Trevor Denman - Gio Ponti

[CSC]

I know there are a few race announcers that lurk on this board, so I wanted to give a shout out to Trevor Denman for having the ballocks for calling Gio Ponti a nose winner over Ventura at the wire in a high profile race no less and saying so rather nonchalantly. I don't know how he knew seeing the photo afterward but well done.

[Danzig]

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

[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.

[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

[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.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by TitanSooner

please don't bring logic into this discussion

it has to do with preference, personal taste. if you don't like liver, do you try to get logical with yourself about it? or do you just not eat liver?

[King Glorious]

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.

That's the way I feel too. And the way it used to be, if you were at the track watching the race in person, it was enough people and noise there that you couldn't hear his call anyway. I'd just take a quick glance at the toteboard to see the fractions if I was interested.

[NTamm1215]

Whether he calls the fractions or not means nothing to me but he often makes assumptions regarding the pace, as the fat man said, and he's dead wrong. If you're not going to call the fractions, that's cool, but be careful making comments if you don't really know how quick they are (not) going.

NT

[Danzig]

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.

i just want to watch the race-i can see what's happening for the most part, and would rather he tell me what i can't see by looking at the horses. i may be in the minority, but i like hearing it and have gotten used to every caller telling me the times so i haven't got to turn attention away from the action.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

I know there are a few race announcers that lurk on this board, so I wanted to give a shout out to Trevor Denman for having the ballocks for calling Gio Ponti a nose winner over Ventura at the wire in a high profile race no less and saying so rather nonchalantly. I don't know how he knew seeing the photo afterward but well done.

I thought it was ballsy....I had no clue. Looked like Gio Ponti got up, but never would have called it without seeing a slowed replay.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I thought it was ballsy....I had no clue. Looked like Gio Ponti got up, but never would have called it without seeing a slowed replay.

When first watching it I thought Ventura had held on, I've watched many races from SA and I was surprised he called Gio Ponti when they crossed the wire. Usually racecaller's will say 'too close to call' or 'photo' given it was on Big Cap day and it was the Kilroy, I thought he showed alot of balls. When they replay that Kilroy years from now, it was nailed. I can only imagine if he was wrong, you can't go back and recall the race. He took a big risk.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

When first watching it I thought Ventura had held on, I've watched many races from SA and I was surprised he called Gio Ponti when they crossed the wire. Usually racecaller's will say 'too close to call' or 'photo' given it was on Big Cap day and it was the Kilroy, I thought he showed alot of balls. When they replay that Kilroy years from now, it was nailed. I can only imagine if he was wrong, you can't go back and recall the race. He took a big risk.

I hear ya. Even John Dooley, who is my favorite track announcer, will call it a photo lots of times when it's completely clear who won...so basically the exact opposite of what Denman did. That's about the only thing I don't like about him, is that he anticipates there being a photo 40 yards out, and then a horse wins by a half-length.

[jballscalls]

One thing you have to remember about calling photos is placement of the announcers booth. I know in my 3 years at river, i probably called photo without calling a winner or atleast saying who i thought got it maybe 3 times ever. Cause my booth was right on the wire.

At Portland, i'm atleast 50 to 60 feet up the stretch from the wire. I've heard Tampa is damn near 100 feet up from the wire and at keeneland, Kurt Becker is halfway between the two finishes.

That being said, i thought watching the race Gio Ponti got it but was surprised to hear Trevor call it that close, and after watching the first replay i thought Gio Ponti might not have got it LOL Kudos to a legend!

[the_fat_man]

Gee isn't he impressive. So he gets lucky and we need to kiss his ass.

How about all the times where he takes STABS at the pace and ****s up? A fairly common occurrence for him.

You know, when he sees a bunch of horses contesting and ASSUMES that the pace is fast, and then looks like an idiot when the split is posted. Of when he assumes the pace is picking up when horses start accelerating; etc.

The day can't come quick enough when ALL tracks will have TRAKUS (or something similar) and we can mute out all the NOISE (of the race caller). Which is exactly what I do at DMR: MUTE THE DOOFUS.