Ken Warkentin's stupid comment

[albitchross]

Carmine Abbatiello is an all time great and he only has one Levy Pace win -- no other stakes to mention

[gh2009]

Carmine was an all-time great on the Yonkers/Roosevelt circuit but rarely drove elsewhere. The all-time greats drive everywhere, including the Grand Circuit, Carmine never did.

[remington]

Carmine made a small fortune racing at Yonkers/Roosevelt he didn't have to chase money on the Grand Circuit. He could drove on the Grand Circuit if he choose too but he didn't.

[gh2009]

Back in those days, the Grand Circuit horses were trained and driven by themselves, catch drivers were almost non-existent in those races.

[gh2009]

Carmine made a small fortune racing at Yonkers/Roosevelt he didn't have to chase money on the Grand Circuit. He could drove on the Grand Circuit if he choose too but he didn't.

Carmine's best year earnings wise was 3.3 million in 1978, which lead the nation, not exactly a small fortune, but good for back them, and his career earnings were 50 million, Herve's were 85 million.

[Brown jug]

$165 k just from the 5% drivers fee in 1978 , not bad
you could buy 2-3 houses with that

[Grandstand Handicapper]

"hall  of famer" Ken Warkentin could be the most overrated guy in the sport. Average announcer who
thinls he's top of the line. Makes stupid ass comments every night. And Dave Little thinks he's godsgift.
Fact of the matter is, Hes not.

Just to get clarity...it's the opinion of the matter. Your opinion. That's the only fact here.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Carmine Abbatiello is an all time great and he only has one Levy Pace win -- no other stakes to mention

Carmine was an all-time great on the Yonkers/Roosevelt circuit but rarely drove elsewhere. The all-time greats drive everywhere, including the Grand Circuit, Carmine never did.

Actually, Carmine won George Morton Levy (twice, I think, but I'd have to check on that), the Lawrence Sheppard Pace, the American National, and several other stakes. People don't remember when Carmine decided to travel a big and try some grand circuit driving. He did more than fine. The grand circuit back then was extremely different than today. The grand circuit back then was still not predominantly dominated by catch drivers. Carmine did not like to travel. He didn't see the need for it. He was very focused on his family. He always said he'd rather make X staying in NY than twice X traveling around the country...because X was plenty of money for him to be happy and financially successful.

Regardless, please, just point out anyone who doubts whether Carmine could compete on the grand circuit. I'll add that name to the list of people to ignore.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Carmine made a small fortune racing at Yonkers/Roosevelt he didn't have to chase money on the Grand Circuit. He could drove on the Grand Circuit if he choose too but he didn't.

He's in the Hall of Fame. I guess only being great in NY didn't hurt his chances of getting into the Hall.

[gh2009]

I'm not arguing with him not being a great driver and Hall of Famer, my point was most of his wins were in NY, and the purses were good back then too and Grand Circuit catch drives were few and far between, so why bother. There are a few drivers in the Hall of Fame who I don't think belong but they're in because of a few great horses they drove, not because they were great drivers. Clint Galbraith is a perfect example. Meadowlands wasn't around yet during the majority of Carmine's career, so New York was the place to be.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

In 1976...the only year Carmine "regularly" drove at the Meadowlands...and I hesitantly use the word "regularly"...Carmine finished in the top 5 of all drivers...and he did so with about 40% to 50% less drives than every driver who finished ahead of him. Three drivers who finished ahead of him had big stables of their own, plus did catch driving, and the leading driver that year was Buddy Gilmour, who (had his own stable, and) had more than twice as many drives as Carmine. Buddy Gilmour of course is in the Hall of Fame. The Meadowlands was populated by a lot of Canadians who used Buddy Gilmour, Greg Wright, Ray Remmen, and other Canadian drivers.

[remington]

Another thing Carmines earnings do not show how much was made at the parimutuel windows.

[mgriffin]

Been watching the Big M for 30+ years.
I think Ken does a good job, but has lost his fastball.
Some of the other points here, not calling a finish when it is clear and obvious. Spot on with that.
Race 6 this past Saturday, when they are going torrid fractions and you can see Brett Beckwith with a load of steam in the lane at big odds and he never gets into the racecall for that. That is something that you should be emphasizing in your call and he did it so casually like the drive that Brett gave the horse.
It's almost like he is using the Winter as his pre-season for the Spring/Summer, which is a shame cause he can be better, but chooses not to be or maybe has lost his fastball a bit. Again, really have enjoyed his calls over the years, but the last couple have made me wonder.