MY CALL - THE COMMENTATING CONUNDRUM. WHO IS THE BEST RACECALLER? HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING?

By David Fowler | Tuesday, December 29, 2015

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

I had to chuckle when some were lauding Alan Thomas as Queensland’s best racecaller after he “called” it a day last Saturday.

It’s a bit rich they were the same people giving Wayne Wilson the same cherry on top five and a half years ago. Fair dinkum!

Now they’ve both left the stage. One passed and one retiring to a new venture.

Their voices competed for the punters’ dollar for nearly 20 years.

Yes, they were rivals of sorts. One (Wilson) worked for Tatts and the other (Thomas) for Tabcorp.

Their professional rivalry wasn’t soothed by an “off mike” friendship. They were never close yet not sworn enemies like many assumed.

But an incident in 2001 put paid to any potential hope of a friendship.

I became involved and fair to say none of us covered ourselves in glory. That’s a story for another day.

But to Thomas’ credit he shook Wilson’s hand before his last race description and attended his funeral.

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Who was the better caller? Difficult question.

Wilson will always be remembered for his dashing voice and exciting descriptions.

Thomas is acknowledged for his unswerving accuracy and a bond with the punter in the pub.

Wilson, the showman, Thomas, the straight shooter, you could say.

Wilson’s flair ensured he snared more publicity (think Rough Habit, Chief De Beers) but also polarised opinion (think 2002 Melbourne Cup broadcast).

Thomas was so consistent he was somewhat taken for granted.

To steal a quote from a colleague, “Punters like their breakfast served up the same way” and that’s what Thomas delivered.

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Much was made of the emotion surrounding Thomas’ last call on Saturday.

True, it was genuine and heartfelt, but how quickly some forget that Wilson was afforded the same warmth by a bigger crowd at Eagle Farm in August 2010.

I have no intention of comparing one to the other although it’s no secret I was closer to Wilson.

Suffice to say an impressive chapter of Queensland race calling has closed.

We can consider ourselves lucky we could enjoy two contrasting styles at the same time.

And so a new chapter begins.

The tables are turned somewhat as I take the veteran’s mantle with Josh Fleming the new kid on the block.

And while some of even my own colleagues just don’t “get it”, that rivalry of old will continue.

I’ll promote Ubet as much as Josh will push the Tabcorp bandwagon.

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I read racing forums quite a bit, primarily to gather news and gauge opinion.

Opinions on racecallers generally astound me for more than one reason.

The vitriol hurled (think Greg Miles) on occasions amazes me.

Yet some racecallers I would either put in the average or annoying category are praised regularly. I just shake my head.

The moral of the story is that the world is about opinion and choice and everyone has an equal right to casting both.

Even if you don’t like what they say.

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