Which province (has the worst race caller)

Karel Miedema Wrote:

---

> the old commentators certainly knew how to paint a
> picture when races were not televised and you
> listened on the radio
>
> Pirates,
>
> That's exactly the point.
> Technology has changed.
> So should the commentators.
> Everyone (95% at least) watches the broadcast -
> it's the commentator's job to enhance what the
> viewer already sees (and often the viewer sees
> things the commentator misses!).
>
> The Mauritius commentating by Shaheen is a good
> example of how it can be done.
>
> There isn't a single SA commentator who does that
> routinely.
> They should dump their binoculars and call from
> the screen.
> It'll make things a whole lot better to follow
> (and will put pressure on giving us better
> camera-work, too).
>
> (my biggest irritation is in largish fields, when
> the commentator takes ages to go through the whole
> field, and has no idea what's happening upfront).


Spot on - It reminds me of die hard cricket fans that wish to remain stuck in the dark ages when technology is there that can assist the umpire(race caller) but some guys will not improve no matter what you do

I must not post after happy hour on a Wed, getting back to the question PE is the answer by far.

Good point on binoculars, remember we all had them, in fact have 2 pairs in the cupboard, at the track theses days possibly only 10 pairs max?

One for the commentator

Dumpy is garbage..

Shan Ip is awful

Sheldon is ok but when he starts using terms like bullseye! i turn off, his father is much better..

Graeme Hawkins still brilliant can recall some wonderful commmentaries from him in the late 80's / 90's

Rouvaun Smit..no good, sounds like hes calling bingo.

Jehan Malherbe very good.

I used to love Eric Denman..

Hows does one go about being a commentator...not at easy to get into unless you are a supporter of nepotism.

After every race which is important to me, I go to the tabonline website and download the race commentary mp3 and load it onto my ipod.

Often reliving races such as The Durban July, Summer Cup, Computaform Sprint and the Gold Challenge.

Its a bit of a weird fettish but hell I enjoy listening to the last 300 meters of a grade 1

For example:

The Apaches in the middle, Dancewiththedevil came from nowhere and Ilsanpietro .......... Dancewiththedevil is motoring home, Rudra is on the extreme outside, Ilsanpietro, Dancewiththedevil, Rudra, Ilsanpietro, they go to the line, Dancewiththedevil pulled off the Summer Cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they dance with the devil, she came from last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew it seems most guys are happy with moderate callers. Glad there are a few guys that differ

Clyde Basel - 1st class
Graeme Hawkins - 1st class
Ngong Ngong and Zim obviously diabolical
Craig Peters - Very Good
Sheldon - Would have given him a very good but his preference for horses he's backed can get annoying


Alistair Cohen - Terrible , cant bear his race calls and a poor reader on horses travelling.
Johan Malherbe - Pretty good
Rouvoiun Smit - Gets the basics right but has no real feel for the game.
Dumpy - Appaling
Shaheen - Below average
Nico Kristiotis - Awful

Magi,

fyi his nickname is Bumpy.Derived from the way he danced/dances and given to him by his brother.

Not sure about the worst,but Ali Cohen is a very fine commentator.Imo a good few lengths ahead of the rest despite his youth.

he has only been calling for a rew months and is getting better and better all the time .
Keep it up !

A while ago I spent a race in the commentary box at Kempton with Richard Hoiles. I was impressed because you have to be sharp and on the ball to do the job well.

During the race he kept an eye on the different camera angles and was able to switch them. I was startled to see how accurate he was compared to many of the races I've seen, and race watching is not one of my strengths at all.

Here you can often see that what the commentator is calling is out of sync with what is actually happening as the go past a camera that gets a proper side on. Often they call the inside horse a length clear and it isnt even in front.

A real giveaway is a top view sometimes broadcaste for big races. When someone who gives a shit sees how cheap GPS technology and similar has made real-time timing maybe we can give our commentators the proper tools for the job.

Having said that, if money is the problem, I bet we could find a sponsor! Does anyone know if "we" are even looking into proper times and real-time monitoring, or are we still pissing into the wind like a third world country? (paraphrase the UK article)