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Taking money under false pretences. Apparently he never uses bins, wonder if that was a factor in his performance today being even worse than his already low base. Why would a course on it’s big day send for such a low quality commentator?
Did he manage to call the Corgi Derby correctly?Couldn’t make it yo Musselburgh today, but glad I missed the ‘commentary’.
Thommo is desperately exposed when the camera angle is difficult as it’s obvious he doesn’t use bins. He gets way too many gigs up here in Scotland and, though our group regulars try to ignore him, he irritates.
There isn’t exactly a shortage of people trying to get the commentary gig, either. I’ve heard Dani Jackson (Greyhound comms, Will Hill radio presenter) call a couple of races and I reckon she could do a good job. Might be a good time to get a lady woman in on the game. If not, there’s still options aplenty.
I don’t want to bash Thommo, his personality is grand for the sport but he is frustrating at times.It’s completely ridiculous and bordering on unprofessional for Tommo not to use binoculars at all for racecourse commentaries. For him to rely totally on a TV monitor, rather than a mix of binoculars and the monitor, is lazy.
If the camera angles that he is having to rely on are limited or give only a partial or distant view of the field, it can result in the commentator’s ability to give a fully-informed description of what is happening being severely affected.
It obviously shows in the sometimes poor commentaries, as has been pointed out.
I always think that the commentator’s first duty is to the crowd at the racecourse, not the wider betting shop or TV audience.
As the course commentator at Southwell one day, Tommo kept saying “on the left of picture” during a section of the race where the runners were over on the far side and he was clearly just looking at the monitor.
Contrast that with the professionalism of former commentator Dave Smith who, at Market Rasen one day while he was doing the course commentaries, used just his binoculars and naked eyes during the whole of the races, even though he had a monitor just in front of him.
He never once did it the lazy way and just looking at the monitor, even in small fields.
I like Tommo’s enthusiasm and lively approach but, as a course commentator, surely he could use even a mix of binoculars and the monitor, as most commentators do, rather than doing it the easy monitor-only way.
He almost deserves to be left stranded and helpless if the monitor screen suddenly goes blank and he is left floundering by not being spoon-fed.
I suspect DT simply doesn’t do enough homework on colours – or cannot retain what he’s learned. His Musselburgh commentaries were cringingly embarrassing as he kept talking about everything except horses names and where they were in the race. Someone on twitter mentioned that in one big handicap he mentioned just 4 horses and gave no mention to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th until they had crossed the line.
He gets away with it at the likes of Sedgefield with six runner novice hurdles. But last Saturday when he had to commentate on big field Flat handicaps run at a fast pace, his limitations as a commentator were harshly exposed.
He was clueless in the 2yo maiden and recognised the first horses about three furlongs from home. He only mentioned a total of 4-5 names, BUT despite a winning margin of about three parts of a length he had the guts to call the winner. Usually he calls for a photo.
Has Derek actually commentated since his Musselburgh debacle? I cannot recall hearing him.
It looks like he is branching out into an alternative career, just in case his commentating days are over:
https://twitter.com/tommoracing/status/1649876006906339337?cxt=HHwWkoC9sZTfxOUtAAAA
“Wow that was close!! That is one for the judge”
Yarmouth 3pm
Yes Derek, indeed if you are watching from behind the gorse bushes three hundred yards away in the dunes without binoculars it is.“Wow, just wow”
He barely named Embesto throughout the race despite absolutely cruising whilst everything else was flat out
“3, 4, 5 lengths clear”Blackbeard to conquer the World
In the 5.30 at Yarmouth, did he really have to tell everyone Tashkeer had a sheep skin noseband three times?
But did he say it really enthusiastically?
if so I love it…
Blackbeard to conquer the World
“Wow, just wow”
He barely named Embesto throughout the race despite absolutely cruising whilst everything else was flat out
“3, 4, 5 lengths clear”Just seen it on youtube Nathan, classic Thommo, can barely get his words out he’s so excited at the finish
“Leave poor old Derek alone!”
“Ian, he’s not poor.”
“Good point, well made – he’s old, though, and his name is definitely Derek!”
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