Tom Durkin we missed you

Siena 16 · #1 11-07-2006, 11:47 AM

Trevor Denman had a rough day calling races, in the Juvenile he didn't pick up Street Sense until he opened up 6 lengths and I'm still wondering if he knows Pine Island broke down. Tom Durkin you were truly missed.

#2 11-07-2006, 11:48 AM

Tom Durkin posts here?

paisjpq · #3 11-07-2006, 12:18 PM

I like Tom D. but he's slipping...Last week he was reading about refunds when they sprung the gate...totally missed the break..he actually said "oh, and I guess I'll call the race for you..." he's getting embarassing.

#4 11-07-2006, 12:23 PM

Poor Trevor....choked under pressure. The sad thing is that he really is the best technical race caller in the game....he sees moves and events develope and calls them before they happen, versus react to them after they happen like all others - but Saturday was disappointing....

brianwspencer · #5 11-07-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Poor Trevor....choked under pressure. The sad thing is that he really is the best technical race caller in the game....he sees moves and events develope and calls them before they happen, versus react to them after they happen like all others - but Saturday was disappointing....

I agree completely. i was thrilled that he would be calling and i hope he gets another shot next year - -though the juvy and the distaff were suspect.

the tv in my hotel room in chicago was so fuzzy that you couldn't make out the silks or numbers on the saddle cloths, so due to his call i thought great hunter was winning the juvy when i saw the horse sneaking up the middle.

a sixteenth of a mile later i realized that my ticket was good after all.

i thought he did a fine job though, in the other six races -- totally as good as i would expect from him. he sees things happen before they do, i love it.

Bystander · #6 11-07-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I like Tom D. but he's slipping...Last week he was reading about refunds when they sprung the gate...totally missed the break..he actually said "oh, and I guess I'll call the race for you..." he's getting embarassing.

I agree with you that Durkin's slipping, but it does seem as though he does a bit more preparation. This has all been said here already, but watching the replays again I really was stunned at some of the miscues.

Where'd the corgi go?

paisjpq · #7 11-07-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bystander

I agree with you that Durkin's slipping, but it does seem as though he does a bit more preparation. This has all been said here already, but watching the replays again I really was stunned at some of the miscues.

Where'd the corgi go?

Durkin has done some of my favorite races calls over the years...and lately some of the worst IMO.

Corgi will be back...big brother Oscar wanted a turn

CapperZeke · #8 11-07-2006, 12:34 PM

Calling Breeder's Cup races with fields of 14 is slightly different than calling 6 horse Del Mar races. His calls also lacked the excitement of Durkin's calls.

#9 11-08-2006, 05:09 PM

Yes, Trev did blow the call on Street Sense and on Pine Island. That being said I do enjoy his race calls. I like the fact that he often calls our attention to the color of the jockey's silks, cap or the horses saddlecloth as a means of identifying horses. Very helpful in big fields. Still, being a NY bred, Durkin is still my fave.

#10 11-08-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wibber

Yes, Trev did blow the call on Street Sense and on Pine Island. That being said I do enjoy his race calls. I like the fact that he often calls our attention to the color of the jockey's silks, cap or the horses saddlecloth as a means of identifying horses. Very helpful in big fields. Still, being a NY bred, Durkin is still my fave.

He stinks. Hows that for an analysis of his calls?
He gets away with a lot of that bull**** out in Cali with the small fields. Doesn't have to go back through the field too many times and can use all his superlatives and adjectives.
Different story when you actually have to describe the scene with 14 horses and go back and call all their names, harder to use those worn out exhausted old cliches that he specializes in, and God forbid he give the fractions, that would take away from his schtick.
Hes the most overrated caller in the history of the sport. All style, no substance.

Kasept · #11 11-08-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wibber

Yes, Trev did blow the call on Street Sense and on Pine Island. That being said I do enjoy his race calls. I like the fact that he often calls our attention to the color of the jockey's silks, cap or the horses saddlecloth as a means of identifying horses. Very helpful in big fields. Still, being a NY bred, Durkin is still my fave.

Also failed to include Premium Tap as third in the Classic...

#12 11-08-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Also failed to include Premium Tap as third in the Classic...

He was way too busy looking in his superlatives handbook to bother with something so trivial as getting who was 3rd in a 5 million dollar race out there. I truly believe he sounded disappointed and rattled when Bern got beat. I think he had scripted a version of some ranting he was going to make "when Bern won" and hadn't considered the alternative. I think thats why he stammered, stuttered, and struggled.

paisjpq · #13 11-08-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

He was way too busy looking in his superlatives handbook to bother with something so trivial as getting who was 3rd in a 5 million dollar race out there. I truly believe he sounded disappointed and rattled when Bern got beat. I think he had scripted a version of some ranting he was going to make "when Bern won" and hadn't considered the alternative. I think thats why he stammered, stuttered, and struggled.

that's funny...and prolly right

Kasept · #14 11-08-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

He was way too busy looking in his superlatives handbook to bother with something so trivial as getting who was 3rd in a 5 million dollar race out there. I truly believe he sounded disappointed and rattled when Bern got beat. I think he had scripted a version of some ranting he was going to make "when Bern won" and hadn't considered the alternative. I think thats why he stammered, stuttered, and struggled.

Mike..

Haskin said the EXACT same thing Sunday.. that Denman had so rehersed his Bernardini down the stretch call, that he was utterly unprepared for an alternative result.. And then had little emotion to offer a call that will be heard for a long time...

Revolution · #15 11-08-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Mike..

Haskin said the EXACT same thing Sunday.. that Denman had so rehersed his Bernardini down the stretch call, that he was utterly unprepared for an alternative result.. And then had little emotion to offer a call that will be heard for a long time...

Haskin also said a win by Bernardini would have him join the immortals or racing. These guys are supposed to be the great writers of the sport but are nothing more than cheerleaders, clueless ones at that.

Cajungator26 · #16 11-08-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Also failed to include Premium Tap as third in the Classic...

I wasn't very impressed with his call when they left the starting gate either.

"There's the roar from the Churchill Downs croud as the Breeders Cup Classic field set on their way..."

Nah...