John Imbriale

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

NYRA's been accused of LOTS of things by you and others over the years here.

BEING FRUGAL isn't one of them.

In fact, many times, it's been just the opposite, especially when it came to executive or big name compensation.

Why the sudden turnaround, do you think? I mean, assuming what you're saying is actually accurate.

PA, it's now been confirmed by 3 different people, all of whom have access to the story, that I am correct about what happened. I am EXTREMELY confident that this is what happened.

I have NO idea what the actual motives were for NYRA engaging in this particular bit of cost-cutting. Who ever does? Especially since it wasn't a ton of money as compared to NYRA's revenues. So I know what happened- but I do not know why and I suspect none of us ever will.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I don't think he's as good as Collmus, but he's absolutely very good, and if NYRA thinks it should have a top announcer again, hiring Frank M would be a very good way to undo some of what they did when they unloaded Collmus to save money.

As a West Coaster, you know that Santa Anita is his dream job. He's not going to leave there for as long as they'll have him. When NYRA gets to the point where they will need a new announcer (which I'm in no hurry for), they'll want one that is available to call all of the Wood Memorials, Belmonts, Traverses, and Cigar Miles. They wouldn't be looking for the part-time situation Miramahdi has with Monmouth.

[Sheffwed]

Originally Posted by BarchCapper

As a West Coaster, you know that Santa Anita is his dream job. He's not going to leave there for as long as they'll have him. When NYRA gets to the point where they will need a new announcer (which I'm in no hurry for), they'll want one that is available to call all of the Wood Memorials, Belmonts, Traverses, and Cigar Miles. They wouldn't be looking for the part-time situation Miramahdi has with Monmouth.

Imbriale gets Aqueduct (which will be the next 9 months, ugh, really NYRA?), Frank M gets Saratoga & Santa Anita

simple

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by Sheffwed

Imbriale gets Aqueduct (which will be the next 9 months, ugh, really NYRA?), Frank M gets Saratoga & Santa Anita

simple

Sadly, there is no way to cash in on a head to head friendly wager where I have the side that NYRA would NEVER hire an announcer to do only the Saratoga meet.

[PaceAdvantage]

Why should NYRA settle for a part-timer anyway?

The premier circuit in the country can't find someone willing to work year-round?

Hilarious.

Tom Durkin wasn't a superstar when NYRA picked him up.

Find someone good...relatively young...and hungry.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Why should NYRA settle for a part-timer anyway?

The premier circuit in the country can't find someone willing to work year-round?

Hilarious.

Tom Durkin wasn't a superstar when NYRA picked him up.

Find someone good...relatively young...and hungry.

Totally on board with first part and last part (when the time comes). I might quibble with Durkin not being a "superstar" by 1990 - he'd been the Breeders' Cup announcer from the beginning (1984), did all NBC announcing and if you don't want to call that "superstar", was a definite household name for anyone who remotely followed racing.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by Suff

I heard different. I heard that Larry spoke disparagingly about someone at NYRA in a text message. And the receiver of that text violated Larry's trust...by sharing it.

The text was something like

"I hate that guy and I'd like to piss on his grave".

The text was taken out of context and NYRA legal/human resources were involved. I suppose from a CYA corporate view, it's menacingly threatening.

But honestly, you make friends with co workers and say what's on your mind . Ouch for Larry. Sucks.

Every time I see this Collmus/Imbriale thing revived, I keep hearing Randy Travis in my head:

I'm diggin' up bones, diggin' up bones
Exhuming things that's better left alone
I'm resurrecting memories of love that's dead and gone
Yeah tonight I'm sittin' alone diggin' up bones

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by BarchCapper

Totally on board with first part and last part (when the time comes). I might quibble with Durkin not being a "superstar" by 1990 - he'd been the Breeders' Cup announcer from the beginning (1984), did all NBC announcing and if you don't want to call that "superstar", was a definite household name for anyone who remotely followed racing.

We can debate superstar status (in terms of racetrack announcers)...as the BC was still kind of in its infancy when Durkin joined NYRA in 1990. I didn't really get into racing until the very late 80s, so I'm probably wrong on that.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

We can debate superstar status (in terms of racetrack announcers)...as the BC was still kind of in its infancy when Durkin joined NYRA in 1990. I didn't really get into racing until the very late 80s, so I'm probably wrong on that.

That makes sense, given when you started. My racing infancy was the early '80s, so just a little before yours.

Sadly, in looking it up, (and this surprised me) the highest rated Breeders' Cup telecast ever was the first one. Your comment about infancy had got me wondering, since I remembered it being a huge thing with a couple of years of promotion and build up before we finally got the first one. And then after all that groundwork to get sires/foals/horses nominated - a supplemental entry won the Classic!

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by BarchCapper

Totally on board with first part and last part (when the time comes). I might quibble with Durkin not being a "superstar" by 1990 - he'd been the Breeders' Cup announcer from the beginning (1984), did all NBC announcing and if you don't want to call that "superstar", was a definite household name for anyone who remotely followed racing.

Yeah, Durkin was a very big deal when NYRA hired him. The Breeders' Cup job obviously, but he also did Hialeah when that was still a big deal, Meadowlands harness when THAT was a still a big deal, and he was Dave Johnson's assistant on Meadowlands thoroughbred races as well. ABC and ESPN had both used him in addition to NBC. It was a splashy hire.

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Why should NYRA settle for a part-timer anyway?

The premier circuit in the country can't find someone willing to work year-round?

Hilarious.

Tom Durkin wasn't a superstar when NYRA picked him up.

Find someone good...relatively young...and hungry.

What’s “relatively young” in horse racing? 55?

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by CaptainObvious

What’s “relatively young” in horse racing? 55?

Santa Anita hired Trevor when he was 31, Joe Hernandez when he was 25, and Alan Buchdahl when he was 21 or something. Hollywood Park hired Wrona the first time when he was 23. NYRA hired Dave Johnson at 30.

So there's an argument for getting 'em young.

[chenoa]

TRAVIS STONE

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Why should NYRA settle for a part-timer anyway?

The premier circuit in the country can't find someone willing to work year-round?

Hilarious.

Tom Durkin wasn't a superstar when NYRA picked him up.

Find someone good...relatively young...and hungry.

[Suff]

HISA implementation in Colorado- from a boots on the ground view.

Also informative Steward talk had an inside baseball feel

Arkansas land baron.

https://betamericarn.libsyn.com/jaso...647.1581130721

[Karakorum Kabbage]

Twitter