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Cancelling should be illegal
I feel the opposite of you Irv. This is actually a pet peeve of mine and I've mentioned it before.. The announcer is there to help the public and describe the situation. Not announcing if a horse is breaking before the start is not fulfilling this obligation. Other things can be going on at home, or you could be handicapping another race, or multitasking on your computer and not paying full attention. Jimmy B. at Pocono is notorious for not calling a breaking horse before the start. He also sometimes won't mention a horse going off stride during the race. It's almost like he doesn't want to or can't interrupt the flow of his constant babbling to try to inform the public. He has time to make his sly little quips during the race, he should also be able to inform the public about breakers. It is often hard to see which horse broke during a race for the public. At least he gives you a little warning when the race is going to start so you can check for yourself. The new guy at The Meadows hardly gives you any notice before they start. The best I've seen at announcing breakers on time before and during a race was Joe Alto when he was announcing in California. He could do it during a race right away and intertwine it seamlessly with the calling of the race .
Should an announcer call that a horse is breaking behind the starting gate before the race starts or should they only call a breaking horse after the race has started? I say only after the race starts. I ask this because as an online better I keep a close watch on my horses before the race starts and am ready to cancel a bet if I see mine breaking. However, if someone betting is lazy and not prepared to cancel their bet if their animal is breaking I say they do not deserve any help from the announcer! What are your thoughts?
Sure. If it's your job to know what's going on why announce it at all. Why even have an announcer.
My responsibility, as an announcer, first and foremost, is to that fan who puts his money down, and gets every break that I can find to make that race productive, for him.And that means calling breaking horses before the start, horses not getting up to the gate, horses getting boxed, getting interfered with, even inside pylons.I want you to win, and come back.I once got in trouble for calling a 3-5 shot as sulking, and not wanting to go. The trainer called just as the race ended, chewing me out because his owners, who had travelled a long way to see their horse, didn’t want to hear that he sulked. The fans needed that reason.I asked the trainer if I should have said the driver gave him a bad steer? Or the trainer didn’t get him ready? I gave them both an out. Both driver and trainer were #1 in stats.The point being, the fan needs to know.And, if I can give an edge, like calling breakers before the start, I am going to do it.I do hope that makes sense to you.Marty AdlerFormer track announcer,Windsor RacewayHazel Park Raceway
God Bless you Marty,around these parts you truly are a living legend! Stay well,"It's that man again! Richard Caroll
