MY CALL: CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON A WONDERFUL CAREER IN BROADCASTING. PAUL DOLAN TAKE A BOW.

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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.

The media landscape is great fodder for egos.

They collide like dodgem cars, a trend accelerated sharply by the advent of social media.

The racing media is no different in this day and age.

The pursuit of being the “best judge” or shouting his or her opinion the loudest with scant responsibility taken has become the norm.

Paul Dolan is not one of those people.

It would be misleading to describe him as “old school” because he has not resisted change over the decades.

He has adapted well to changing environments.

What has stood out to me is his reliability and his popularity.

I’ve often joked that he never has a sick day but, seriously speaking, his good health is remarkable.

That has enabled him to consistently deliver a strong workload in his broadcasting of greyhound and thoroughbred races.

And he’s been known to call a trot or two if required.

“Have binoculars, will travel” would be a more than appropriate motto.

Health aside, he has always been ready to come to the party. A team player.

His popularity stems from a number of fronts.

You’d have to have a long, hard look in the mirror if you couldn’t get on with Paul.

But his generous nature in offering his calling expertise, however small a club might be or how far away it was, knows no bounds.

Race clubs and committees don’t forget that sort of thing.

While he has been the voice of Queensland greyhound racing for several decades, he wouldn’t mind me saying he had a point to prove in the thoroughbred world.

No names, no pack drill, but he was pushing the proverbial you know what uphill to try and make an impact in the broadcast of TAB meets.

That break came with the Sunshine Coast appointment in 1998 and, I believe, gave him a new lease of life.

I’m delighted his swansong will be a thoroughbred event named in the honor of his good mate Pat O’Shea.

A significant chapter in Queensland race broadcasting history closes with his impending retirement.

Fortunately, he will still be a familiar face here, there and everywhere at our racetracks.

Congratulations Paul on a wonderful career in race broadcasting.

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