I wonder if this guy was considered the Tom Durkin of his day?

[DrugS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM&mode=related&search=

Impressive race call!

[JustRalph]

great video......... I love to see those old shots where the fans are all dressed in suits and ties.............it meant something to go to the races back then

[Cratos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM&mode=related&search=

Impressive race call!

That was a good race call of the duel between Seabiscuit and War Admiral and I believe that Tom Durkin might be the best race caller today, but the race caller best that I have ever heard was the late FRED "CAPPY" CAPOSSELA.

[BeatTheChalk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM&mode=related&search=

Impressive race call!

No comment on the call ...I am trying to remember the name of the
announcer.! Famous in his time. I am sure that somebody here
knows it. I like the crowd ..all the men dressed to the nines and
ALL WORE HATS :ThmbUp:

[BeatTheChalk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM&mode=related&search=

Impressive race call!

Wait ! could it be Clem McCarthy ? over and out :sleeping:

[Greyfox]

Great call and what a crowd. Even poured on to the track after the race.
No starting gate. A few cops trying to control thousands.
Maybe great races make great callers?

[bigmack]

It twas indeed Clem McCarthy. He had what they called a whiskey tenor voice.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u70/macktime/clemmc.jpg

[Overlay]

I think Clem McCarthy was also the one that Doodles Weaver modeled his Kentucky Derby stretch call after in the Spike Jones version of "The William Tell Overture".

And I've always enjoyed comedian Robert Klein's short homage to Fred Caposella, where he imagines him coming home after a day at the track, and as his wife brings out the evening meal, saying, "Here comes Mother with the dinner. I want the fruit cocktail first, split pea soup second. Roast beef third, mashed potatoes fourth, apple pie fifth, and the coffee on the outside sixth."

[DrugS]

I was actually being sarcastic about the call.....I thought it was comically bad.

The race was certainly fun to watch though.

[Greyfox]

It may be more difficult to call a 2 horse race with excitement than
many people think.

[jballscalls]

It may be more difficult to call a 2 horse race with excitement than
many people think.

dynamite point, ask any racecaller and if its a big race they'd probably prefer 8 or more horses than a small field, i know i do.

But what a cool video, i think the coolest part was watching the people run across the infield and try and 'run' with the horses. Great video, thanks for posting.

[DanG]

I love match races and I think our sport misses tremendous marketing potential by avoiding them.

The Ruffian tragedy not withstanding, they are at the heart of the origins of horseracing. My horse is faster than yours…period.

[Milleruszk]

That was a good race call of the duel between Seabiscuit and War Admiral and I believe that Tom Durkin might be the best race caller today, but the race caller best that I have ever heard was the late FRED "CAPPY" CAPOSSELA.

Fred Capossela was the the first track announcer that I remember. Does anyone have any links to races that he called. His obit is here:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5D7113AF936A35757C0A9679582 60

[boomman]

dynamite point, ask any racecaller and if its a big race they'd probably prefer 8 or more horses than a small field, i know i do.

But what a cool video, i think the coolest part was watching the people run across the infield and try and 'run' with the horses. Great video, thanks for posting.

JBalls: I certainly agree that calling short fields is more difficult than large ones, but also agree with Dan G that match races are exciting and could bring some great publicity back to our sport. I vividly remember the match race that Trevor Denamn called between the quarter horse and the thoroughbred although thier names are a bit fuzzy, (but I'm thinking Valiant Pete and Griswold?) That was a cool event!:ThmbUp:

Boomer

[boomman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM&mode=related&search=

Impressive race call!

Can't help but wondering: What's the world record for number of times "head" is said in a race???:D I would imagine if you counted 'em on this tape you would know the answer!!!!! LOL

Boomer

[Kelso]

I love match races and I think our sport misses tremendous marketing potential by avoiding them.

The Ruffian tragedy not withstanding, they are at the heart of the origins of horseracing. My horse is faster than yours…period


I've heard of match races involving only very famous, and very current, champions. Since such are not often in abundant supply, might "pink slip" match racing generate fan interest?

Two horses, probably low/mid-level claimers ... two owners, probably locals ... "my horse is faster than yours" ... losing owner goes home to an empty stall?

One or more contests on a regular weekly/monthly schedule. With or without purses. With or without parimutual wagering. Perhaps only at lower-tier tracks? Maybe build into track-to-track challenges ... regional match racing championships (surface/distance/gender)? Truly lousy idea??? :rolleyes:

[PaceAdvantage]

Taking this thread slightly off topic, I was thinking to myself how utterly PERFECT Chic Anderson's "moving like a tremendous machine" line was during the CBS call of the '73 Belmont.

How fitting that a most amazing line like that was uttered during a most amazing run.

I put the race on the home page if anyone cares to reminisce...

www.paceadvantage.com (http://www.paceadvantage.com)

[DrugS]

Taking this thread slightly off topic, I was thinking to myself how utterly PERFECT Chic Anderson's "moving like a tremendous machine" line was during the CBS call of the '73 Belmont.

How fitting that a most amazing line like that was uttered during a most amazing run.

No doubt....it was an all-time classic for sure.


However, the next time "Big Red" ran --- the network decided to offer commentary from Penny Chenery during the running of the Arlington Invitational.

It turned out to be one of the most comically bad ideas of all-time. While Big Red was having things his way and getting one of the easiest trips of his career, the owner was very concerned with the proceedings. After he drew away to win by about ten lengths, with disdainful ease.....Penny tells the good folks watching at home "Wow! They sure gave him a tough race!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WSM8xYrqak

Here's the clip of that.

[jognlope]

Love it! War Admiral wasn't that much bigger than SB, despite movie portraying him as so.

[bigmack]

However, the next time "Big Red" ran --- the network decided to offer commentary from Penny Chenery during the running of the Arlington Invitational.

It turned out to be one of the most comically bad ideas of all-time. While Big Red was having things his way and getting one of the easiest trips of his career, the owner was very concerned with the proceedings. After he drew away to win by about ten lengths, with disdainful ease.....Penny tells the good folks watching at home "Wow! They sure gave him a tough race!"

As is often the case when the drama of competition is stymied by the dominance of one, the commentary become laughable when PChenery acted concerned about a race where BigR clearly made mincemeat of the comp

Do still get a bang out of her quote of yesteryear though when she said to reporters: I don't think you can print this, but I think he's sexy.

[jognlope]

Thanks for the Sec tape at Arlington, a really good one!!!