Close finishes

Sheldon is boss wen he's calling them home.
He gives more vibe to the commentary.knws his colours well and seldom makes mistakes!
Nico also very good.

Sheldons famous lines.

"The coo has been landed"
"Ring out the cash registers"
"The boys can do the banking"

years ago.... when we first started getting visuals from the racecourse, think via a co. called IGN, Graeme Hawkins could call it like no other. He used to spot them from his tower. This was before the days of on-course presenters. Tipped many a winner just by judging the canter pass

mvp Wrote:

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> Sheldon is top class,he makes every race he calls
> exciting for the viewer

mvp (and others)... I accept Sheldon is learning the trade and apparently is a very hard working guy. My personal opinion is that he is being asked to do too much and seemingly is willing to take it all on. I fear he will become a jack of all trades and a master of none. They should concentrate in making him very good at one aspect, whether that be commentary, research or presenting/selecting. His commentary shows worrying traits and the reason I chose your comment to quote mvp is that I don't need a commentator to make the commentary exciting, the race will do that on its own, I just want him to tell me what is going on. I don't want to hear these descriptive images about torpedoes, goose pimples, paint scrapings and a trillion other examples I could give. I just want to know where my horse is running, who is running on from the back, who is under a ride etc. That is the art of commentating, as someone mentioned above, a la Peter O'Sullivan. I don't need them to tell me a story beyond what is happening, I can go to the cinema for that. I try hard not to criticise him because I do believe he works hard etc but if he ever wants to be a really good commentator then he should simply commentate and forget trying to make a race exciting. I am sure you are the same, but no amount of his fluffy words matter when I am watching my 50/1 idiot coming to overtake the fav in the last 50... I am doing my own screaming so can't hear him anyway! For me, this is positive feedback not criticism.

For me, no question, Graeme 'Hawkeye' Hawkins, by far, the best race caller we have ever had, even going back to the days of the Duffields and Denman. I don't listen to the current crop much, so won't comment.

What about the regular caller @ Woodbine in Canada? When they jump from the gate, and he shouts 'they're off', it comes out more like 'they're awwrrrffff'! Sounds like he's just been gelded with a blunt teaspoon! -

I really enjoy Sheldons calling especially when I'm on the winner, Smiley Moosa was also very good

"... it's tickets and tax ..."

Duffield and Trevor Denman were good - did not think that Eric Denman was that good - better than all the subsequent callers in SA

I am with Englander on this one. These modern day commentators (prima donna's) think they wax lyrical but instead suffer from verbal diahorea, just as some of the tipsters do as well. Just call how the race is being run.

But then it is the sign of the times with the buzz words in all walks of life, some might enjoy it

fogwils Wrote:

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> I am with Englander on this one. These modern day
> commentators (prima donna's) think they wax
> lyrical but instead suffer from verbal diahorea,
> just as some of the tipsters do as well. Just call
> how the race is being run.
>
> But then it is the sign of the times with the buzz
> words in all walks of life, some might enjoy it

agree 10000%

Sheldon is actually brilliant as a commentator. If you cant see that then tough. You just need to listen to some of these upstarts commentating at Flamingo. They can call the winner 200metres out, but listen to what they choose to call as running o for 2nd and third, and then wait to see what actually runs 2nd and 3rd. Often times, never mentioned. But I guess, thats beyond the observations of most people, so they'd rather pick on Sheldon, who calls a bit enthusiastically, but incredibly accurate.

Thor Wrote:

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> Sheldon is actually brilliant as a commentator. If
> you cant see that then tough. You just need to
> listen to some of these upstarts commentating at
> Flamingo. They can call the winner 200metres out,
> but listen to what they choose to call as running
> o for 2nd and third, and then wait to see what
> actually runs 2nd and 3rd. Often times, never
> mentioned. But I guess, thats beyond the
> observations of most people, so they'd rather pick
> on Sheldon, who calls a bit enthusiastically, but
> incredibly accurate.

I'll be in the "tough" camp then cos I certainly see him as way way way off "brilliant", and I think he suffers the same disease you mention regarding those running on into places. Brilliant??? lol but of course, each to their own -