Derby Trail Forums

Go Back   Derby Trail Forums > Main Forum > The Paddock
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:11 PM
RollerDoc RollerDoc is offline
Lincoln Fields
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 431
Default Ranking Tom Durkin

I wanted to ask how you would rate Tom Durkin as a track announcer. Personally I find his call of the race quite appealing. He doesn't seem to grandstand and I love the way he summarizes what appears to be the eventual winner. Here are a few of my favorites:

2005 Belmont
"And Afleet Alex just ran past Giacomo like he was standing still."

2006 Kentucky Derby
"They're coming to the finish and it's all Barbaro in a sublime performance. He runs away from them all and saves something left for the Preakness."

2007 Kentucky Derby
"And Street Sense has roared from 19th position to first in the Derby. And here is Street Sense, a stretch running sensation to win the Kentucky Derby by 2."

2008 Kentucky Derby
"And it's going to be Big Brown bobbing home to a convincing win in the run for the roses. It is Big Brown by five on the wire."

2008 Preakness
"Big Brown is doing it again. He disappears from the field. He's in front by five. He waltzes home to win the Preakness. No ones ever been close to Big Brown. And now it's on to the Belmont and the elusive triple crown."

And by the way, the butterflies for me watching my horse of choice officially start when I hear Ton Durkin say, "And they're off....in the Kentucky Derby."
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:13 PM
ArlJim78 ArlJim78 is offline
Newmarket
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,549
Default

past his prime but one of the best, great for the big days.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:14 PM
the_fat_man's Avatar
the_fat_man the_fat_man is offline
Atlantic City Race Course
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,676
Default

Whatever floats your boat, ACE.

You fixate on Durkin, I check out the chick sites and love to ride (bike) behind babes with nice asses and calves over at the park. It's all good.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:16 PM
hoovesupsideyourhead's Avatar
hoovesupsideyourhead hoovesupsideyourhead is offline
"The Kentucky Killing Machine"
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: florida
Posts: 16,278
Default

like durkin and hes earned it,but if he does choose to go.. becker
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:17 PM
Scav Scav is offline
Saratoga
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Northwest of The Chi
Posts: 16,012
Default

Is it me or is RollerDoc hitting every possible hot internet message board topic possible?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:18 PM
the_fat_man's Avatar
the_fat_man the_fat_man is offline
Atlantic City Race Course
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,676
Default

Announcers of races will be a thing of the past once TRAKUS(like) systems are in place.

There's accurate and then there's LESS accurate.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:23 PM
RollerDoc RollerDoc is offline
Lincoln Fields
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 431
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by the_fat_man
Announcers of races will be a thing of the past once TRAKUS(like) systems are in place.

There's accurate and then there's LESS accurate.

Is that really true? Wouldn't that be trespassing on tradition? Why would they do that. I understand accuracy but couldn't they still have a track announcer?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:26 PM
mclem10011 mclem10011 is offline
Hippodrome Bluebonnets
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 714
Default Durkin is class, one of the best ever.....

Vic Stauffer to me has the most excited call these days! His passion for this game comes through in every call he makes! His big race calls are very exciting to here, and are always impressive to hear again, and again in my opinion.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:32 PM
pick4's Avatar
pick4 pick4 is offline
Aqueduct
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 645
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead
like durkin and hes earned it,but if he does choose to go.. becker
I agree. Durkin is still the best. However I liked Kurt Beckers calls while Tom was away during Derby and Preakness weeks. Becker misjudged the distance between horses a few times but Belmont is a tricky track for a racecaller who is unfamiliar with the track. However he would be a fine choice as the next track announcer at NYRA tracks.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:39 PM
justindew's Avatar
justindew justindew is offline
Fairgrounds
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,640
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by pick4
I agree. Durkin is still the best. However I liked Kurt Beckers calls while Tom was away during Derby and Preakness weeks. Becker misjudged the distance between horses a few times but Belmont is a tricky track for a racecaller who is unfamiliar with the track. However he would be a fine choice as the next track announcer at NYRA tracks.
Becker is the best.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:45 PM
turf fan turf fan is offline
Morris Park
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 140
Default

Durkin"s best call was the BC a few years back when Dick Mandella wins four on the day, " Man o' man, Mandella today!!"
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:52 PM
pmacdaddy's Avatar
pmacdaddy pmacdaddy is offline
The Curragh
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,867
Default

"Bern-ar-dini...with something in reserve..." Think it was the Jim Dandy.

Edit:
Guess I made that up. Unless it was a different race. Two good performances and calls at Toga though...

Jim Dandy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2AdqHEOVns

Travers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtq652Uxlqc

Last edited by pmacdaddy : 05-22-2008 at 08:11 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:54 PM
Zaf's Avatar
Zaf Zaf is offline
Ak-Sar-Ben
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 697
Default

Love the Avatar pmacdaddy
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:56 PM
pmacdaddy's Avatar
pmacdaddy pmacdaddy is offline
The Curragh
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,867
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaf
Love the Avatar pmacdaddy
Thanks. Slapped it on last Sat AM, so I guess it's not bad luck...
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-22-2008, 07:57 PM
Coach Pants
 
Posts: n/a
Default

He's ok and sometimes I enjoy a good hogging session...but for me nothing beats rollerblading and letting chicks on bikes pass me by so I can get a good look at their asses.

Why did I post this? Because I'm a manly man and this thread makes me uncomfortable.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 05-22-2008, 08:01 PM
XIIPointStables XIIPointStables is offline
Washington Park
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 858
Default

I think it's written in all of Tom Durkin's contracts that he has to use the word "throatlatch" at least once per race card.

He gets an A on my race call ratings card.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-22-2008, 08:03 PM
King Glorious's Avatar
King Glorious King Glorious is offline
Atlantic City Race Course
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Beaumont, CA
Posts: 4,614
Default

Of all I've ever heard, Denman is my favorite followed by Marshall Cassidy then Durkin.
__________________
The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 05-22-2008, 08:06 PM
pmayjr's Avatar
pmayjr pmayjr is offline
Fairgrounds
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canterbury Park- 3rd Floor Clubhouse
Posts: 1,603
Default

Durkin and Dooley are my favs...
__________________
Facebook- Peter May Jr.
Twitter- @pmayjr
You wouldn't be ballin' if your name was Spauldin'
If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased...
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-22-2008, 08:13 PM
ArlJim78 ArlJim78 is offline
Newmarket
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,549
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by XIIPointStables
I think it's written in all of Tom Durkin's contracts that he has to use the word "throatlatch" at least once per race card.

He gets an A on my race call ratings card.
hilarious, but true. like Peter Galassi at Hawthorne is required to work in at least one "head and head, nose and nose" into every call.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 05-22-2008, 08:27 PM
Zaf's Avatar
Zaf Zaf is offline
Ak-Sar-Ben
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 697
Default

Tampa guy is my fav , followed by Battaglia. Old MNR guy Dolan was a legend.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.