Churchill Announcer

[jballscalls]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

Australians are just better racecallers in general, Wrona should get the job.

But CDI will likely mess it up

When the hunt for a new announcer came up, I put together a list of the top racecallers down under and got them to the appropriate parties with mobile phone numbers, contact info, etc...

Those guys down under are amazing.

just curious what makes them better in your opinion??

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by jballscalls

just curious what makes them better in your opinion??

It's like the difference between Kobe Bryant and a high school kid. The huge fields they deal with along with the absence of color coded saddle cloths make the task they accomplish pretty amazing.

Always colorful with their calls and they make it seem like they are just relaxing through the race without getting nervous and trying to "find" horses.

The in-race analysis of how it is setting up is another thing that the antipodean guys are experts at. They really know their racing and circuits.

[citycat]

The announcer today was just awful. Completely botched up the last race calling the wrong horse in front. Alot of uneasy pauses in his call. Watch CD pick this guy....LOL

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by citycat

The announcer today was just awful. Completely botched up the last race calling the wrong horse in front. Alot of uneasy pauses in his call. Watch CD pick this guy....LOL

Who was it?

[citycat]

Originally Posted by cowgirlintexas

Who was it?

Well I am not sure what exactly happened. The first 8 races were called by Wrona but the 9th and 10th sounded like John Asher. Maybe Wrona had to leave? Or got ill?

Whatever the case go watch and listen to the call of the tenth at CD yesterday. Its a trainwreck.

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by citycat

Well I am not sure what exactly happened. The first 8 races were called by Wrona but the 9th and 10th sounded like John Asher. Maybe Wrona had to leave? Or got ill?

Whatever the case go watch and listen to the call of the tenth at CD yesterday. Its a trainwreck.

I wish I could.. but I don't have sound on this p.c

I'll take your word for it though

[Travis Stone]

Michael W. did not call the last two races yesterday as it was announced the cold/virus he was battling caught-up with him. John Asher, who serves as their VP of Racing Comm. took care of the balance of the card. Churchill is a challenging racetrack to call, much less for someone who doesn't do it everyday!

[philcski]

Originally Posted by citycat

Well I am not sure what exactly happened. The first 8 races were called by Wrona but the 9th and 10th sounded like John Asher. Maybe Wrona had to leave? Or got ill?

Whatever the case go watch and listen to the call of the tenth at CD yesterday. Its a trainwreck.

It was Asher... and it was definitely a trainwreck, but it isn't his job, so I'll give him a pass.

My honest opinion... I thought Travis was the best and I hope he gets the job.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

It's like the difference between Kobe Bryant and a high school kid. The huge fields they deal with along with the absence of color coded saddle cloths make the task they accomplish pretty amazing.

Always colorful with their calls and they make it seem like they are just relaxing through the race without getting nervous and trying to "find" horses.

The in-race analysis of how it is setting up is another thing that the antipodean guys are experts at. They really know their racing and circuits.

Alot of the Aussies (and South Africans) seem to be sharp analysts and appear to detect moves from horses and riders. They seem attuned to alot of subtleties that escape alot of US callers. Listen to Terry Spargo's "pre-race" in Dubai. He knows the horses and jockeys and their idiosyncracies very well. He deals with huge fields and rarely stumbles.

I think Michael did a great job last week. If he gets the job I'll be pleased to listen to him calling.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Linny

Alot of the Aussies (and South Africans) seem to be sharp analysts and appear to detect moves from horses and riders. They seem attuned to alot of subtleties that escape alot of US callers.

Is this ever on the money. Some of the comments during a race by 'top' U.S. announcers are LAUGHABLE. Durkin is particularly bad at correctly detecting moves and identifying the pace (based, one would think, on the way the jocks are riding) before fractions are posted (he has much company with the latter).

It's 2008. Let's keep track announcers for ENTERTAINMENT purposes -- there will always be those 'fans' who get a kick out of 'ARRRRRRRRRRR'. However, we have the technology to implement TRAKUSlike systems and take away all the guesswork out of watching a race. Is there anything more pleasant that MUTING out Denman and (accurately) enjoying a race at DMR? Then again, this is an industry that lives to deliver FLAWED DATA.

P.S. we really don't need GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPLACED ACCENTS doing race calls. Let's give the job to region specific accents.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

It's like the difference between Kobe Bryant and a high school kid. The huge fields they deal with along with the absence of color coded saddle cloths make the task they accomplish pretty amazing.

Always colorful with their calls and they make it seem like they are just relaxing through the race without getting nervous and trying to "find" horses.

The in-race analysis of how it is setting up is another thing that the antipodean guys are experts at. They really know their racing and circuits.

I don't disagree that Australian, or any race caller overseas, are solid, accurate and top-notch. But to judge American-based callers utilizing field size is a tough go because American field size is quite low. If it were larger, we'd call larger!

Race callers use the silks, not the saddle cloths. I use the colored cloth only in an absolute pinch, but more frequently use my marker colored silks on my program in the "brain cramp" moments of a call.

Race calling is tough... it's like music. Some people like a certain genre and hate others and visa-versa.

[TheSpyder]

I asked earlier, are you calling at Fairgrounds? If not who is it?

Thanks,

Spyder

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I don't disagree that Australian, or any race caller overseas, are solid, accurate and top-notch. But to judge American-based callers utilizing field size is a tough go because American field size is quite low. If it were larger, we'd call larger!

Race callers use the silks, not the saddle cloths. I use the colored cloth only in an absolute pinch, but more frequently use my marker colored silks on my program in the "brain cramp" moments of a call.

Race calling is tough... it's like music. Some people like a certain genre and hate others and visa-versa.

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

I asked earlier, are you calling at Fairgrounds? If not who is it?

Thanks,

Spyder

John G. Dooley, regular caller for the last couple of years at The Fair Grounds and Arlington.

[TheSpyder]

Thank you....he's very good.

Originally Posted by FGFan

John G. Dooley, regular caller for the last couple of years at The Fair Grounds and Arlington.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Thank you....he's very good.

Sorry I missed your question...

John G. is great! Great guy... "Away and rrrrrrrunning at the Fair Grounds!"

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I don't disagree that Australian, or any race caller overseas, are solid, accurate and top-notch. But to judge American-based callers utilizing field size is a tough go because American field size is quite low. If it were larger, we'd call larger!

Race callers use the silks, not the saddle cloths. I use the colored cloth only in an absolute pinch, but more frequently use my marker colored silks on my program in the "brain cramp" moments of a call.

Race calling is tough... it's like music. Some people like a certain genre and hate others and visa-versa.

You must have been wondering what artistic genius designed Sterling Heats' silks when you were there calling race 6 on Nov.6th.

[citycat]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I don't disagree that Australian, or any race caller overseas, are solid, accurate and top-notch. But to judge American-based callers utilizing field size is a tough go because American field size is quite low. If it were larger, we'd call larger!

Race callers use the silks, not the saddle cloths. I use the colored cloth only in an absolute pinch, but more frequently use my marker colored silks on my program in the "brain cramp" moments of a call.

Race calling is tough... it's like music. Some people like a certain genre and hate others and visa-versa.

Very interesting. So I do have a question if you dont mind. Some tracks (like Mountaineer) have what we call "house silks" for the horses and we do not use our own personal silks there. Is this harder or easier or make no difference.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by citycat

Very interesting. So I do have a question if you dont mind. Some tracks (like Mountaineer) have what we call "house silks" for the horses and we do not use our own personal silks there. Is this harder or easier or make no difference.

I give Peter Berry lots of credit... having to re-memorize the same silks over and over must be tough. By the end of the night, I think my mind would be close to exploding!

[Peter Berry]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I give Peter Berry lots of credit... having to re-memorize the same silks over and over must be tough. By the end of the night, I think my mind would be close to exploding!

Travis is correct about the mind explosion. The first few races are easy enough but as the night wears on there's more focus required.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Peter Berry

Travis is correct about the mind explosion. The first few races are easy enough but as the night wears on there's more focus required.

If the same group owns PID that owns MNR, why are owner sils allowed at one and not the other??