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Be nice if C4 Racing could do a tribute to GG. He and Sir Peter were the voices of racing as I grew up and both were the soundtrack to so many great memories.
"But with oh so much to do!"
Throughout the 80s and mid 90s for me it was always on a Saturday a case of Sir Peter to begin with on the BBC then later in the afternoon GG on Channel 4.
Pity that Racetech decided not to keep him on as he is still enjoying the game pottering about at the smaller meetings.
It would be really good if some courses employ GG as a raceday presenter as he will be ideally suited to this job and be able to do paddock interviews and presentations.
I do hope some racecourse people are reading this, i know the Clerk from Notts and Raspberry comes on here so please make it happen.
When i think about GG"s commentarys,its the now immortal lines "Here comes Dancing Brave down the wide outside with Ohhh sohhh much to do" that comes back to haunt me! It still makes the hairs on the back of my head stand up when i hear it now,i remember discussing the commentary with GG at Nottingham last year and asking him how he managed to avoid adding "What the f*** was Greville doing" at the end of it,he did admit to thinking just that mind! A proper Gent of a man and a bloody good commentator too! I will miss him!
He was the worst race reader in the business. And he was at it right up until almost the very end (Carey’s Lad) at Uttoxeter on Saturday.
That said he can look justifiably look back at a career where he achieved a lot over an extended period of time. Wish him a long and healthy retirement.
On the At The Races Sunday Forum earlier, Mac eluded to an interview by ATR with Graham Goode this week, is there any footage anywhere? I had a look on the website but couldn’t see anything. Did anyone see it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCuIVn6egM
Never tire of watching and listening to that but…
…nit-picking to labour a point
Your starter for 10 TRF:
Who was the horse in once-famous colours brought down behind the ill-fated Ten Plus at the third last that Sir P failed to mention?
Ballyhane
There was nobody quite like O’Sullevan to miss what was actually happening
Sadly had a heart attack after contesting the National; partly attributed it myself to the disruption caused by animal rights activists that year.
Comparing commentators of different generations is always unfair. Today’s commentators have the benefit of multi tv camera coverage, often are calling from better positions than they did in yesteryear and the quality of information available to the modern racecaller is beyond the dreams of what O’Sullevan (for example) had in his prime. Even the quality of binoculars have progressed over the last fifteen years.
My favorite commentator, Raleigh Gilbert, was a very good commentator calling a race through binoculars. In hindsight, that may be seen to be only "techhnically average" but he did not have many of the advantages today’s callers have. Simply put, I would give up my earthly possessions to have his voice and delivery. Still, he is the example I try to emulate.
Indeed, commentators are often encouraged to call more off the monitor, today. Want to see who the best commentator is today? Give them a month without a TV in the commentary box and the best racereaders will come to the fore.
Craig.
GC, Twas April 67 when GG made his Worcester debut, the same day Foinavon won the National.
Ach, wrong year. And that after I’ve even given the right one on here in posts previously! The mental deterioration continues apace… Meanwhile, this Torygraph article by Aussie Jim should fill in a few gaps;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horser … times.html
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
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