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Joining us for our next Q&A is top commentator and Channel 4 stalwart Simon Holt, fresh from commentating on the lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Simon is very keen to answers your questions so I look forward to putting them to him.
Fire away…
Simon,do you have an opinion regarding the amount of info available to the average punter to whom betting is a hobby.Despite all our efforts to read form are there factors only available to the ‘insiders’ of horse racing,the bookies,stable staff,watchers on the gallops,etc. and if so does this support the long held view that ‘the game is bent and always will be’, a view I first came across in the 1950’s ? (I realise that you don’t go back quite that far) Thank you.
My experience of ‘insider’ information is very mixed and overall I think it‘s best to work things out for yourself; it’s all very well learning that one horse is burning up the gallops but how do you know that the opposition hasn’t been doing the same? And the racecourse will always be the acid test. With regard to whether ‘the game is bent and always will be’, I think there are certainly occasions when horses are not there to win (eg, Casela Park at Newcastle – one of the worst cases I have seen) and it would be naïve to think that this doesn’t occur on a fairly regular basis. How regular? Well, hard to put a figure on it, but not in any way enough to conclude that the whole game is bent. Low prize money is certainly an invitation to ‘stop and start’ a horse, as was (and still is?) the exchanges when they came along, but stewarding and integrity services have improved and jockeys who try to stop one are playing with their careers. The authorities have got very tough in the last few years and if you really consider that the ‘game is bent and always will be’, well my optimistic response would be that it’s ‘much straighter than you think.’Hi Simon,
A few weeks ago in the
Update
you intimated that there would be a new betting platform rolled out in the near future backed by some big names.
Would you care to elaborate?
I would love to elaborate if only I knew more about it and, mentioning it in my Update column (deep in the jungle on page 49 each week!) was probably a bit mischievous. The brainchild behind this new betting platform will be well known to many but, understandably, he is not keen to go into details until the thing happens and, despite my probing, he has told me very little except that plans are advanced and that this new idea might appeal to smaller punters. Something is definitely stirring and, when I see him next, I shall continue to probe……
Hello Simon.
Q1 What is your normal routine for preparing for a days commentary?
I am lucky to call a lot of big races which are easier to prepare for in that the horses/colours tend to be well known, but if sent to Southwell for example, that’s a much harder learn. Every race has a degree of importance in so far as punters are betting on it,and the race caller should certainly convey the excitement of any close finish, but the good races certainly fire me up more than the bad ones.Q2 How do you prepare for trips which take you away from home, for example this week you had Southwell,Catterick and Musselburgh so how far in advance would you know so you can plan hotel and travel?
Q3 How was the Bowls at the Commonwealth Games and would do it again at London 2012 and Glasgow 2014?Well, bowls is not an Olympic sport but, if asked, I would certainly be keen to work at Glasgow. It was very refreshing to work on a new sport in Delhi and, while the working conditions and hours tested us all, it was ultimately a rewarding experience. I got caught out on a couple of occasions early in the competition when mis-interpretating tactics but, by the end, felt confident enough to cope with any match. Bowls wouldn’t have been my first choice but, like most things in life, it became more interesting the more I learned about it. Of course, it was very different from calling six-furlong handicaps but the slower pace, and the long pauses, made a nice change.
Simon,
I hope this is correct otherwise my question is a bit redundant but I’ve heard you are a bit of a movie buff?
Personally I’ve not much time for modern day films, I much prefer older films and rarely go to the cinema these days, all my favourite films are nearly all at least 50 years old and my top 3 are all at least 60 years old. Anyway, more importantly what sort of films do you enjoy and what are your top 3 all time favourite films and actors?Thanks
Eddie
Picking three favourite films is almost impossible, but I much prefer weighty ‘real life’ drama to action epics, sci fi or fantasy. That said, ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ was pretty outstanding a few years ago. Top three? It could change tomorrow but today I’ll go for ‘The Godfather’ (hard to split Part One or Two), ‘The Sweet Smell Of Success’ and, more recently, ‘Sideways‘ and ‘The Hours’ but there are so many. I would recommend Mike Leigh’s new film ‘Another Year.‘ Anything with Jack Nicholson in is worth watching (brilliant in ‘About Schmidt’) and, for me, Meryl Streep, Kathy Bates, Dames Maggie and Judi and Clint Eastwood can do little wrong. Morgan Freeman is a superb, effortless actor. Jim Broadbent the same. I like films that make you laugh and cry, a good example being Nicholson and Shirley Maclaine in ‘Terms Of Endearment’. Anyone who didn’t laugh in the first two-thirds, and then failed to sob their heart out during the closing harrowing scenes can barely be described as human!In my dreams, I’d love to own an independent cinema one day but feel sure it would be a financial disaster as I would probably show films that most people wouldn’t want to see. There would be lots of ‘Indie’ films and foreign movies (great films like ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien’ and ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’) and I would ban all popcorn and crinkly sweet wrappings, but sell home made cake and lashings of wine. And there would be full smoking facilities in the gallery. Crowd-pulling films like ‘Avatar’, ’Batman’ and the appallingly contrived ’Mamma Mia’ wouldn’t get a look in.
Hi Simon,
Your preference: NH or Flat?
Best flat jockey in a tight finish?Favourite track from your point of view?
Do you bet on horses?Basically, I’m only interested in betting if I can win a lot of money but rarely am I willing to put enough on to make that happen, and betting has never particularly enhanced my enjoyment of a race. However, allegiances to certain horses, trainers and jockeys are as good as having a bet in my view and I take my big-race tips (all free!) on Sportinglife.com very seriously. Up until this year, my record on the website has been pretty satisfactory – and just as profitable as tipsters who sell their supposed ‘good things’ – but this year has been one to forget!
Are you concerned about the Levy’s not being big enough?
Well only 5 runners in this – should be a piece of cake!
Thanks, Simon.
Hi Simon,
Do you intentionally use a different style of commentating when doing it solely for C4 as opposed to doing the racecourse commentary?
I do notice a difference, a more laid back, quieter style on C4 compared to a more focussed sounding approach for racecourse commentary. Is this just the case due to the add ons you have to do for C4, such as scoop 6 updates, betting, results etc?
For what it’s worth, although both are very good I prefer the racecourse commentary style.
How much pleasure did you get from your recent success as an owner/breeder? Have you any plans to expand in this area and is that decision influenced at all by the poor rewards through poor prize money etc even if you do happen to be successful?Over many years, I have had interests in well over 20 horses and SSA was my first winner in this country (there was one in Australia and another in South Africa). There have been many trainers – including Bryan Sayers, Wally Carter, Philip Mitchell, Steve Woodman, Jack Holt, John Best and, now, Peter Hedger – and the one thing they all have (had) in common is that they are (were) lovely people. Perhaps it’s unprofessional, but I much prefer having horses in a smaller yard, trained by someone I really like.
Do you think some commentators and presenters in televised sport talk too much? Think there used to be a rule at the BBC that only talk if you can add to the pictures and it served them well over the years with the likes of Benaud, Longhurst, Wolstenholme, O’Sullevan, Maskell etc and although we are in different times now, is it really necessary for viewers to be subject to a non stop barrage of verbal diarrhoea like we are sometimes (thinking of an ATR presenter in particular)?
Thanks
yeatsHi Simon,
Big fan of yours and certainly think you’re in the top 3 commentators we have and have been for some time.
My question is a pretty straight-forward one really..
If you had the choice of commentating at a meeting that had 6 two runner 3 mile+ chases…or…a meeting that had 6 twenty plus 5 furlong sprint handicaps which would you be more comfortable doing and why?
Cheers,John
Hi Simon,
First of all, how did you get into commentating and what advice would you give to someone who fancied having a go?
I started with a point-to-point meeting at Heathfield in East Sussex one Easter Monday; there were hardly any runners but it was completely terrifying. Then I put together a demo, Racetech (RTS in those days) liked it and they gave me a four-runner, five-furlong, two-year-old seller to call at Folkestone one day (with Raleigh Gilbert standing next to me). You can’t start at a much lower level than that. And, one day when reporting for The Sporting Life at Worcester, the commentator failed to turn up and the Clerk of the Course rushed into the press room and shouted: “Is there a commentator in the house?” I was pushed forward by colleagues and called a couple of races before the booked caller eventually turned up. That was the day that really got me going.Secondly, which callers (past or present) do you admire or were influenced by?
Cheers
SeanSimon,jockeys are supposed to ride a horse out in order to achieve the best placing possible.This is not happening on a massive scale.How often do you see a jockey allow a horse to coast with a furlong or more to run?I understand horses that have given their all should not be punished unnecessarily but to school is SUPPOSED to be against the rules but its happening every day and nothing is being done about it,with the very odd exception to a "small" jockey and trainer.
I was amazed, and wrote so in the ‘Update‘, that Tony McCoy was not questioned by the stewards after his ride on Get Me Out Of Here at Ascot recently. Yes, the horse pulled hard and might have needed the run but appearances are vital and the Champ (who is utterly brilliant but, like anyone else, not above being criticised) ‘appeared’ to give the horse a very easy time. Nobody is saying that horses, especially beaten horses, should be ridden out vigorously with blows of the whip but the rules require that a horse must achieve the best possible placing and jockeys should certainly be punished if they fail to ride out with hands and heels. I feel quite strongly about this as it makes a big difference to punters when it comes to form study and looking at how far a horse was beaten. The stewards need to be more vigilant even to the point of questioning jockeys who try to win too cleverly, a practice which one day will inevitably lead to another cock-up when a rider drops his hands and gets caught.
Hi Simon,
I think I notice a special fondness for Kauto Star in your calls. Who is your favourite horse of all time and why?
I am a huge fan of Kauto Star; he is one of the greatest horses of my lifetime. But I become quite emotionally attached to a lot of good horses and came close to blubbing on air two Cheltenham Festivals ago when describing Hardy Eustace, in mid-race, as a ’Cheltenham legend’! I loved Best Mate and Desert Orchid, and Dancing Brave and Giants Causeway and, now perhaps the Queen of them all, Goldikova. Diamond Edge was another big favourite when I was growing up but the biggest star of all, perhaps because he was around at an impressionable age, was Red Rum. He was the horse who had me hooked.
Simon who did you like listening to growing up? For me it was John Penney and Raliegh Gilbert on ITV and of course Sir Peter on the BBC as well. Brommers on the radio was also good value. Peter Jones and John Arlott also get mentions from me for their football and cricket work respectively, both were outstanding "picture painters".
On racing, all of those you mention plus a few Australians I have referred to above. In other sports, David Coleman was a marvellous commentator whether it be on football or athletics. On Boxing, Harry Carpenter on television or John Rawling on the radio. I am just old enough to remember Henry Longhurst, and Brian Johnston was a joy to listen to on Test Match Special.
Simon – many thanks for doing this for us –
My question is what is your earliest memory of racing, the one where you thought ‘this is for me’?
My family were never remotely interested in racing so I have no idea where this life long passion for the sport came from. But they did take me racing at a very young age, notably to our local track at Brighton though my father would only agree to come on condition that he be allowed to sulk all afternoon. I still remember a horse called Shining Heights winning at Brighton and, a few years ago, I met the horse’s rider that day John Gorton who actually recalled the victory very well. Must have only been about seven or eight years old at the time (me that is, not John). Mum also took me to the Cheltenham Festival the year Pendil was brought down by High Ken in the 1974 Gold Cup. Looking back, they really put themselves out to indulge my interest. As I have already said, Red Rum was the horse who really hooked me and I’ll never forget my ‘disinterested’ father sinking to his knees in front of the TV set when the old horse won his third Grand National. Watching that again, it still fills me up as does his first win when catching Crisp on the run-in which is still the greatest race I have ever seen.
Great interview, he’s my favourite commentator, he comes across very well. Thanks for this guys!
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