In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

It’s Hambletonian week!  No, the Thorobros have not started covering the Trotters.   Believe it or not, there is a Hambletonian-Tom Durkin connection.  In addition to being the greatest thoroughbred race caller of all time, Tom Durkin also called the 1989 Hambletonian — which happens to be the most exciting Hambletonian finish ever.

The 1989 Hambletonian was the first Hambletonian to ever end in a dead heat.  Tom Durkin’s call — climaxing with his trademark “Too close to call!” — was typically perfect.  Even for those of us who are more inclined to like the heart pounding, pulsating action of a thoroughbred stretch drive, the battle between Probe and Park Avenue Joe down to the wire in the richest harness race in America is great to watch.  Having Tom Durkin describe the action makes it that much better…

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It’s Monday.  Ugh.

But there is a silver lining to every black cloud.  This isn’t your average bleak Monday on the horse racing calendar – today there is a Grade II stake  at Saratoga.  Today’s card features the 23rd running of the Honorable Miss Handicap.  This year’s renewal includes some classy fillies, such as La Verdad, My Wandy’s Girl, and Speedinthruthecity.  The Thorobros have never been afraid of a price, however, and our Monday Honorable Miss bonus Thorobros pick of the day is the Mott-trainee Calistoga, at a juicy 8/1 on the morning line (note: this pick is based in part on the fact that the most fun wedding that this Thorobro has ever attended occurred in Calistoga, CA.  Shout out to George and Megan).

I know what you are saying — this series isn’t about your loser picks.  And you’re right.  It’s about Tom Durkin.  Luckily, one doesn’t have to reach very far back into the archives to find a great Durkin call in the Honorable Miss.  Just last year, Dance To Bristol threaded her way through a salty field of 3YO filly sprinters to nail Classic Point on the wire.

Nobody calls a close horse race with a dramatic finish like Tom Durkin.  The 2013 Honorable Miss Handicap was no exception.  The Thorobros still have not forgiven Dance To Bristol for absolutely torching our combined money in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint, but that is a different story for a different day.  In the meantime, enjoy today’s edition of 40 Days of Durkin:

P.S.  Good luck to everyone taking the bar exam tomorrow and through the rest of the week, including one of the Thorobros.  You will all be able to re-join society just in time for the star-studded weekend action at the Spa.

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In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

In 2001, television coverage of the Kentucky Derby moved from ABC to NBC.  Though that change did not impact the fundamental glamor, prestige or status of the race itself, it did have one important consequence — Tom Durkin would be calling the race to a national TV audience.

Durkin took over from Dave Johnson, who had called the race for ABC since 1987.  Fortuitously, the 2001 renewal of the Kentucky Derby turned out to be a race that allowed Tom Durkin to display the full range of his unsurpassed race-calling ability.  The first half-mile was the fastest half mile in Kentucky Derby history, as the field rounded the far turn “the pent-up power of Point Given” loomed large, “Jorge Chavez got busy on Monarchos” as the field hit the top of the stretch, and  three quarters went in 1:09 and 1.  The call did not end as Monarchos drew away to a commanding win, however.  The final time was 1:59 and 4/5, eliciting a final exclamation from Tom Durkin which was the perfect capstone to an incredible Run for the Roses.

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In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Today is the 51st renewal of the Jim Dandy Stakes (GII) at Saratoga.  Named after the 100-1 shot who famously beat Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the 1930 Travers Stakes, the Jim Dandy is the local prep, and at least recently the most successful prep race, for the Travers.

Many great horses have won the Jim Dandy over the course of its 50 years, including Street Sense, Bernardini, Awesome Again, Thunder Rumble, Conquistador Cielo, Affirmed and Arts and Letters.  Today we look at the 2002 edition of the Dandy, which was won in dominating fashion in something of a coming out party by Medaglia D’Oro.  Medaglia D’Oro, who had come in second in the Belmont in his prior race, would go on to win the Travers and come in second to longshot Volponi in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Listen to Tom Durkin call Medaglia D’Oro’s dominant victory in a race that was marred by a nasty spill involving Thorobro-favorite Richard Migliore below:

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In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Racing has seen many ideas aimed at increasing the visibility and popularity of the sport come and go over the years.  We almost exclusively focus on the bad, stupid or downright silly ones.  One idea that has worked fantastically is the Breeders’ Cup.  Proposed by John Gaines at the awards luncheon during the 1982 Kentucky Derby Festival, the Breeders’ Cup has grown into the second or third biggest event on the racing calendar (depending on whether or not there is a Triple Crown on the line at the Belmont).

Prior to the Inaugural Breeders’ Cup in 1984, they needed a track announcer.  In what turned out to be a stroke of genius, they passed over more established candidates and bigger names to hire Tom Durkin, who had been calling the races at Hialeah and other tracks like Florida Downs  and Balmoral Park.  For the next 21 years, Tom Durkin was the TV voice of the Breeders’ Cup.

Today, 40 Days of Durkin looks back at the first Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which Wild Again outdueled “the big horse” Slew O’Gold and Gate Dancer in an epic race that set the tone for the future of the Breeders’ Cup.

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