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I like Jim, a lot.
Unfortunately, yesterday’s commentary on the first televised race at Ascot was awful.
I have to say, having seen both ATR and BBC recordings of yesterdays action at Ascot, I would despair if I was reliant on just the BBC coverage.
The arty shots and constant changing of angles makes it absolutely impossible to follow the race with the BBC coverage and if the BBC are going to persist with such a pointless approach then they need to ensure a "radio style" commentary is provided to cover everything.
I recall Jim once saying he has to try and make his commentary fit with the TV pictures – in which case, if I were him, I would take the director behind the stands and give him a bl**dy good kicking or the very least poke his eyes out.
Or even more radically – why don’t the BBC use a director who at least knows the basics about horse racing – because it is quite clear the current incumbent has not got a clue. They seem to be more interested in seeing how many pointless shots they can throw in during a single race.
i actually prefer bbc to ch4 nowadays because they actually show live pictures in the paddock unlike ch4 seem to. also having richard dunwoody on the team is a big plus for me its nice to watch someone who knows his subject unlie rishi persad who gives the impression he knows sweet f.a about national hunt racing.
BBC’s racing coverage really has deteriorated very badly over the past decade. The majority of their presenters/reporters, both flat and jumps, seem clueless.
The camera angles they use make it very difficult to follow the race. The Old Roan last week was a perfect example. They cut to a close up shot of Oslot after three out despite the fact there was several horses in behind who were still travelling well. McGrath failed to spot Exotic Dancer until near the last even though AP had barely moved on him. The sound effects are laughable. Why they feel the need to use them I don’t know. Channel 4 for all their faults are miles ahead.
Anyone know why Norman Williamson hasn’t been used by the BBC over the last few weeks? He was one of the only redeeming aspects of their coverage over the past few years.
I like Jim, a lot.
Unfortunately, yesterday’s commentary on the first televised race at Ascot was awful.
Sad to report he was patchy at best at Newcastle on Thursday, too. Forgetting the names of all the runners in a three-way dive for the line in the 3m chase was a particular lowlight – resorting to calling winner Smart Man "The Grey Horse" whilst he tried to get his thoughts in line betrayed a fluster you never hear the likes of Richard Hoiles get themselves into. Ever.
The quietly efficient Mark Slater outperformed him at Aintree the other day, too.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
The quietly efficient Mark Slater outperformed him at Aintree the other day, too.
gc
Quietly efficient and seemingly very much underated Mark Slater – I would like to see him get more of the high profile gigs.
Likewise – it wouldn’t be too long in coming either, given he’s been on one or other incarnation of the rota for Extel and then Racetech since doing a Nottingham Flat meeting in the mid-80s, would you believe, and is well into his late 40s (source: “Take Five Race Callers”, Racing Post, July 2004).
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I like Jim, a lot.
Unfortunately, yesterday’s commentary on the first televised race at Ascot was awful.
Sad to report he was patchy at best at Newcastle on Thursday, too. Forgetting the names of all the runners in a three-way dive for the line in the 3m chase was a particular lowlight – resorting to calling winner Smart Man "The Grey Horse" whilst he tried to get his thoughts in line betrayed a fluster you never hear the likes of Richard Hoiles get themselves into. Ever.
The quietly efficient Mark Slater outperformed him at Aintree the other day, too.
Totally agree with you GC, His Aintree calls where very good and it would be good if he could have a go over the National fences in a few weeks alo
though i think Stewart Machin or Richard Hoiles maybe doing that meeting.Jim McGrath has gone to pot in recent years and the BBC should act quick and put Ian Bartlett in as the Number One commentator with Darren Owen or John Hunt in at No 2.
Regarding Mark getting high profile meetings he did the Haydock Sprint Cup when Goodricke won so he has done a Group One along with the odd Northumberland Plate plus meetings at York and Doncaster this years.
gc
Totally agree with you GC, His Aintree calls where very good and it would be good if he could have a go over the National fences in a few weeks alo
though i think Stewart Machin or Richard Hoiles maybe doing that meeting.[…]
Regarding Mark getting high profile meetings he did the Haydock Sprint Cup when Goodricke won so he has done a Group One along with the odd Northumberland Plate plus meetings at York and Doncaster this years.
…and the Welsh National two years ago.
I’d list Slater as one of a trio of commentators, alongside Martin Harris and Darren Owen, whose talents are criminally ignored where the better meetings are concerned. May the regional accents of each (residents of Sutton Coldfield, Redditch and St Asaph respectively) have put off some starchy racecourse executives? A pox on the houses of these numpties if so.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I’d list Slater as one of a trio of commentators, alongside Martin Harris and Darren Owen, whose talents are criminally ignored where the better meetings are concerned. May the regional accents of each (residents of Sutton Coldfield, Redditch and St Asaph respectively) have put off some starchy racecourse executives? A pox on the houses of these numpties if so.
gc
I can’t remember hearing a bad word against Slaters commentating over the years unlike Goode or McGrath who quite desevedly get plenty of stick but seem immune to being dropped from the job by anyone. If I was no good at something I wouldn’t want to do it.
Best of the newcomers in recent years by a mile for me is Alan Howes.Graham Goode actually devises the roster for Racetech every year (assisted by Ian Bartlett), so it would take a higher power to shift him unless he decides himself to retire first.
I agree Alan Howes is entirely serviceable, though I do wish someone would gently remind him that the term is "horse x is being ridden along", not "rode along" – a minor but frequent irritation.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Graham Goode actually devises the roster for Racetech every year (assisted by Ian Bartlett), so it would take a higher power to shift him unless he decides himself to retire first.
gc
Can only imagine GG has carried on until he is 60 for pension rights etc which thankfully is in March. Surely he can’t be contemplating subjecting us to a further 5 years of punishment?
"I agree Alan Howes is entirely serviceable, though I do wish someone would gently remind him that the term is "horse x is being ridden along", not "rode along" – a minor but frequent irritation."
I think he might be saying "rowed along", GC, but what riding a horse has to do with rowing I have no idea.
Grammatical errors do annoy me, particularly when made through sheer laziness; there are a few people who post on this forum who simply can’t be bothered to make their postings readable…
I think he might be saying "rowed along", GC, but what riding a horse has to do with rowing I have no idea.
That’s what dissuaded me from thinking he meant "rowed along", Benny – the sheer incongruity of the concept.
Mind, we also have horses passing the "lollipop" with a circuit to go, rounding the "clubhouse turn" even when there is no clubhouse in sight, and riders "shovelling on the coals", so I guess anything goes!
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Can only imagine GG has carried on until he is 60 for pension rights etc which thankfully is in March. Surely he can’t be contemplating subjecting us to a further 5 years of punishment?
I haven’t a clue what retirement age limit there is for commentators, to be honest, if one is ever stipulated at all! Clearly Sir Peter carried on way past 65, albeit for another employer in Auntie Beeb. You’ll find the oldest surviving (in all senses of the word) examples of the type in the point-to-point field – the ever-sprightly Robin Gray still calls them home between the flags well into his seventies.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I was at Newcastle last season for Eider Chase day with GG commentating. It was my first day racing since See You Then won his third Champion Hurdle.
When I got to Newcastle and heard GG’s reassuring tone I felt very young again. Many things had changed in the 21 year period since my last racecourse visit but Graham Goode was a welcome comfort.
He may have used the phrase ‘close enough, if good enough’ a few times; but I didn’t care. It was like having the ITV 7 back.
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