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Just reading the other comments on this topic I don’t understand the enmity towards Ian Bartlett and Stewart Machin as I think they’re great. On the contrary Mike Cattermole is beginning to annoy me both as a race caller and in his role on Channel 4. I’m also getting fed up with hearing John Hunt commentating on almost every other race meeting, barely a day goes by without hearing his voice somewhere.
It’s just a process they go through to make it legal and watertight.
Not strictly true or necessary, the commentators are all self employed freelancers and sign a new contract each year.
If Racetech choose not to offer a new contract there is very little legal redress for the commentator.
It’s just a process they go through to make it legal and watertight.
Not strictly true or necessary, the commentators are all self employed freelancers and sign a new contract each year.
If Racetech choose not to offer a new contract there is very little legal redress for the commentator.When I mentioned redundancy and consultations, I meant in the world of work generally, not in this particular situation. I realise they are on freelance, self-employed contracts.
I was referring to other parts of industry, where they do go through these consultation periods.
The commentators are obviously not in this situation. I was not suggesting they were or would be in line for any compensation.It is interesting the final paragraph in the RP article says:
"However, the trio (Chapman, Capewell and Blance) have been allocated days only on ATR tracks, further fuelling claims that politics is being played out in the commentary allocation process."
That confirms what I have heard on the grapevine, namely a power play between ATR and RUK, both of whom want as many of "their people" on the rosta, which is beginning to show a strong ATR "bias".
I’m also getting fed up with hearing John Hunt commentating on almost every other race meeting, barely a day goes by without hearing his voice somewhere.
I can’t turn on At The Races or go into a betting shop without hearing John Hunt. He was even doing the commentaries on the French racing the other day.
Every commentary he does these days seems to include a sprinkling of matey, fake, rhetorical questions. Recent examples have included: "He jumped that one well, didn’t he?", "He did that well, didn’t he?" and "That was a nice performance, wasn’t it?"
He even did it during the French race I watched. It’s totally unnecessary, isn’t it? Damn, he’s even got me doing it, hasn’t he?Croc is at the poor end of the scale but if you offered him to Irish racefans to replace Dessie Scahill we’d take your arm off.
I, for one, find it rather refreshing that some oversight has been introduced into the cosy, insular racing world. Insidious complacency tends to creep into those with a comfortable, routine job, and a kick up the proverbial from time to time does no harm and is necessary
If McGrath et al take exception to it, so be it. An employer has every right to insist an employee carries out the job he’s paid to do in the manner expected
Thommo brings some fun to our sport, especially at courses such as Newcastle and I’m sure others.
As was pointed out by some racecourse executives in yesterdays Post, you would not want Tommo calling the Derby or other top meeting, but at some meetings Tommo is ideal.
Even his most outspoken critics in the press room, and there are many, will concede (often grudgingly) few can work a crowd better than him and at "fun days" and "family days" he does go down a treat. (I would venture to suggest some of the press room antagonism towards him is down to envy that he is able to get so much work)
Newmarket adore him at the Friday night concert meetings.
Should Tommo be dropped from the commentators rota I have no doubt many courses will still use him as their oncourse commentator to the exclusion of the "official" Racetech caller.
Indeed the courses may well be happier with that approach as Tommo would not be constrained by the Racetech rules (which he does already ignore on occasion and could possibly be the reason for him being "reviewed" – although that is just conjecture on my part)
CrustyPatch,
I would be in favour of that to put a stop to Chapman’s boring, childish antics (at least when handing over to the commentator).
I remember one day when he handed over to Doug Fraser thus saying "lets join "Doogee Doogee Doogee Doogee Frasaaaaaaaa"
Thats rite not ONCE, but FOUR times. This to me shows total disregard to man that was employed in racing before Chapman had picked up a farleys rusk. But as you say crusty, its obviously these annoying, slightly **** taking traits, that win you Broadcaster of the year awards.I think I’m right in saying that with the unfortunate death of Dougie Fraser, this led to Iain Mackenzie commentating at more race meetings this year, and find him an excellent racecaller with great racing knowledge. There is no sense in replacing him.
I cant answer this, but as Iain has commentated at Segefield and Hexham in the past year your probably right. One thing I can say though and I am repeating myself from a post a few months back, is that no one comes close to Iain in his unfallible accuracy. Another thing is his ability to mention large fields consistently around the course. This is clearly not just relying on the monitor and shows the multi tasking of using the bins. If I was his employer, I would know I was getting value for money from his calls. Much can be said these days of Commentators relying on the monitor then coming unstuck when the Camera changes shot.
Even in his advancing years, I hope his regular courses of Cartmel Worcester et al, do what Newmarket have said about Thommo, and drum up a bit of support. After all he is you could say, the last of our "old school" commentators.
Dave
I cant answer this, but as Iain has commentated at Segefield and Hexham in the past year your probably right. One thing I can say though and I am repeating myself from a post a few months back, is that no one comes close to Iain in his unfallible accuracy. Another thing is his ability to mention large fields consistently around the course. This is clearly not just relying on the monitor and shows the multi tasking of using the bins. If I was his employer, I would know I was getting value for money from his calls. Much can be said these days of Commentators relying on the monitor then coming unstuck when the Camera changes shot.
Even in his advancing years, I hope his regular courses of Cartmel Worcester et al, do what Newmarket have said about Thommo, and drum up a bit of support. After all he is you could say, the last of our "old school" commentators.Iain Mackenzie certainly is the last of the old-school commentators. When I first went racing in 1979, he was the course commentator at Market Rasen on my second or third meeting ever.
It’s an outrage that reliable, competent people like him, Tommo, Jim McGrath and even Darren Owen are having their abilities challenged and facing the loss of some of their livelihoods.
Tommo puts a lot into his commentaries, by way of slipping in mentions of jockeys, trainers, bits of form etc. He makes the effort. Admittedly, he overdoes the messing about sometimes but he is a great enthusiast and is very good when approached by members of the public for autographs etc.
All this talk of reviewing the futures of some commentators is to make way for a buffoon like Matt Chapman. As I have said before, he does a very good job commentating for At The Races from grainy, blurred coverage of foreign races but, even for those, the ridiculously patronising and unnatural modulations of voice creep in.
He was even singing Karma Chameleon the other day. It’s a total joke. As I say, for good, experienced people to face losing their places on the commentators’ rota in a bid to make way for him and others is the real joke.Compared to the joys of Des Scahill, I feel that it can only be positive the enthusiasm that Tommo brings to his commentary and the sport in general.
Initially I liked Jim McGrath but sometimes it now sounds like he doesn’t care and I get the impression that he frequently hasn’t done his homework such is his frequent miscalling of horses in similar colours
Compared to the joys of Des Scahill, I feel that it can only be positive the enthusiasm that Tommo brings to his commentary and the sport in general.
Initially I liked Jim McGrath but sometimes it now sounds like he doesn’t care and I get the impression that he frequently hasn’t done his homework such is his frequent miscalling of horses in similar coloursThere’s certainly no comparison between Tommo’s colourful commentaries and style and Des Scahill’s monotone, every-race-the same-format commentaries.
I was listening to Des today and was thinking I don’t think I’ve ever heard him inject a note of humour or the remotest variation into his commentaries. He’s good, solid and reliable but no hint of personality whatsoever. The contrast between him and Tommo couldn’t be more stark.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how chipper JA McGrath is on the BBC at Chepstow on Tuesday. I won’t start any spread betting on the number of times he says "further back in the field" (my pen might run out during the Welsh National through over-use trying to keep up with the tally).…AND HOME FOR ALL MONEY!!!
Initially I liked Jim McGrath but sometimes it now sounds like he doesn’t care and I get the impression that he frequently hasn’t done his homework such is his frequent miscalling of horses in similar colours
I’m with you Freeradical. Croc was mustard in his heyday, but has done downhill faster then Franz Klammer in the last five years or so.
While some would say this may be an age thing (mind not as sharp as before), I don’t notice any appreciable depreciation of standards of Iain MacKenzie or Derek Thompson compared to say 10 years ago.
Also, I don’t understand why Darren Owen is one of those on Performance Review as I’ve also considered him to be underrated IMHO.
There does seem, to me at least, a generational gap in the quality of commentaries. Hoiles, and to a lesser extent now Hoiles is starting to pinnacle, Holt, are head and shoulders above the likes of McGrath. Both have perhaps been brought up on more advanced techniques for viewing/preparing for a race than McGrath and he’s not moved with the times.
O’Sullivan had a big occasion voice, similiar to Walker in F1, and would perhaps not have been as popular a choice nowadays with so much televised racing (ATR and RUK). Many of the roster are competent but, with the exception of Bartlett, do not have the BBC voice. Minus McGrath, who I reckon also does, it is surely Bartlett’s by default.
I think McGrath’s commentaries are lacking excitement, like a guy who’s been for too long turning up at the course and taking himself off to the booth without much attention to where he is. Tommo, even on a wet Wednesday at Wolverhampton, still conveys enthusiasm. I think McGrath is worried, perhaps rightfully so, and others such as Tommo and Owen have less to worry about under review.
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