Quote:
Originally Posted by craigbraddick
So Harry Henson was way before my time in US racing. But from the few race calls I have heard of his, it would appear his calling style was "Name, margin, name, margin, name, margin. Essentially the verbal version of a chart call..
Listen to Peter O'Sullevan in the UK or Bert Bryant in Australia from the same era and they were streets ahead in description, phraseology, picking up horses making a move on far bigger tracks and often with far more horses.
As someone brought up overseas, what am I not understanding about Harry Henson was so great? Genuine question because clearly I was influenced by others in my formative years.
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Henson had a distinctive voice and added a great deal of drama to big moves and stretch duels.
Having said that, he was a product of his time. Henson started in the 1940's, at a time when racecalling in the US was in its infancy and when most tracks wanted a straight call with no commentary. (Clem Mccarthy worked on the radio and had more freedom in his call.)
Denman and Durkin changed things in the 1980's , and as a result, announcers now have far more freedom. But judged by the standards of his time, Henson was very good.
