Tom Durkin's farewell speech

[RaceTrackDaddy]

Although this is about a thoroughbred announcer, it is still about horse racing so I thought I would share this with you all.

The one and only Tom Durkin's last race call today in the Spinaway at Saratoga was followed up by a very moving celebration about the life of one Tom Durkin. It was a very moving celebration that ended in a very moving speech by Tom. If you missed it, I loaded it on youtube...

http://youtu.be/ZD-bdbPPCuQ

Just wish it would be a prerequisite for all Racino owners to view before they take control of the tracks now with slots and table games.

[magwell]

That was great, thanks RTD.......

[098poi]

Thanks, and long live Tom Durkin!

[TheEdge07]

Tom Durkin.....GETS IT!

[LottaKash]

I fondly recall when Tom Durkin was the Racecaller at the Big-M....Whatta a racecaller !

I was so sorry, almost angry, when he left to call at NYRA...

Still, getting Ken Warkentin, and Sam McKee as replacements made it all the more easy to accept his leaving....Those two are some of the best anywhere, at calling the races, imo...

Farewell TD... Well Done !.. And thanks for al the great calls and memories of them...:jump: :jump: :jump:

[pandy]

Nice. Well, we won't have Tom Durkin's calls anymore, but thankfully, we'll still have Saratoga (I hope).

[horses4courses]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/sports/and-hes-off-a-track-legend-calls-it-a-career.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

“There is one person that is completely responsible for this wonderful life that I’ve had the privilege to live in horse racing,” he said. “That person is here in Saratoga today. Right now he’s in the backyard sitting at a picnic table under a pine tree looking at this image on the television. She’s at the top of the stretch leaning over the rail, and she’s in a box seat or at a simulcast center in Syracuse or a track in Ohio or in front of a computer terminal in California.”

Then, his voice caught and the tears tumbled. “The person that I owe an inexpressible gratitude is you,” he said. “The racing fan, the horse player. Thank you.”

[RaceTrackDaddy]

Bravo for posting the text of his last words into the mike Horses4courses. My gratitude.

[EvenSteven]

It was great to see.

[thespaah]

Nice. Well, we won't have Tom Durkin's calls anymore, but thankfully, we'll still have Saratoga (I hope).
I found a bunch of meadowlands races on youtube in which Durkin in the announcer.
Here's one I hope others find to be one of Tom's better calls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjuxO19lacs

[lamboguy]

you watch this video and you can tell not only how great Durkin was but also his passion for this game.

his job was as tough as it gets, and he did it the very best. man racing is going to miss this immortal race caller like no other. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/sports/and-hes-off-a-track-legend-calls-it-a-career.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSumSmallMediaHigh&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[The Inside Scoop]

My favourite Tom Durkin call.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ii3uxsveFk

[RaceTrackDaddy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOa9JY-ic9w

Yes, Tom Durkin called at the Big M before going to NYRA.