It's hard to believe that a week from today, we will be hearing the legendary Tom Durkin's voice for the final time at a racetrack. While many will do better recaps of his careers then I will, this post is just to share some of my thoughts on how he indirectly got me thorough my teenage years, and early adulthood. Please note that this will be a bit of a long post I will be talking about 10 years worth of races.
The first time I heard Tom's voice was on NBC, it was June of 2002 and it was a Saturday afternoon. I was just about to end my 8th grade year at the first school I had gone to in Delaware. Finding the Belmont coverage got my interest. Sadly, once War Emblem stumbled at the beginning of the race, I changed the channel. When I changed it back, Sarava had won.
The next year was when the racing bug had started to take it's roots in me. I was still just a causal fan, but Funny Cide is credited for bringing me into the sport. This was also the race where the nickname The Gutsy Gelding was created.
Here is his Derby win:
and his Jockey Club Gold Cup from 2004
2004 was Smarty Jones mania hit hard, especially where I lived since after all... it was the same area where he was from. However, my favorite horse that year was Smarty's stablemate Rockport Harbor. The latter is also credited for my first foray into forums which turned into Facebook and Twitter.
His Remsen win
2005 was the year of Alex, Foggy and Liam (Afleet Alex, Lost in the Fog and Saint Liam).
Classic
King's Bishop
Belmont
At this point of my life my interest in horse racing went from casual (although I had started to watch the preps for the Derby) to die hard.
2006 I was graduating from high school and at the same time Barbaro who like Alex the year before had a great chance in the Derby. That Derby call for NBC will likely be one of my favorite Derby calls of all time.
Of course what would happen to him two weeks later would be heartbreaking. Tom had lost being the voice of the Breeders' Cup to Trevor Denman as BC rights went to ESPN. Still we got to his voice for Bernardini's final win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
2007 will go down as my favorite Triple Crown series (yes more than Funny Cide's) as all three winners where great. However, Rags to Riches' "A Filly in the Belmont!" win was my favorite of the three,
And at Saratoga with a horse who I had followed before he even made a start, Hard Spun.
2008 was the year of Eight Belles, and honestly my mind was else ware. My dad was diagnosed with cancer in April and spent my mom's birthday in the hospital. I was able however to watch Tale of Ekati win the Wood in the waiting room.
2009 after a year battle, my dad had passed away. I was seriously thinking of leaving racing all together. Even though my dad wasn't a huge racing fan, he was okay with my passion for it. Then I remembered a filly that I was following because we shared a first name. Little did I know how good that Rachel Alexandra would be.
Her Oaks win
and Woodward win
2010 would be the final time he would call the Derby which was won by Super Saver. He however had the great honor in calling the rivalry that was Havre de Grace and Blind Luck in the Alabama.
2011, Grace would return to Saratoga to win the Woodward.
2012 Tom would be denied the chance to call a Triple Crown when I'll Have Another would be scratched from the Belmont, but he still had a great Travers call
2013 the Princess defeated the Queen in the Beldame (Princess of Sylmar and Royal Delta)
While Tonalist denied California Chrome the Triple Crown, there are several great races to go in Tom's career. Here is his last Travers call which was won by V.E. Day
The Woodward, Forego and Spinaway will be the final 3 Grade 1's he will call. Hopefully NYRA will name a stakes race for him to be run next year.
We'll miss you Tom, the following is possibly his best call, the 1995 Classic.
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