Inaccurate Race Call

RIO · December 2013

@hash but we made up just as quick...Theo has very broad shoulders, he couldn't have survived this long with out them and a few minnows like Damo and me having pot shots at him is like flicking rice at THE INCREDIBLE HULK...annoying but of no real consequence!!!! =)) =))

lick · December 2013

Oh please!

Darren is an excellent caller, paints the picture, creates atmosphere, good voice. If there are any (perceived) glitches or not, is it the end of the world, nobody dies, gives us something to talk about. Has respect from every other main caller in Australia and Sky.

Only Barry the Cougar can say "I thought I was wrong once, but I made a mistake".

It sounds like some of you would prefer a computer generated commentary, with absolute accuracy, no personal comments.

We are blessed to have characters such as Wes and Darren (and Richie when he fills in). They also have their frustrations with wall to wall racing - after a big race in which everyone would like to hear more, its off to the third at Toowoomba - must drive them nuts at times.

For those that haven't tried it, try learning and remembering 14 colours and names every 35 minutes, even if you do see most of them every week or two. The race book doesn't always do the job, generally you only have the time from mount up to circling behind the barriers.

Most race callers have wanted to do nothing else from since they were kids - DM included.

thefalcon · December 2013

excellent post, lick.

my dad called races for 6pr and at times he had to "waffle on" about the crowd, the seagulls if there was a delay, no going back to the studio.

you ought to hear his call of raconteurs derby and perth cup, he chatted for minutes after the race about mrs. gwynne, eddie spencer and the horse.

i'd love to get it on here sometime, i have the tape.

jayson · December 2013

This maybe a random call but I've watched a lot of racing both here and over east in the last few months and i mean a lot..A general observation i feel races are less congested at the finish line over east giving the caller a better chance to get off the winner a go back through the placings...Here there seems to be quite a few close finishes making it very hard to identify the correct placings. This may be a stupid comment but im just racking my brain..

Gilgamesh · December 2013

Darren has a great voice and is easy to listen too, his work in the run on has never been good but hopefully someone can pass this on to him and he can work on it, as mentioned i'm sure if he focuses on it he can easily fix it up. One thing I have noticed a bit of late is callers calling to the market or their selections, trying to forecast what will happen based on there thoughts rather than just calling it as it happens, if I could have one wish for callers it would be to call it as it's happening, being a backer of longer priced runners you can go with them being completely missed until they hit the front. This is a country wide thing.

One thing I will say though as a regular listener to the preview on sat morning there are only two people who's info I want to hear and one isn't Darren. I didn't like the way he took Ian Lenton to task about tipping an outsider in the Winterbottom, even if it was partly in jest. Please don't put Ian off throwing out his seemingly random thougths!!! It was those random thoughts throwing out knightlike on the same day which caused me to take him in a $300+ quin. Anyone that watches the races week in week out can see the obvious but we don't all have the ability to see the races outside the square, if you can the % that you need to get right to have a win is far less therefore making their info far more valuable.

dungy · December 2013

Gilgamesh said:
Darren has a great voice and is easy to listen too, his work in the run on has never been good but hopefully someone can pass this on to him and he can work on it, as mentioned i'm sure if he focuses on it he can easily fix it up. One thing I have noticed a bit of late is callers calling to the market or their selections, trying to forecast what will happen based on there thoughts rather than just calling it as it happens, if I could have one wish for callers it would be to call it as it's happening, being a backer of longer priced runners you can go with them being completely missed until they hit the front. This is a country wide thing.
One thing I will say though as a regular listener to the preview on sat morning there are only two people who's info I want to hear and one isn't Darren. I didn't like the way he took Ian Lenton to task about tipping an outsider in the Winterbottom, even if it was partly in jest. Please don't put Ian off throwing out his seemingly random thougths!!! It was those random thoughts throwing out knightlike on the same day which caused me to take him in a $300+ quin. Anyone that watches the races week in week out can see the obvious but we don't all have the ability to see the races outside the square, if you can the % that you need to get right to have a win is far less therefore making their info far more valuable.

People say could you do a better job ??? well he gets paid to call races his voice is great but his judging of were horses are in the run ect ect are pathetic ,im tipping he was on Son of Something on Saturday as he sounded like he wanted to root Pike after that great ride ,I will say it again BRING BACK STUEY!!!!!!!!!

lick · December 2013

Dungy, suggest you stick to your profession, obviously you are grammar teacher. Your remarks are wafer thin when you resort to such suggestions (re Pike).

By the way, its etc, not ect.

Amyquil · December 2013

jayson said:
This maybe a random call but I've watched a lot of racing both here and over east in the last few months and i mean a lot..A general observation i feel races are less congested at the finish line over east giving the caller a better chance to get off the winner a go back through the placings...Here there seems to be quite a few close finishes making it very hard to identify the correct placings. This may be a stupid comment but im just racking my brain..

I haven't done the research but I meant to make this point. I reckon it's spot on.

Finishes at Ascot are more congested. Horses are diving through all over the place.

Even more reason to concentrate on the finish rather than plug some mediocre stallion.

Amyquil · December 2013

lick said:
Dungy, suggest you stick to your profession, obviously you are grammar teacher. Your remarks are wafer thin when you resort to such suggestions (re Pike).

By the way, its etc, not ect.

I'm more interested in Dungy's thoughts than his grammar or spelling, even if I disagree.

The quality of your arguments are all that matter on here as far as I'm concerned. No need for superiority

Darkhorse · December 2013

Amyquil said

Finishes at Ascot are more congested. Horses are diving through all over the place

Could this be because of our jockeys sit and sprint mentality when conducting a race.

We didn't see that when the races for large prize money and visiting jockeys were running.

PuntingTragic · December 2013

Whats the market Darren sharpens up this Wednesday on the minors someone would have tipped him of about this thread

RIO · December 2013

PuntingTragic said:
Whats the market Darren sharpens up this Wednesday on the minors someone would have tipped him of about this thread

ZERO...NIL....ZILCH..dmac is one of lifes top blokes and to be honest...he does it his way..Yes i complain about it as much as anyone, but that is how he is..

I would love to be wrong but if he was that thin skinned that he listened to the advice others gave him(on public forums, about how to call races)...he would have stopped calling years ago...

Nice thought though

PuntingTragic · December 2013

RIO said:

PuntingTragic said:
Whats the market Darren sharpens up this Wednesday on the minors someone would have tipped him of about this thread

ZERO...NIL....ZILCH..dmac is one of lifes top blokes and to be honest...he does it his way..Yes i complain about it as much as anyone, but that is how he is..
I would love to be wrong but if he was that thin skinned that he listened to the advice others gave him...he would have stopped calling years ago...
Nice thought though

I reckon he will focus on the minors more myself this Wednesday critics can get to anyone he does seem a very nice guy don't know the bloke myself but presents very well

SLIPPERGOLDEN · December 2013

Amyquil said: lick said:Dungy, suggest you stick to your profession, obviously you are grammar teacher. Your remarks are wafer thin when you resort to such suggestions (re Pike).
By the way, its etc, not ect.

By the way Lick it is you are a grammar teacher not you are grammar teacher

AceV · December 2013

He may well be the nicest bloke on the planet but he is the worst caller in the country - Hilton Donaldson included.

This feeble suggestion of "if you think you can do better then throw your hat in the ring" is nonsense. If a defence lawyer, garbo, surgeon or checkout chick made the same glaringly obvious mistakes that this joker makes on a weekly basis then they would find themselves either formally warned or at worse given the sack. Why is D-Mac immune to any such sanction/s?

DamienWyer · December 2013

Please don't be under the impression that those in the was once called Racing mainstream media, don't react to social media.

The majority just cut and paste. What irks me, is the obvious cash for comment editorials. How some people can actually get drawn into these ideas, as being those of an independent commentator, is genuinely surprising.

PuntingTragic · December 2013

Ace V said:
He may well be the nicest bloke on the planet but he is the worst caller in the country - Hilton Donaldson included.

This feeble suggestion of "if you think you can do better then throw your hat in the ring" is nonsense. If a defence lawyer, garbo, surgeon or checkout chick made the same glaringly obvious mistakes that this joker makes on a weekly basis then they would find themselves either formally warned or at worse given the sack. Why is D-Mac immune to any such sanction/s?

We should have a phantom race call comp ala x factor bet there is some rippers out there I did one on Media Puzzles cup was fun and yes I called Media Puzzle over the line first 24 hrs before he won beat that D Mac

bookielover · December 2013

Just a few more comments from me in more than 25 words on this topic.

Firstly, no one is immune to criticism when being paid from the public purse.

Be it Andrew Demetriou who's income is paid by football supporters, be it our Politicians who are paid from our taxes, or be it race-callers who are paid from the taxes taken out of punters dollars.

Secondly, the fact that we the general public do not have the necessary skills to do the job of the person or persons that we are criticising, or more to the point, of whom we are expressing an opinion, does not mean that it disqualifies us from giving a critique. Especially when we pay the wage of those we are criticising.

Every day of our lives, we comment on the inadequacies of our Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists, Teachers, Politicians, Actors, Major Companies, family members, and yes, even race-callers, and that's only some of those who receive our wrath from time to time.

Sometimes our anger or criticism is warranted, sometimes not, who hasn't been to a movie and given a critique, be it good or bad, when leaving the theatre.

DM, like every race caller has got a tough job.

Is it tougher than a brain surgeon trying to remove a malignant tumour from a brain? You be the judge.

Each field of endeavour carries with it varying degrees of difficulty.

Accurately calling racehorses, is one of the more difficult professions, that is why over the last 80 years, compared with every other profession, so few have actually learnt the craft, let alone be able to master it.

In my humble opinion, DM has mastered his craft, BUT, he cannot keep falling for the trap of providing commentary about the significance or otherwise of a horse winning a race, until after the race is over.

The Falcon, said in his post, that his father would provide colour Commentary BEFORE a race to fill in time, and AFTER a race spoke for about 10 minutes about the owners, etc.

That's the difference between DM and Falcons dad.

I love colour commentary during a race as much as anyone.

Bert Bryant, had the best colour commentary ever. He's hanging like granny's tooth, he's big and weak like a boarding house cup of tea, he's seeing more tails than Hoffman, they are spread out like Brown's cows, and so on, great stuff during the race, but at the business end it was all business. He told you what won, ran second and third.

After the race if a bolter won, he'd say that the bookies will need an extra Mayne Nickless truck to take the money home. I know my old man never needed one!!

As a poster said, he, the poster doesn't think that DM will change his style. But he should.

There are two types of criticism, constructive and destructive.

If DM does read this, I sincerely hope that he will see the criticisms razed here as constructive not destructive. At the end of the day, it's up to him if he takes on board that which has been written here.

Without trying to sound patronising, I really do believe DM to rate right up there with Greg Miles as the two callers that are just behind Mark Shean. Shean is number one because he doesn't do what DM and Greg do.

In Greg's case it's anything to do with Ollie.

There's an old saying, always try and learn from the best and aim to become better than they are.

It's too late for Greg Miles who was very good but has gone backwards in recent years, with one of the reasons being that which I have commented on. He has had a wonderful career, but it is coming to an end. Hopefully, Darren has got many good years in front of him.

He should know that there is nothing wrong in aspiring to, and becoming the best in Australia. I hope he has the desire to be number one, and if he does, I wish him luck in that endeavour.

dungy · December 2013

lick said:
Oh please!

Darren is an excellent caller, paints the picture, creates atmosphere, good voice. If there are any (perceived) glitches or not, is it the end of the world, nobody dies, gives us something to talk about. Has respect from every other main caller in Australia and Sky.

Only Barry the Cougar can say "I thought I was wrong once, but I made a mistake".

It sounds like some of you would prefer a computer generated commentary, with absolute accuracy, no personal comments.

We are blessed to have characters such as Wes and Darren (and Richie when he fills in). They also have their frustrations with wall to wall racing - after a big race in which everyone would like to hear more, its off to the third at Toowoomba - must drive them nuts at times.

For those that haven't tried it, try learning and remembering 14 colours and names every 35 minutes, even if you do see most of them every week or two. The race book doesn't always do the job, generally you only have the time from mount up to circling behind the barriers.

Most race callers have wanted to do nothing else from since they were kids - DM included.

Ohhhh how sweet you sure you don't hide up in the box with him maybe under his desk
:)

Radman · December 2013

Have you ever walked into the toilet with your mini Ipad, log onto perthturftalk.com, and then got enthralled in a long and pointless thread for so long that both your legs go to sleep? You then try to stand up but have to lean on the door, slowing, painfully lifting each leg, trying to get the blood flow back into them. Then finally you manage to walk (like a 95 year old ex-jockey) to the bathroom sink.

This just happened to me...

PuntingTragic · December 2013

Who takes there I pad into the dunny lol

Lady_Luck · December 2013

Really enjoy DM's calls find him easy to listen to and keep up with. Can walk into a race half way thru and you will find your horse in running very easily thanks to DM. He and big Wes are a great team, make good listening on Sat morning.

Flick on the foxtel at different times and the voices and quality of callers else where is poor, hard to understand, it's hard to find your horse and it loses your interest quickly, we really are lucky but some people are never happy no matter what they have already.

Keep up the good work DM, I enjoy your work.

PuntingTragic · December 2013

Lets all get the violins out an sing Kum by ah say it like it is hundreds of wrong calls are well not wrong over the years

Turn it up

Rodent · December 2013

Lady Luck, you rightly point out DM's strengths. He has a talent that can't be taught. The thing is, his main weakness isn't from lack of ability. It's an attitude. If DM ever chooses to make positions 2, 3 and 4 a priority, he'll be that much better. I find the blase attitude to the minors arrogant and disrespectful to all the punters whose bets are reliant on those spots. They are entitled to an accurate description of the finish.

Legless · December 2013

:-w Pinjarra R9 =))

Piston_Broke · December 2013

Ace V said:
He may well be the nicest bloke on the planet but he is the worst caller in the country - Hilton Donaldson included.

This feeble suggestion of "if you think you can do better then throw your hat in the ring" is nonsense. If a defence lawyer, garbo, surgeon or checkout chick made the same glaringly obvious mistakes that this joker makes on a weekly basis then they would find themselves either formally warned or at worse given the sack. Why is D-Mac immune to any such sanction/s?

your an idiot

loco · December 2013

Legless said:

:-w Pinjarra R9 =))

I nose ..

thefalcon · December 2013

...by a nose by a nose...in a bunched field with a length seperating the first 9 or 10.

now some dipstick is going to criticise DM for not getting it right....

X(

Legless · December 2013

thats why i :-w falc >:) =))

I needed to blow the photo up to pick it

Rodent · December 2013

the falcon said:
...by a nose by a nose...in a bunched field with a length seperating the first 9 or 10.

now some dipstick is going to criticise DM for not getting it right....
X(

The only criticism would be that he forgot the colours of the winner.....he could see the horse and got it confused with Culprit (similar colours). It seemed like an eternity waiting for him to spit out "Tiff's Special". Maybe he was scrolling down the racebook looking for it and he lucked out in that it was #16 :))

G'day Punter!

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