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Mr Slater by a street. Uncomplicated, precise, cliche-free and imperturbable.
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 am not sure anyone can seriously say Mark Johnson is an underrated commentator. He is the most accomplished UK racecaller of recent times having called many classics and of course with his position at Churchill Downs is now well known on an international stage.
That said, I still think Lee is the most underrated. A great commentator, imo.
Craig
I would say the following are underrated:
Darren Owen
Lee McKenzie
Martin HarrisThey should get more big race commentaries instead of the likes of Jim McGrath and Mike Cattermole.
I am not sure anyone can seriously say Mark Johnson is an underrated commentator. He is the most accomplished UK racecaller of recent times having called many classics
Craig
Jim McGrath & Mike Cattermole have also called lots of big races.
Mark Johnson gets a mixed reception here, 50/50 is being generous on the various racing forums when he’s commentating and while I too rate him highly and would have him in the top 3 or 4 commentators he does qualify for this category imo and he is currently top of the voting.
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And sadly not a Sir Peter O’Sullivan among them
What a relief to see that Derek "Greedy" Thompson is not among them,you wont find a more naturally charming individual who is an excellent presenter,but as a commentator? Geez he"s F****n dreadful!
Sorry I find Mark Slater very dull and hardly brings any excitement or emotion to his commentaries.
I have a personal bias against Mark Johnson as I never seem to win if he commentates on any race I’m betting on! Saying that though he is top rate.
Alan Howes and Tony Ennis are the best of the "newest" commentators in my view.
I also seem to be one of the few people who likes Ian Bartlett, I would much rather he become the BBC’s top commentator rather than boring old Aussie Jim McGrath.
I rate Steve Payne who calls at East Anglian point to points and does a good job. He was especially good in adverse conditions at Cottenham in February when thick mist obscured much of the course and showed good humour throughout what must have been a very frustrating day. It would have driven me mad, but Steve kept calm and gave a good show.
Sorry I find Mark Slater very dull and hardly brings any excitement or emotion to his commentaries.
Yes I agree Phil I find him a bit that way too. He dosen’t put up much excitement even on a close finish.
Would be good to hear Darren, Lee and Martin get calls at bigger races though.
Yes I agree Phil I find him a bit that way too. He dosen’t put up much excitement even on a close finish.
That’s Slater’s strength in my view. Not a big fan of screaming. Darren Owen climaxed 2 seconds into his Grand National commentary; the breathless, fever-pitched distortion that followed made the mute button essential.
A great call from Tom Durkin in the Preakness again on Saturday night. It’s beyond me how the Americans often prefer Johnson/Denman to him.
A great call from Tom Durkin in the Preakness again on Saturday night. It’s beyond me how the Americans often prefer Johnson/Denman to him.
Many racing fans prefer Durkin because they want an American voice for quintessentially American classics. People were downright angry when Johnson was hired at Churchill. Tom Durkin also has had a contract with NBC for a long time to call all their classic races on TV, and since he’s the voice of Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct he calls most of the other major stakes as well. However, Durkin’s calls have definitely declined in quality in recent years; he sometimes gets out of breath and misses horses. Remember in last year’s Derby where he didn’t say a word about Mine That Bird till the last few strides. Mark Johnson, the on-track announcer, noticed his run immediately. In the end, it’s a matter of precision and accuracy vs. Durkin’s emotion and sense of humor.
Regarding underrated announcers, Dave Rodman, the voice of the Laurel/Pimlico/Timonium circuit in Maryland has been calling races for quite some time with little fanfare. Some find his pure Baltimore accent grating, but to me it adds local flavor.
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