Durkin steps down as Triple Crown voice; Collmus takes over

[DaTruth]

I've noticed that for some runnings of major Euro races, such as the Arc, the British media have used a racecaller and a commentator during the broadcast of the race. The caller goes through the field for the first half mile or so, the commentator chimes in for a furlong or two, then the caller takes over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctctz...eature=related

Something like that may be appealing to a TV audience. The replacement for Durkin can take the field through the first turn. Byk can provide some perspective as the field runs down the backstretch about the pace and where particular horses are placed. The announcer can take over again as the field hits the far turn.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

I've noticed that for some runnings of major Euro races, such as the Arc, the British media have used a racecaller and a commentator during the broadcast of the race. The caller goes through the field for the first half mile or so, the commentator chimes in for a furlong or two, then the caller takes over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctctz...eature=related

Something like that may be appealing to a TV audience. The replacement for Durkin can take the field through the first turn. Byk can provide some perspective as the field runs down the backstretch about the pace and where particular horses are placed. The announcer can take over again as the field hits the far turn.

I think it's a unique case as Longchamp is quite difficult from a calling angle, probably a good half of each race is called from a television save the sprinting distances on the backside course. Not sure how much Euro racing you catch now, but the tactic of more than one person calling a race is, to my knowledge, used only amongst French racecallers. In the UK for the Grand National where it is practically impossible for one caller to cover all the action.

In the US, with oval courses, there's really no need for it, and you can almost be assured not all 20 horses would get a call if you were tossing it to someone else. No chance of this happening here.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I think it's a unique case as Longchamp is quite difficult from a calling angle, probably a good half of each race is called from a television save the sprinting distances on the backside course. Not sure how much Euro racing you catch now, but the tactic of more than one person calling a race is, to my knowledge, used only amongst French racecallers. In the UK for the Grand National where it is practically impossible for one caller to cover all the action.

In the US, with oval courses, there's really no need for it, and you can almost be assured not all 20 horses would get a call if you were tossing it to someone else. No chance of this happening here.

Obviously there is no need for it from the standpoint of having the most accurate Triple Crown racecalls. What I am suggesting is merely to make the Triple Crown races more interesting to the average TV viewer who likely has minimal knowledge of racing and probably would enjoy some live explanation about what is happening during the race. The networks already cater to the non-racing fans during their Triple Crown telecasts by departing from the normal track pan shots for the entire race and using different camera angles, such as a blimp shot on the backstretch, much to the annoyance of many serious fans.

I doubt that watching a Belmont on TV would become less enjoyable for the masses if, during the long run down the backstretch, a color commentator opined about how the pace was affecting the race favorite and what should be expected during the remainder of the race.