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Commentator Lee McKenzie is next to trawl through the memory treasure trove and choose his Cheltenham highlight for TRF.
“My Cheltenham ‘moment’ has to be Desert Orchid’s Gold Cup win in 1989.
I was commentating for BBC Radios Gloucestershire and Solent (in whose listening area Dessie was trained) in a makeshift box at the top of the stands, with no monitor. I had persuaded the two stations to set up the whole outside broadcast in the hope that the country’s most popular horse would win but, with his record at the track not outstanding, I wasn’t quite as hopeful as I must have sounded. If he were to be beaten, I wondered how I would explain my apparent confidence in his invincibility to the two respective sports editors afterwards!
When he defied those odds I got rather over-excited, partly through relief, and the resulting broadcast was certainly no classic, but everyone was delighted at the result, thank goodness.
I spent the journey home reflecting upon how the commentary should have gone, and during the last 22 years have often lamented the fact that Peter Bromley’s and Peter O’Sullevan’s brilliant descriptions of the event had been so much better than mine, but nonetheless happy that I had been present at an occasion that was always guaranteed to go down in racing history.”
Lee McKenzie
Sounds like you had your neck on the line there a little Lee! Great day though and I’m sure many forumites will agree that Dessie’s Day in 1989 was one of the greatest of all. For those that missed it…
The race, commentary and result was perfect, must have watched it countless times! Just like to add Lee is my favourite commentator too – "they’re off . . . and . . . raa-aaacing!"
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The race, commentary and result was perfect
Not if you backed Yahoo.
Lee, you do yourself down. I recall from my days at Radio Gloucestershire that we often dusted off the archive tape of your commentary from that day for lookbacks etc.
Reading your account was a great reminder of the fun we had that year covering the Festival. Can’t believe it was so many years ago!
Lee, are you doing the MC gig at Cheltenham next week. Might well bump into you if you are there.
Er, I have to claim responsibility for the photo (although Lee hasn’t complained yet, funnily enough!)
I enjoyed all your replies more than my own story! Yes Cheltboy, am in the broadcast office in the weighing room at the Festival again, so I get the chance to see the jockeys celebrating at close quarters as they come back after the races, good to know you have fond memories of those days too. Corm and Paul, I do of course still look like that vintage photo… from an exceedingly long distance!
JJM Sports, glad I haven’t driven you nuts (yet) with that – it wasn’t intended to be a catchphrase but I used to say "they’re racing" when a race began, then we were reminded to say "they’re off" (the official phrase to declare a race underway) and I ended up combining the two. I decided to stop saying it a few months ago but as soon as the stalls opened, out it came again!
Gamekeeper – that’s a question I was often asked at the time… I had been offered the chance do some TV work (sport but not racing) and decided to take the plunge. I’ve since done some great things – for example I have been asked to commentate on various sports at the London Olympics – so (while it was a hard decision to make) I haven’t regretted it.
Sincere thanks for sharing all your comments with me and the forum, and hoping you all have a fabulous Cheltenham.
Lee
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