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He appears to be on a shortlist of 5 that includes Larry Collmus from Monmouth Park, the Aussie Michael Wrona and a good young announcer Travis Stone.
Mark has called at Suffolk Downs, Calder and been a guest announcer on the day before Breeders Cup.
Do you think he is the next voice of the Kentucky Derby?
Did someone else beat him to it with One… Last… Lunge…?
My flippancy aside, I’m sure he’ll take comfort from the fact that he still has some very handy niche interests that’ll uphold his profile on the specialist channels over here at the very least – French, American and Channel Island racing to name but three.
Here’s hoping – for our sakes as well as Mr Johnson’s – that RUK has found the means to revive the weekly point-to-point show after a one-year absence, too. It was a slightly imperfect show, but a hugely interesting one at the same time, and the success of S4C’s Rasus Ar Garlam proves there is a market for pointing coverage on telly.
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 hope Johnson gets the job and hopefully we will be spared his cringing cliches over this side of the pond.
A pair of great calls from the new boy at Churchill. He had no competition as the calls that the American network audience were subjected to were dire.
I’m a great Durkin fan. He’s fine to entertain the crowds at Saratoga with his amusing calls but just wasn’t at the races this weekend.
Yep, just posted on another thread that Tom Durkin was terrible and Mark Johnson was on the ball and called it with his usuall enthusiasm and excitement.
Amazing to think that 5 weeks ago he was calling the Fox Hunters and the Grand National then was at Market Rasen the day after calling a 3m1f Novice Chase where 3 of the 4 runners fell at the first and still made it interesting.
Seconded, Neil – I saw / heard that Rasen race as well (where Seymour Weld scored a distance victory over boredom), and he excelled himself.
Frequently a polariser of opinion, yes, and often the recipient of some pointed criticism in some quarters; but with a remit that includes US, French and Channel Island racing, point-to-points and Rules racing of all creeds and hues, plus athletics coverage recently for Channel 4, I think he might just be having the last laugh. Atta boy.
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.
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