Worst Announcer

[Elliott Sidewater]

That's true. Familiarity, like overexposure, can breed contempt. It's partly the whole package at today's Los Al that is annoying, not just the announcer. The endless parade of 5 horse fields and 2-5 favorites and the seemingly random cancellation of show betting all add up to a bad thing that comes wrapped in a big package. Los Al wants to be big league, but they don't have enough horses on the grounds to run 25 races a week. It's an embarrassment. On the other hand, let's not rush to exonerate the know it all announcer..........he's no Tom Durkin.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Elliott Sidewater

That's true. Familiarity, like overexposure, can breed contempt. It's partly the whole package at today's Los Al that is annoying, not just the announcer. The endless parade of 5 horse fields and 2-5 favorites and the seemingly random cancellation of show betting all add up to a bad thing that comes wrapped in a big package. Los Al wants to be big league, but they don't have enough horses on the grounds to run 25 races a week. It's an embarrassment. On the other hand, let's not rush to exonerate the know it all announcer..........he's no Tom Durkin.

I don't know about that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwrlkoBPT7k

[Elliott Sidewater]

OK, Thask, touche. Here's my take; a Belmont Stakes that runs in 2:31:57 didn't deserve a better call

[Inner Dirt]

I never liked Durkin and always enjoyed when his back up John Imbriale was in his place. I think a lot has to do with personal preference and if you hate the guy you will focus on picking out his mistakes. The guy you love might be doing just as good a job tactically as someone you don't like. Trevor Denman in his prime was brilliant, catching things that 95% of his peers would miss, yet I know guys that would mock his favorite phrases and hated him because of his accent. I also Didn't like Dave Johnson at Santa Anita in the late 70's early 80's and preferred Alan Buchdahl (not sure of the spelling) the back up.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by Elliott Sidewater

It's partly the whole package at today's Los Al that is annoying, not just the announcer.

I have no ties whatsoever with Los Al but my biggest pet peeve is the saddle cloths they use. There is NEVER a race where the fonts match on all of the horses. One of them is a particular saddle cloth with which looks totally out of place some of the time.

For crying out loud, get a matching set.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

I have no ties whatsoever with Los Al but my biggest pet peeve is the saddle cloths they use. There is NEVER a race where the fonts match on all of the horses. One of them is a particular saddle cloth with which looks totally out of place some of the time.

For crying out loud, get a matching set.

Los Al was the first track I ever went to when I was 14, back in 1975. I grew up in Southern California. I last went there probably in 2006 and I moved East in 2010. I probably have a nostalgic attachment to the place that makes me like it when others think it is a dump. There are a lot of areas of that track that stayed the same for the whole 30 years I visited, something I like that others don't.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Los Al was the first track I ever went to when I was 14, back in 1975. I grew up in Southern California. I last went there probably in 2006 and I moved East in 2010. I probably have a nostalgic attachment to the place that makes me like it when others think it is a dump. There are a lot of areas of that track that stayed the same for the whole 30 years I visited, something I like that others don't.

I have been there, enjoyed it, would go back, not what I would call a dump.

[Tom]

Grunder auditioned to be the voice for the Wonder Bible!

[airford1]

2 race callers that shouldn't be calling races, The Clown at Belmont and the new guy at Parx. I say this because a very good caller Peter Berry is looking for a spot and he's head over heals better than these 2.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by airford1

2 race callers that shouldn't be calling races, The Clown at Belmont and the new guy at Parx. I say this because a very good caller Peter Berry is looking for a spot and he's head over heals better than these 2.

Larry Collmus, the Belmont/NYRA announcer, is one of the best in history.

[airford1]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Larry Collmus, the Belmont/NYRA announcer, is one of the best in history.

He's following the footsteps of the last guy, I can hear him singing the DO- RA-Me Crap soon. The guy at Parx today will be a Mike Battaglia as soon as he gets the pause and forget like Vic has. Just say-N.

[cj]

Originally Posted by airford1

He's following the footsteps of the last guy, I can hear him singing the DO- RA-Me Crap soon. The guy at Parx today will be a Mike Battaglia as soon as he gets the pause and forget like Vic has. Just say-N.

Who is the guy at Parx?

[Tom]

Not the usual guy.
Bring your son to work day?

[dmerlin]

It was Mike Bozich the harness announcer at Harrahs Chester. He posted on twitter he was filling in for Keith Jones. He is a terrific harness announcer. Considering this is the first time to my knowledge he has ever called thoroughbreds, I thought he sounded ok.

[cj]

Originally Posted by dmerlin

It was Mike Bozich the harness announcer at Harrahs Chester. He posted on twitter he was filling in for Keith Jones. He is a terrific harness announcer. Considering this is the first time to my knowledge he has ever called thoroughbreds, I thought he sounded ok.

Sounds reasonable. I doubt there is a big pool of short notice, standby announcers these days.