[QUOTE=Indy-lou;4065864]
Methinks Birdstone’s stud fee just went up a tad…[/QUOTE]
I was thinking the same; wonder how much it’ll be?
And BTW, HRH Avery would not only have left the area by any means necessary if people started hugging him, but he would have left a trail of destruction and property damage/bodily injury lawsuits in his wake. NOT necessarily the way you want to finish your Derby day! 
Is there a video somewhere of the blimp view of the race?
[QUOTE=DLee;4065965]
Did anyone besides me feel like it was not a well called race? As in announcer? Alot of tripping over names, and certainly missing who Mine That Bird was for quite some time. Kind of surprising.[/QUOTE]
I agree.
It’s actually pretty funny - now that he won BIG. It’s P-E-R-F-E-C-T movie material. 
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;4065986]
Is there a video somewhere of the blimp view of the race?[/QUOTE]
msnbc.com has it on their video list
Exactly, we don’t know the horse, he may not like to be patted, cuddled,… at all.
I could never pat, hug, cuddle my TB, he would just bite you in the face, I had to learn to love him from a distance, and warm my own heart by watching him enjoy a treat, rather then being able to make fuss of him.
So, who knows, perhaps a be a similar with MTB.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;4065986]
Is there a video somewhere of the blimp view of the race?[/QUOTE]
Here ya go (have to sit through a 30-second hockey ad first though):
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/30538025#30539276
I just re-watched it this morning as I had to go out last night before they replayed it. What a great ride! That little horse finished like he was taking a hack in the park. Not sweated up, not foaming, ears forward, like “Hey, do I just keep going or what?” He even got the post-pony revved up!
Awesome. Very feel-good!
What I meant by ‘paying attention to the horse’ was, it seemed to me that the jockey and trainer didn’t SAY much about the horse. I do understand that some horses aren’t exactly cuddly. And the jockey’s ‘pat’ early on after the race was so hard and of a piece with the jockey bouncing around, I’m not sure you can tell the horse doesn’t want attention from his startled reaction.
If you are referring to Tom Durkin’s call for the tv viewers, then yes, I would agree that was not his best call.
Churchill announcer Mark Johnson’s call was smooth as silk (replay with his call is linked within this Blood Horse article.)
[QUOTE=DLee;4065965]
Did anyone besides me feel like it was not a well called race? As in announcer? Alot of tripping over names, and certainly missing who Mine That Bird was for quite some time. Kind of surprising.[/QUOTE]
I agree.
Was not impressed w/the announcing at all.
Now on the other hand, that little horse can
ROCK N ROLL!
Good riding too.
Uhmm…that was what they call a jockey’s race, dear.
I dare say both the jockey and the trainer were aware of that.
In the world of mega bucks, polished, well rehearsed, big money guys in 3k suits touting bazillion dollar yearling purchases they recommended horsey syndicates and hedge funds purchase and sideline stories about basic deadbeats in the business and shots of the bimbos making inane, ignorant comments…something racing really, really needed was a breath of fresh air.
They got it with a horse the damn race caller had to look up as he pulled away from the rest. A rare mistake even in a cheap claiming race and shame on him.
Yet we have those who want to pick and find fault because these new to the spotlight connections were not as glib or media savy as the been there done that what did you expect set.
Must we place blame here?
Honest and hard working people who did everything right deserve better then internet nit picking.
[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4066118]
If you are referring to Tom Durkin’s call for the tv viewers, then yes, I would agree that was not his best call.
Churchill announcer Mark Johnson’s call was smooth as silk (replay with his call is linked within this Blood Horse article.)[/QUOTE]
NBC made a mistake in having Durkin call the race, as Mark Johnson’s call was far superior. Johnson called MTB just as he broke through; Durkin was still waxing poetic about POTN when MTB was in front by 3. Johnson seems to be a really good race caller; hopefully the networks will pick up on that.
Wonder why he was gelded? Sure would make a lovely hunter!! Love his attitude, and did you see him walk? Let alone trot!! Thinking Hunter here.
Just saw Calvin in a short taped interview on ESPN. He gave the colt all the credit, then added the trainer in the next breath.
I read he was FAR too interested in the ladies to pay attention to his job.
You can say that again!!! :yes:
[QUOTE=iloverocky;4066142]
NBC made a mistake in having Durkin call the race, as Mark Johnson’s call was far superior. Johnson called MTB just as he broke through; Durkin was still waxing poetic about POTN when MTB was in front by 3. Johnson seems to be a really good race caller; hopefully the networks will pick up on that.[/QUOTE]
Johnson’s call was far better than Durkin’s. Durkin tripped over his own tongue a few times, and completely missed Calvin and Mine That Bird coming through on the rail; the horse was a good length and a half in front before Durkin got it.
Durkin’s a showboater on the race calls, something I don’t much care for anyway.
[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4066118]
If you are referring to Tom Durkin’s call for the tv viewers, then yes, I would agree that was not his best call.
Churchill announcer Mark Johnson’s call was smooth as silk (replay with his call is linked within this Blood Horse article.)[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I was wondering why NBC just didn’t use Mark’s call…? Weird.
Durkin sucks rocks. I’ve never understood what people see in that guy. Imagine if he had to call a race with 30+ runners.
Johnson is alright, not the greatest, but he stays on top of things.
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