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"Poor call, the horse was three lengths clear before he seemed to latch on." Cormack.
It happens again and again, and not just with McGrath.  And it is utterly baffling, because we are sometimes talking about a few lengths, as you say.
And what makes it all the more surreal is that they are geniuses at identifying the colours and the horses in running. Or maybe it’s the other race callers.
I sometimes honestly feel as if I’d – well, in fact, I realise I actually had been watching a different race from the one called – and it annoys the heck out of me!
Rishi is a very personable young man, but he’s really an all-purpose infotainment journalist. He could just as easily interview polo players or synchronised swimmers.
His questions (Steve cited two stunners) are formulaic, like ticking boxes, but that is the quintessence of tabloid journalism.
Instead of asking how Pasquier and Fabre felt about winning their first and umpteenth Arc, respectively, it would have been more human and natural, to put it in a normal conversational kind of way, such as: "Wow! Not a bad feeling, eh? A young jock of your age winning blah blah.
Or to Fabre, "I don’t imagine you’re as crazy about records as we journalists are about pointing them out, but when you first started training, did you have any kind of idea that you would win as many Arcs as you already have. Not to speak of everything else. Well, I know you’re a modest man, but… ". Would that have been so difficult?
(Edited by Grimes at 10:46 pm on Oct. 1, 2006)
Quote: from cormack15 on 7:27 pm on Oct. 1, 2006[br] or he finds it difficult to express the knowledge he does have.
<br>I think thats more the case to be honest. Willie does talk some sense at times its just the way he bumbles around and fails to put it across properly thats the problem. He’s not a natural presenter to say the least, whereas Clare Balding is excellent.
Rishi Persad – Do they actually pay him? Every time he approaches someone for an interview you can almost see them cringe and hear them say "oh no" in their heads.
(Edited by The Market Man at 10:34 pm on Oct. 1, 2006)
Or to Fabre, "I don’t imagine you’re as crazy about records as we journalists are about pointing them out, but when you first started training, did you have any kind of idea that you would win as many Arcs as you already have. Not to speak of everything else. Well, I know you’re a modest man, but… ".
To be fair to Persad on that one …
(actually, I think I’m fair to him most of the time, it’s fair to call him rubbish)
… Fabre is an old pro and knows his job.
After an Arc win, his job is to deflect the credit from himself and onto the horse and owner.
Whatever question an interviewer asks him, the answer is that the horse and owner deserve the credit.
I guess that, if Persad was a little smarter and had a better understanding of the game, he’d ask a question that would allow Fabre to do his job in a friendy and personable way, rather than forcing Fabre to dismiss the question abruptly.
Rishi’s fine for creaming himself all over Stoute, O’Brien and Dettori, but not substantial enough to conduct an interesting interview.
If you saw the footage of the interviews Balding recorded with Fabre and Soumillon, they were just different class.
That’s someone who (unsurprisingly) understands the training and riding racehorses. So, she knows what questions to ask.
Rishi comes across as just a mug punter who’s oblivious to the complex aspects of race, horse and form analysis.
Steve
I liked Fabre’s answer last year:
Persad: "How special is this horse [Hurricane Run]?"
Fabre (with an implied shrug): "As special as an Arc winner."
Cormack,
I think you are being less than fair about Carson’s racing knowledge. His race riding record on top class horses speaks for itself- based IMHO on making less mistakes than most of his perhaps more brilliant contemporaries – and he also runs a pretty successful Minster Stud. Most punters are not too interested in pedigrees but Willy is right on the ball about breeding and his tipping record is best of a poor bunch ( including Clare B who follows her heart rather than form)
The format doesn’t suit him well and he doesn’t have the chance that the Channel 4 team have to show his mettle.
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Andre Fabre is known for his lack of tolerance towards idiots. So why send Persad to interview him, when the Beeb should have known that he would get such short shrift?
I always cringe when I watch Rishi on the box. He does what’s expected of him- racing journalism has become dumbed down, like so much else in life- but I had an Asian friend at university who would wipe the floor with him. Pity that my friend was too early to get into the game, really: he kept getting rejection letters when he applied for jobs in the racing media.
Regarding Aussie Jim, he has always been a sub-standard commentator; trouble is, there aren’t too many good ones around at the moment.
(Edited by yquem21 at 4:52 pm on Oct. 2, 2006)
Quote: from yquem21 on 4:51 pm on Oct. 2, 2006[br]Andre Fabre is known for his lack of tolerance towards idiots.<br>
I think you mean he is overly rude and ignorant towards the press in general.
The BBC may have its weaknesses; but could you imagine what would happen if the Channel 4 "muppets" were let lose over in Paris?
Regards- Matron<br>:cool:
Quote: from Matron on 5:01 pm on Oct. 2, 2006[br]The BBC may have its weaknesses; but could you imagine what would happen if the Channel 4 "muppets" were let lose over in Paris?
Regards- Matron<br>:cool:
<br>They’d ramble on about the previous days Scoop6. Francome and McGrath would tip half the field of every race and fail to get a horse in the frame and Thommo would be swinging from the Eiffel Tower wearing a beret.
and Thommo would be swinging from the Eiffel Tower wearing a beret.
… while doing a "hilarious" impression of inspector Clouseau
Agreed, DJ. He may be one of the finest trainers ever, but his attitude towards the press stinks.
My Irish Setter may know more about the ponies than Rishi Persad, but that may be missing the point. He’s a decent fella, photogenic, young and brave. He can communicate clearly and has an accessible look.
And he’s a much better broadcaster than those unbelievably talentless retired athletes who have largely destroyed TV coverage of that sport.
And don’t forget the unsung masses of old ladies who watch TV racing with their ten bob e/w trebles; they love him;)
I missed the commentary you refer to so I can’t comment on Aussie Jim. Apologies for the off topic. I’ve never had particular issues with him. The character who does Southwell sometimes who believes he is the announcer at Philly Park is a bit s**t
, but I digess….<br>Quote: from The Market Man on 5:08 pm on Oct. 2, 2006[br]
Quote: from Matron on 5:01 pm on Oct. 2, 2006[br]The BBC may have its weaknesses; but could you imagine what would happen if the Channel 4 "muppets" were let lose over in Paris?
Regards- Matron<br>:cool:
<br>They’d ramble on about the previous days Scoop6. Francome and McGrath would tip half the field of every race and fail to get a horse in the frame and Thommo would be swinging from the Eiffel Tower wearing a beret.<br>
That would be far better :) so it would. <br>
My blood’s boiling again. The race caller seemed to be calling Gifted Gamble in the lead at the finish, but it was Dhaular Dhar!
Tommo in a beret!! Now that would be worth watchin!!
I watched some it again last night and the interview with the Japanese guys is cringeworthy.. I’d take Thommo over Persad any day!!
<br>On the BBC Sport website at the moment you can actually send your views on the coverage of racing to the Beeb’s Director of Sport Roger Mosey so I’ve already had my say!
Just click on ‘Have Your Say’ section in the Racing section and the thread will be around…….<br>
RichK I do remember that Peter O’Sullevan at the end of his commentating career was receiving prompts – you could hear a voice going "so and so unseated" and then POS would go "And so and so’s unseated his rider at that one…" etc Although no-on has a good word for Ch4, IMO Simon Holt is the best commentator around.
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