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Just remembered another, Peter Montague Evans who served as BBC commentator in the pre O’Sullevan era. These were the days when a double barrelled surname really meant something!
Of that era we should not forget the excellent Micheal Seth Smith who was a top racecourse mic/bins operator.
I thoroughly agree with Burroughill the winter All Weather gives a big chance for lesser lights to shine. Without it some trainers and a training centre as historic and successful, in the past, like Epsom, would be struggling to survive.
The Atr Irish commentators are generally pretty accurate, with some obvious exceptions, but lack the modern practice of giving viewers an in-running "heads up" such as cap or sleeve colours or mentions of sheepskin noseband etc.
I think a new commentary style would add hugely to viewer enjoyment of Irish racing especially as the fields are often large and on the GB side of the Irish Sea, owners’ colours, apart from the big battalion owners, are not so familiar.
(All this is off the thread topic apart from the fact that Mr Mullins’ powerful owners’ colours are at least usually easy to spot!)Wow! So sorry Youngfella you find my opinion on this ridiculous and infriuating. Perhaps I am an old fuddy duddy as you imply, but I certainly wouldn’t use this excellent forum to be scathing about fellow forum followers and racing enthusiasts!
My diary arrived today, and I’m pretty happy with it. Good listing of Irish (as well as British) principal race dates, racecourse information and all fixtures set out each day. I’m not a RUK member but had no problem getting a copy. Thanks to Betlarge for flagging this up.
Was watching a good class from Olympia the other night where the commentator kept referring to one horse as the 3/1 favourite (it finished in second place). No other competitors’ odds were ever mentioned, and I don’t know who the layers were. Shouldn’t have thought many bets are laid in this sport as integrity stewarding is probably non existent!
The Friday of the Lockinge meeting has long been one of my favourite day’s racing, so disappointed to hear the best two races are to be switched to the Saturday. Sadly yet another case of Saturday meetings being overly endowed at the expense of days that appeal to those seeking quality cards on days which are not overcrowded.
Thought Toast of New York was ridden in a very similar way to the UAE Derby. This was a fantastic effort by all connections
and the jockeyship was exemplary.Thoroughly enjoyable programme at Lingfield this afternoon, all races interesting with two listed heats.Sets a high standard that will inevitably be hard to sustain, but a really good start nonetheless. Love the flat turf and jumps but All Weather through the winter months is a really good addition to these, with now a seasonal focus on Good Friday to look forward to in the Spring.
Have tried a few sites, but find BET365 is very good and excellent for race replays, so I tend to make that my go-to site.
I’ve always found Mike Cattermole to be highly competent and good communicator as both a broadcaster and commentator. Commentary is not easy and every so often mistakes are made which is infuriating but doesn’t mean the perpetrator is an idiot. All commentators are regularly monitored and regular under performers are identified and lose their contract, so we have a team who are consistently good, bar the inevitable odd mistake!
Toby Balding was quite simply an outstanding person who was always prepared to give his time and experience to help others. I remember visiting his yard back in the 1970’s and it was very obvious that he knew everything about each horse and he had a great collaborative relationship with his staff. For some unknown reason I have a memory of him in the bar chatting with an owner on the final day’s racing ever at lowly Wye (Kent) racecourse. For him every race counted, not just those at the likes of Cheltenham and Aintree.
This idea certainly did come to fruition and meant that very irritatingly, the BBC were unable to broadcast the King George on Boxing Days, to the consternation of the racing public. I think this was in the immediate post Arkle era and lasted a few years. The pay TV uptake was probably miniscule, no one I knew took part and I think Kempton(!) was the only track where the public were asked to pay to view.
I am quite surprised there has been no press comment about this so far as I know. Fallon’s rides for SBS have certainly dried up in recent weeks, although his latest was a winner at Brighton earlier this week. In my view Fallon has ridden to a consistent high standard throughout the year and it’s puzzling why he seems to be currently out of favour.
All Weather Racing had its place nowadays. For me it’s not a joke, not a sham but an extremely entertaining, exciting and lucrative part of the sport.
Undoubtedly one of the finest jockeys of his era. Champion three times (twice in GB, once in Ireland), classic winner both sides of Irish Sea, Breeders Cup winning rider, big wins in the Far East and Australia. Always adopted a dashing riding style often of course coming with a late run while rivals are fading. I always thought he’d go into a management role, but as a trainer, many years from now. My personal flat jockey favourites since first starting an interest in racing have been Piggott, Eddery, Fallon and Spencer. Think that list sums up my estimation of his talent!
Isn’t it strange how this great sport of ours divides opinion? I have very different views to Robert99 about racing journalists. There are several I follow and whose opinions and news gathering abilities I respect. I also enjoy their occasional appearances on TV such as the Morning Line and Sunday Forum. Racing is a complex sport with events happening every day in various locations. Without racing journalists I’m not sure we’d be able to keep up!
