Thanks to Larry Collmus

[jerry]

He might have missed him but at least he didn\'t call him by the wrong name. This was beyond embarrassment. Where do they find these guys and what do they do for a day job?

[jerry]

And the 3.

[jerry]

True, but quietly replacing him would be.

[Dick Powell]

I had a colossal screw up on TV one morning at Saratoga. To make it worse, it was being simulcast on HRTV nation-wide. I wanted to go on the next day and apologize and the a-hole from NYCOTB TV didn\'t want me to. The next day, I told Joanne Jones that I wanted to apologize and don\'t care what he says. Joanne was good with it, I apologized for it and life went on. The feeling of dread is indescribable in it intensity. I feel bad for Larry. I had Adventist as a best bet and knew I was on the far outside and could not be the horse that he was calling on the rail. I give him credit for fessing up when he realized it.

[jma11473]

Strike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P-Dub Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Edgorman Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Race callers don\'t identify horses by saddle
> > cloth
> > > colors.
> > > They memorize the silks worn by the jocks.
> > > I\'m not a fan of Collmus, but I think it is a
> > very
> > > difficult profession.
> >
> > I\'m aware they identify silks, its easier to
> see
> > than saddle cloths which are often obstructed.
> >
> > However, going down the stretch, anyone
> watching
> > could clearly see the bright blue saddle cloth.
>
> For those of us in the color-blind club the #3
> (number) was pretty obvious as well. Collmus must
> have been looking at the numbers -- saddle cloths
> were so different -- white/bright blue. #3 was on
> the rail and the #2 was 5 wide. He realized his
> mistake when announcing the show horse who he just
> called as the place horse. Not piling on. I feel
> sorry for the guy. His pre-race handicapping
> probably got in the way not thinking an 81-1 would
> make the outcome close. Both horses were also
> moving from behind.

Except, again, announcers identify the horses by silks, not numbers or saddlecloths. Nothing to do with color blind or pre-race handicapping. Dirty and similar silks and a horse sneaking up the rail and he screwed up. He owned up to it. Life goes on.

[Strike]

Fair comment about the similarity in silks even though I previously mentioned my color blind handicap -- the silks were somewhat similar for the #\'s 2 and 3...

Durkin said he did 4 things to prepare for the race day calls --

1) Handicap the races.
2) Think of something to say.
3) Memorize the silks.
4) Pray he would not mess up.

You are correct -- he did not look at saddle cloths or numbers.

[jerry]

No knock against Larry\'s character, just his race calling. And true, one mistake doesn\'t make a career. I just don\'t like his style. Too much commentary. Just call the race and let us deal with the thrill.