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The uncomparable, invincible, unbeatable CIGAR!
And Mike Smith lets the Bull roll! He’s in front by five as they come to the quarter pole…But there is cause for CONCERN!
Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE!
and zafonic is ABSOLUTELY cruising! this is a racehorse, this is zafonic! zafonic the tonic we’ve all been waiting for!
actually graham goode was good that day but I think I lost all confidence in commentators when graham called a winner early at chester one day and it got beat. commentators are a bit like santa claus, you can only believe in them for a while until you grow up.
Great stuff Pete –
"little brother won the Queeen Mother but now big brother is going to win the Gold Cup"
"The Hurricane ss flying up the hill yet again for win number two"
"And this is remarkable – another winner for Lucy Alexander and Scotland."
The uncomparable, invincible, unbeatable CIGAR!
Yup that’s my favourite from any call i’ve heard. There’s also the BC race where they
hit the wire together
. Let me check youtube…yes it was Alysheba and Ferdinand. Some of these American commentators are damn good. I also like Terry Spargo(Australian i think) who calls at Meydan, and the guy who calls/called at Woodbine. You’ll know his name. British racing has some good commentators, but when it comes to a finish they don’t quite have the x-factor that some others have imo.
"And Beau’s nearly down, he is down…,red marauder on the inside of smarty, Carl Llewellyns running after beau BUT IM AFRAID HES NOT FAST ENOUGH" … John Hanmers sole bbc heroics still have me chucklin!!
BBC Radio commentator, the late Peter Bromley, was the master, imo.
His accuracy might not have been bulls-eye quality but the emotion he could generate – with no attempt at hype – was unmatchable.
When I worked at Aintree, we held an open day once a year. No racing, just a few hundred people milling around the 270 empty acres of the racecourse. I used to play some old Bromley Grand National commentaries over the PA and enjoy watching people stop, transfixed by the ghostly atmosphere of famous old races so perfectly recreated in such a ghostly manner – Peter’s Aldaniti call was probably the most haunting.
Here’s a sample of what he could do – Shergar’s Derby, though his National commentaries were a league above this, I think.
fivelongdays, looking for this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En48XRl6 … jci7MdM%3D
Also has scenes from the winners circle with the crowd cheering for Kauto, Ruby and Paul Nicholls.
I have to agree with the 1977 National as being the best. Sir Peter’s delivery was perfect as Red Rum approached the line.
Three others that stick in the memory are Sir Peter again on the 1978 Champion Hurdle "It’s Monksfield for Ireland and Sea Pigeon for England".
Secondly, Graham Goode’s commentary on the 1986 Epsom Derby re: Dancing Brave "Oh so much to do and so little time to do it."
Finally, Richard Hoiles on the 2004 National as Amberleigh House passed Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury "And the Martell Cognac Grand National goes once again to Ginger McCain."
Bit of Aussie input, the late Bill Collins would surely go down as #1 race caller in our nation’s history. Some all time classic calls involved an equine superstar from the mid-late 80’s called Bonecrusher. Do yourself a favour and look up his calls of the 1986 cox plate and 1987 Australian cup it’s racing folklore.
Finally, Richard Hoiles on the 2004 National as Amberleigh House passed Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury "And the Martell Cognac Grand National goes once again to Ginger McCain."
Talking of the 2004 National, reminds me of Croc McGrath on the BBC screaming "…AND THE RED RUM MAN’S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN!!!"
One of the most compelling and fascinating BBC TV commentaries for me was for the void Grand National "won" by Esha Ness in 1993.
There were two false starts from the starter Captain Keith Brown and most of the runners wrongly set off on the second occasion, even though the tape became tangled around the neck of Richard Dunwoody. No doubt many would have liked to have tangled it around the neck of Keith Brown — but a lot tighter.
Phrases like "this absolute farce continues" (from Jim McGrath) and "Esha Ness wins the National that never was" (Peter O’Sullevan) still live on in the memory, along with the images of one of the clerks of the course, Rodger Farrant, running along and waving to the runners, trying to get them to stop.
Then the look on jockey John White’s face as he realises that he hasn’t actually won the National, accompanied by Peter O’Sullevan’s perfectly-chosen words.
It really was spine-tingling stuff at the time. Would be great to hear and see it again.Crusty, it’s all on YouTube, presumably someone will put the links up. You can see the race and the aftermath. As painful as it was at the time, it is riveting tv.
Crusty, it’s all on YouTube, presumably someone will put the links up. You can see the race and the aftermath. As painful as it was at the time, it is riveting tv.
Thanks very much, Old Applejack. To hear the commentary again from start to finish would be great. I remember actually shaking when I watched it live at the time.
Great call, Crustypatch. The only thing that makes that "renewal" watchable is the commentary. Peter O’Sullivan’s words when they go out onto the second circuit still gives me goosebumps…
"The boo’s from the crowd as they jump the water! Right up there is Esha Ness… and they’re being told not to go out to the country… but they don’t believe it, they’re going on! Mister Ed has pulled up, but Howe Street is carrying on… Riverside Boy has pulled up, but Howe Street is going on with Sure Metal, Interim Lib and Cahervillahow… The crowd are… are booing, Direct has been pulled up, Zeta’s Lad has been pulled up as well… And Captain Dibble has been pulled up and… Garrison Savanah and Party Politics, they’ve all been pulled up at the start! And now there’s nobody to stop them by the look of it out in the country!"
All while Nick Williamson frantically looks over his shoulder at his halted colleagues and Farm Week’s rider runs back to the start to see what’s going on! Just remarkable scenes.
In fact one of my most prized possessions is the racecard from that day, which i purchased online about 3 years ago.
Arazi’s 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
"…AND ARAZI RUNS RIGHT BY HIM!"
Perhaps the most professional and dignified commentary ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtky_SUttZc
Peter O’Sullevan’s understated and slightly reticent calling of himself as owner is a joy to hear
Just another racecall Peter, great stuff
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