope. That's a blunder of epic proportions. Like Webber, Buckner, and Leon Lett proportions. And making excuses for him not knowing the silks? He had MONTHS leading up to the BC to memorize unfamiliar silks. Come on, that's the man's job.

I also find the "you shouldn't comment because you couldn't do it better" defense when discussing announcers, jockeys, or trainers particularly idiotic. Did I say anything about being better at it? No, I simply offered my opinion regarding the topic. You don't like it? Cool, no problem, it certainly isn't the first time you and I have disagreed. I doubt it will be the last also.

NT

I don't believe that I said if you can't do it better that you shouldn't comment.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't believe that I said if you can't do it better that you shouldn't comment.

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I would love to hear all of those that criticize him try to do it once. Then if they get through that one race, let's see how they handle a full card. Not one of those cards with four and five horse fields but full ones. With jockeys wearing the silks of owners that they aren't all that familiar with. It's not as easy as people seem to think it is. I think that's part of why you never see the announcers that are on here criticizing any others. Because they know how hard it is.

That's pretty similar to saying we shouldn't comment. It's suggesting that we're out of line by criticizing him since we're not racecallers.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

That's pretty similar to saying we shouldn't comment. It's suggesting that we're out of line by criticizing him since we're not racecallers.

I don't think so. You're talking to a guy that constantly second guesses and criticizes trainers and owners for decisions they make. Comment all you want. Just seems that some think it's so easy and mistakes can't be made and I think that's unrealistic. To take a guy that's calling over 1000 races a year for over 20 years and harp on his mistakes and say "he's no good because he made this mistake", that seems like a bit much to me. Like I said, I love the guy. Think he's the best in the business but even I criticized his blown call on Street Sense. That was horrible. I've heard him make other horrible calls over the years too. But they don't overshadow what I think have been many, many brilliant ones.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't think so. You're talking to a guy that constantly second guesses and criticizes trainers and owners for decisions they make. Comment all you want. Just seems that some think it's so easy and mistakes can't be made and I think that's unrealistic. To take a guy that's calling over 1000 races a year for over 20 years and harp on his mistakes and say "he's no good because he made this mistake", that seems like a bit much to me. Like I said, I love the guy. Think he's the best in the business but even I criticized his blown call on Street Sense. That was horrible. I've heard him make other horrible calls over the years too. But they don't overshadow what I think have been many, many brilliant ones.

I didn't see anyone say he's no good. He's obviously competent. I just think he's really overrated.

[Cannon Shell]

He's no Grunder

[Danzig]

i don't care for denman, but would rather listen to him than battaglia.
out of the callers lately, i think fairgrounds has the best one. not oaklawns for sure! terry wallace seems to bungle a lot of names.

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i don't care for denman, but would rather listen to him than battaglia.
out of the callers lately, i think fairgrounds has the best one. not oaklawns for sure! terry wallace seems to bungle a lot of names.

Terry Wallace seems like a nice guy and all, but I will be glad when he retires.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i don't care for denman, but would rather listen to him than battaglia.
out of the callers lately, i think fairgrounds has the best one. not oaklawns for sure! terry wallace seems to bungle a lot of names.

I'd rather listen to Fran Drescher on a megaphone than Battaglia. He's unbearable.

[eajinabi]

Originally Posted by Danzig

now if he would only have the ballocks to call out fractions.

He is the only announcer I figure who doesnt call fractions but he will give a sense of how fast or slow the race is going.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I'd rather listen to Fran Drescher on a megaphone than Battaglia. He's unbearable.

omg.

that's going to give me nitemares for 3 days.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by eajinabi

He is the only announcer I figure who doesnt call fractions but he will give a sense of how fast or slow the race is going.

Most of us watch on a tv screen, so the fractions aren't that important unless you are there at Santa Anita looking at the race in person. But otherwise, we can all read what it says on the upper right or left hand corner.

[TitanSooner]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Most of us watch on a tv screen, so the fractions aren't that important unless you are there at Santa Anita looking at the race in person. But otherwise, we can all read what it says on the upper right or left hand corner.

please don't bring logic into this discussion

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Left Bank

If you want to see/hear an announcer make good calls on the wire,tune in to Ed Burgart at Los Alamitos.He is almost better than shuttercam.

While you are tuning in to Los Al, watch the Australians in between. Those guys could call our races with one eye open and a hooker on each leg.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by TitanSooner

please don't bring logic into this discussion

You beat me to it, nevertheless I follow Australian & Hong Kong races and their racecallers are really good, and they rarely announce the internal fractions, and it would be hard pressed to find better racecallers than theirs. If the pace is a quick one they will instead make an effort to let the audience know. To me annoucing fractions is totally optional, it doesn't enhance my experience one way or the other. What did we do before Keeneland hired an announcer...from what I understand Keeneland once didn't use announcers for their races.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Dominguez pumped his fist right after the wire as well. About as much emotion as I've ever seen from him.

I couldn't tell if Gio Ponti won when they showed the finish in slow motion - but Denman called him, Dominguez was certain he had won, and the camera guy was showing him and not Ventura ...

It really seemed like they were all just setting me up for another meltdown when they would inevitably put Ventura's number up. The part delmation part something else mutt that I got from the pound gets spooked out and starts to cry when I melt ... like I'm blaming him for it or something.

When you look at the replay when they crossed the wire, Gio Ponti's head was coming up at the wire, Ventura runs with a lower head and though her head was also coming up it wasn't as pronounced as GP's. That is why I thought Trevor might have gotten it wrong originally when he called GP at the wire, I had bet GP also and yeah I hear you in the back of my mind I thought this was some sort of sadistic April fools joke had Ventura's number been put up.

[jinjin]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's the freaking Breeders' Cup and he misidentifies a 10-length winner until the horse is draped in flowers. I know how difficult it is to call a race, but that's pretty inexcusable for a guy who's supposed to be the best. Then he completely fails to mention the breakdown of Pine Island during the Distaff. And I don't want to hear the nonsense about how he didn't want to upset the fans. He had no idea that it happened.

I totally agree... I miss Tom Durkin's Breeders Cup calls and even though he's been messing up some names now and again, Denman is not a favorite of mine. It's annoying how many times he uses the "they would need to sprout wings to catch him" phrase. His Breeders cup calls are awful, although he used to be very good on the after race commentary on the nbc telecasts...