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I too worked with Peter Bromley for a couple of years, and as I called him Captain Bromley the first time we met, I started off on the right foot and always found him most charming from then on!!
Strangely, Robin Gray and Raleigh Gilbert were also the most nervous pre-commentators pre-race I worked with, but both were utter gents who placed great importance on their race preparation.
I understand you saying that about Raleigh Gilbert, but Robin Gray? Unless, he totally hid it from me and I was by his side pre-race for dozens of Group 1 races, classics and large fields, and often next to him on the Devils Dyke at Newmarket, he has never struck me as being especially nervous at all.
My wife says she can hear a slight edge to my calls when I am nervous which I think was also apparent in Raleigh Gilbert, but cannot recall that in Robin Gray.
Craig
He so did not get on with Clare Balding. Years ago I was working for a bloodstock agent who was staying down at Goodwood (with JW and one fairly well known Impressionist among others) for the August meeting when I got a call from him asking him to fax in the following:
Dear Clare
Who is the best on the BBC team at doing a Paddock Inspection?
Yours sincerely
Miss R Soles (Rebecca)Fax duly arrived and JW who was in on joke thrust it under Clares nose to read out which she duly did not realising she had been set up. After reading out – Miss R Soles – she desperatly tried to redeem herslf by saying "shes called Rebecca!" but by then Wilson and comrades were in hysterics. Added to that a Paddock Inspection was their euphamism for a bl*wjob.
JinnyJ:
If you have nothing to do for the summer, I would love you to be my co-paddock commentator at whatever track I end up at. Much merriment will ensue which will confuse the yankee race fans!
Craig
She never forgave him. The whole incident is referred to in the book and I really do feel mortified that I was the sender if not the culprit behind the deed.
He still is a polite, well mannered and decent chap.
I remember some years ago writing an article for the Racing post (without
exclamation marks, or punctuation marks) about Jockeys differing styles,
and i was really slating Pat Edderys constant "I"ll give them all a 10l head
start and see if i can catch them in the last 50yds sort of ride!) and the one
ride that still haunts me to this day, was the ride he gave "Bellotto" in the 2000 gns in the late 80"s when beaten a hd by "Dont forget me" who if my memory serves me well was ridden superbly by W, Carson! any way to cut
a long story short, the editor at the time signed my article as "J, Wilson"
not even Julian! Anyway 2 days later theres a personal letter from "Julian
Wilson" (probably no relation to the BBC presenter himself!!!!!) stating how
he would never suggest to criticise a jockeys ability in the saddle especially one of such good standing and made it quite clear he wishes to distance himself from those comments! All because the editor put a "J" instead of a "G"! i thought then what a silly old sausage you must be!!
In hindsight i"m sure the editor new him and was stitching him up!That is hilarious! If I recall, Belotto never really trained on as a 3 year old.
I must admit the meeting was called off before I set off for Wolverhampton so I did not get to see what was happening there first hand.
Looking at the pics on ATR at 11:00 there didn’t seem to be any actual snow on the track, however Fergus Cameron did say he was concerned about the shaded area in front of the stands, even though they were furrowing – so I suppose there could have been some false ground .
One thing that crossed my mind is the enclosures seemed to still be covered in snow and I wonder if there were any "health and safety" issues with regards icy surfaces in the enclosures
I do not buy into that, Paul. I mean what has been the low there -4 or something? We have weeks where it never gets above that and people are not slipping over all over the pavement and lets face it, Americans are not well known for their svelte physiques, are they?
Craig
Even a greater influence on me, however, was Robin Gray, who, imo, may have been the best racecourse commentator we have ever produced and is criminally under rated and forgotten about these days. Admittedly, I am biased here, I have known him for well over 20 years – but a great commentator.
I agree about Robin – avery good commentator and a real gentleman. I remember seeing him at Towcester shortly after he had been dropped from the rosta because of his age. He was too much of a gentleman to rant and rave about it but you could tell he felt very hard done by. He was clearly upset by the decision.
Reading what you wrote about Goodwood – you weren’t the young lad who was featured on TV with, I think Simon Holt – I think it may have been on South Today?
He was very upset.
It was not me with Simon Holt on South Today. I have the feeling it may have been someone called Damon….can’t remember any other details but do not think he is involved with racing at the moment.
My one brush with fame as a well known breaking and enter specialist of commentary boxes around with nation, came when Barton Bank was fancied for the Gold Cup one year and had a prep race at Sandown Park. Someone I had never met before, but I believe still has a role in BBC Radio’s coverage of racing, asked if I would like to call the race and they would record it on broadcast quality tape. Being about 16, I said "Yes!" I later discovered part of the call was used in a Cheltenham Preview Show.
It was one of three times, when someone took advantage of my keenness as a teenage racecaller. By the third time, a year and a half so later, I was so disillusioned, I gave it up until 2008.
Craig
Im sure in America they would have races, Our Craig Braddick could let us know on that front but how can snow stop AW racing when even in the Pointing fields they would still race.
Hi Neil:
Up-to 5-6 inches can be cleared on a dirt surface, before racing, but the track will be very sloppy and you would expect some scratches on the card and perhaps an abandonment after a few races if an incident occurs.
On a proper AW track, there is no excuse, unless the night before dumps in excess of 9 or 10 inches of snow on the track. And it is hard to believe that has happened at Wolverhampton.
9 or 10 inches of snow in one night would be considered an exceptional weather night and I live in a state known for attracting winter tourists who love to ski!
Last spring we frequently had 4-5 inches of snow and raced on the AW in Minnesota, where most of the time the temperature never got higher than freezing and often down to -10 at night. If the track was sloppy to begin with the surface quickly recovered and usually became good as the card progressed.
Craig
He still is a polite, well mannered and decent chap.
I am sure he is. JW was always very friendly and helpful to me when I was a kid.
I would happily buy him a drink, anytime!
Craig
Hi Yeats:
I met Peter O’Sullevan a few times and, you are right, he was extremely meticulous. But I never actually saw him do his homework, only the results of it. I think he prepared all his notes a long time before getting to the track.
When I was about 14, I was practicing my calling at Goodwood one afternoon and as BBC Radio were not broadcasting that day, the people at Goodwood had been kind enough to let me use the commentary box usually occupied by Peter Bromley, who was always great to me, though a lot of people seemed scared to death of him! If Leemac reads this, he will know what I mean!
But at Goodwood, the only partition between myself and Peter O’Sullevan was a small glass partition, maybe 2 feet or so in height.
To say I was nervous was some what of an understatement. Thankfully, Peter remembered me from an afternoon I spent with him when I was 12, watching Desert Orchid at Ascot and was charming and even made sure I could see one of his monitors. I have read his book, very good it is too.
As a kid I had a bad speech impediment and it was Raleigh Gilbert’s voice that made me want to become a commentator and work on controlling my speech problem. I could not say S’s T’s D’s F’s B’s or O sounds without mangling them or stammering – so in that regard, I will always have a soft spot for Raleigh Gilbert. Raleigh could be great when his nerves held up. But to say he was always on an edge is not an exaggeration – and it didn’t seem to matter if it was the Gold Cup or a Novice Hurdle at Towcester.
The one thing Raleigh taught me which has stayed with me all these years later is the importance of prep work. He used to arrive four hours or so before the first race to a deserted press room, except I was already in there, sometimes, to make up his color charts for the days racing. Once he realized I was serious about doing this, we got on well.
I only met John Penney a few times, each time briefly, but I always thought he was a very good caller, far better than moderate. I do believe he at least did racecourse commentary up until 1996 or 1997 and did not seem to go downhill at all in his latter years. I always liked his voice, could never quite place his accent though.
Maybe I am looking at them both through rose-tinted glasses. But there is no denying their influence on me.
Even a greater influence on me, however, was Robin Gray, who, imo, may have been the best racecourse commentator we have ever produced and is criminally under rated and forgotten about these days. Admittedly, I am biased here, I have known him for well over 20 years – but a great commentator.
Hi People!
As I recall, he was a respectable sort, yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves and a black and white quarted cap. I can recall drawing in the colors as an 8 year old.
So why is a horse with the same name running at Kempton today?
Craig
Strange ~ I have a memory of Red and White (or poss Silver) Stripes and a Black cap; Nick Gaselee trained him. One of my favourites as a novice but he struggled a bit with the handicapper subsequently.
You are right, Rory! I realized this last night, I am pretty sure it as red and white stripes, white sleeves and a black cap.
I think a horse called A Kinsman had those colors.Craig
I would like to know too, I have no idea who Jinny could be talking about.
Ted:
Why is Robot from Lost In Space your avatar? Big fan of Lost In Space, here.
My avatar should be my favorite Doctor Who, Jon Pertwee, but it doesn’t show on here for some reason.
However, on other racing foums I go too in the USA, I do get asked if my hair is really that big!
Craig
I thought it was hysterical – more name-dropping than goes on on another racing forum I frequent and thats saying something as there are 2 pretty serious star sh***ers on there!
What forum jinny? Always ready to inflict myself on a new audience!
Craig
"I am sorry but it is very difficult to believe J. Wilson shagged his way around London in the mid 60’s…1860’s maybe…. "
That made me
, and i don’t have a clue who he is. It wasn’t something i expected to read on here.Always happy to be of service…
Craig
Its very sad to see this.
Bluntly it is time the horsey set realized the gambling public subsidize their fun and a display of that nature is not welcomes or appreciated by many.
Poor display of class by all concerned.
Craig
Just do what Beulah Park did Craig.
Get two gorgeous twins who know the formbook and get them to do a look at all the races.
Do you guys get Beulah Park? I was there for a days work back in December. Calls are now on my website: http://britishracecaller.blogspot.com
This year I may be calling full time at either Presque Isle Downs or Arapahoe Park, do you guys get those tracks?
Is there a list of what US tracks ATR and RUK show?
When I have my gig confirmed I am thinking of contacting the Producers of ATR or RUK’s US coverage and seeing if they are interested in having a US contact who is a Brit.
Craig
