Another Reminder

[The Diceman's Been]

I know this topic has been mentioned a number of times before, but it is timely to regurgitate it again.

I spent a few hours watching Trackside yesterday, and with the exception of George Simon, our presentation teams are seriously lacking in talent.

Whereas, I am currently watching the lads at Wimbleton, and here we have both Tim Henmen and Boris Becker in the commentary team providing a truly high class coverage. They speak from experience. Even a part time tennis follower like me can appreciate the insights they provide.

It's the same with cricket, rugby, golf and many other sports.

Surely, there HAS TO BE somebody in this terrific little country of ours who can take a leading role in our racing coverage.

Edited July 14, 2018 by The Diceman's Been

[hesi]

2 sports spring to mind that are very well served are Cricket and Rugby League, both with a number of very charismatic and accurate presenters who were former players at the top level.  Some of these guys like Greg Alexander and Nasser Hussain to name only a couple, don't miss a trick and give an insight into aspects of the game as they unfold.

So in Racing in NZ you need someone who has been involved at the coalface, that leaves either a jockey or a trainer, and that is where you draw a blank, I can't think of anyone, so we are stuck with some of the goof balls that present now

[Freda]

I recall Mark Sweeney in front of the camera at one stage ?  I thought he was excellent,  combining knowledge and an articulate manner.

Don't know whether he was ever offered a permanent spot though.

[mumbles]

What we are lacking is a lead moderator who is not afraid to stoke the fire when it needs to be.Unfortunately in the small racing community like NZ everybody seems to have a connection with somebody or something that needs to be criticised so we are hamstrung.

[Poisoned Dwarf]

A very incestuous family and nobody likes rocking the boat.

[hesi]

Having a look around, found this

 

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Glyn Tucker

Presenter

• Overview
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• Biography
•  
• Awards

Glyn Tucker was born in post World War I Wellington, to a Welsh miner Dad and English schoolteacher Mum. He learned to sing around the family piano and by 18 was crooning in the capital’s dance halls, where he was billed as “New Zealand’s Bing Crosby”. Tucker also performed during the interval at Wellington’s De Luxe Theatre (now the Embassy), accompanied by a Wurlitzer organ.

As a youth he represented Wellington at soccer and cricket. Later, Tucker’s first gig behind the microphone was reporting on the cricket, and he would go on to commentate international test matches for radio and television. “I would be watching it anyway,” as he told the Auckland Star in 1977.

In the late 30s, just out of college, he replaced a mate on the staff of the New Zealand Racing Conference, the body set up to control the horse-racing industry in NZ. And so Tucker opened the starting gate on a lifelong association with the gee-gees.

Tucker returned to the Conference after war service in Egypt. In 1952 he was appointed Keeper of the New Zealand Stud Book — the register of the births, deaths and marriages in the NZ racing world — a position he led until 1968. In the late 60s he was a recognised authority on thoroughbreds, and became an independent bloodstock consultant under the banner ‘Southern Cross Bloodstock Agency’. 

What did he look for in a horse? He told Alex Veysey in a 1977 Sunday Times profile: “They come in all shapes and sizes. They’re like humans. Look at Murray Halberg, When he ran he looked like an accident going to happen. But he won races.”

The same year he told the Auckland Star: “I am one of the lucky people who likes their work. I love horses and I loved the stud side of it. Perhaps more importantly I like the people I meet in horse racing.”

In the early 70s Tucker helped pioneer one of the first live racing telecasts in New Zealand, commenting from a tree platform at Ellerslie. In 1972 Tucker started radio show Straight Talk on Wellington’s 2ZB. It played on Friday nights for three years, and provided the segue into screen work for the man known as New Zealand’s ‘Mr Racing’. “I used to get letters and phone calls from all over the country. Then one day the television people waddled into my office and asked if I would do a programme on racing.” 

That programme became Turf Talk. The hour-long show was split into coverage of all things racing related, and a Game of Two Halves-style quiz between sports celebrities of the day. On Turf Talk he worked with a young Phillip Leishman. In a 2012 ScreenTalk interview Leishman described Tucker as “inimitable … an overpowering man, an amazing personality, loved his horses, knew everything about racing.” Leishman described himself as Tucker’s ‘little shadow’, hosting the quiz and tailing Tucker around race courses. “I just loved it.” 

Tucker’s genial gift of the gab — “she’ll stay all day like a mother-in-law” — made him telegenic and a sporting identity, and he went on to be punting pundit on Saturday morning TV1 sports preview show Sports Extra.  

A singing appearance on Ray Woolf-fronted chat show Two on One in 1977 led to viewer requests for more. Aged 54, Tucker moved from the turf to compering talent — from jugglers, jazz troupes and show girls to Kamahl and Suzanne Prentice — when he fronted TV variety show Everything is Beautiful. He became an idol for older viewers and even cut a record (Step Out and Sing) which went gold. In 1977 Tucker's place in Kiwi culture was indicated by him donning the big red suit in end-of-year show Will the Real Mr Claus Please Stand Up.

Tucker’s next screen excursion into light entertainment was the infamous Club Show (1979), co-hosted with Ernie Leonard. Times and tastes had changed; the live light entertainment spectacular found little love from the public or critics. 

But Tucker treated his screen work as a ‘hobby’ and never took himself or his celebrity too seriously, “I’m a hard man to get annoyed. Other people get sad and sour, but life’s too short.” The toilets in his office were labelled ‘colts’ and ‘fillies’.

By the early 80s racing’s TV form was waning and Tucker’s trackside shows had been scratched, but he continued to feature as a commentator on cricket and live racing telecasts for Sport on One. “G’day Glyn, how's it going?” chants from young sports fans followed him down the street and from the stands. 

In 1978 he published autobiography Thoroughbreds are My Life. Tucker made his final screen appearance on Auckland Cup Day 1984, when he left his sickbed to describe the big race. 

Tucker died in May that year from a heart ailment, aged 62. He requested to be buried on a Thursday. “That’s a day my racing mates won’t have any excuse for not attending [my funeral].” He was made an MBE for services to the racing industry.

TV critic Barry Shaw eulogised in the NZ Herald: “the viewers of New Zealand do not really know how good Glyn Tucker was for New Zealand television … just as a lot of racegoers never wake up to how good a performer a horse is until it is spent — and is gone.”

 

[mumbles]

Oldies will remember him singing '''everything is beautiful''' on his variety show.

Obviously not singing  about the current NZ racing situation.

His favourite saying regarding the prospects of a a horse was'''trained to the minute'''

[Tonkatime!]

I think a lot of it comes back to those at the top having utterly no idea what your average punter wants to know. 

I have watched a couple of those football podcasts the tab have been doing, good on them for doing them but they guys hosting them clearly have no idea about betting. I had to laugh when they read out a message from a bloke who messaged them asking if he should take cash out option on his multi or let it ride for the last leg. 

Edited July 15, 2018 by Tonkatime!

[Fizzeek]

5 hours ago, hesi said:

2 sports spring to mind that are very well served are Cricket and Rugby League, both with a number of very charismatic and accurate presenters who were former players at the top level.  Some of these guys like Greg Alexander and Nasser Hussain to name only a couple, don't miss a trick and give an insight into aspects of the game as they unfold.

So in Racing in NZ you need someone who has been involved at the coalface, that leaves either a jockey or a trainer, and that is where you draw a blank, I can't think of anyone, so we are stuck with some of the goof balls that present now

My vote would be for Alexander Fields

[Flagship uberalles]

4 hours ago, hesi said:

Having a look around, found this

 

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Glyn Tucker

Presenter

• Overview
•  
• Biography
•  
• Awards

Glyn Tucker was born in post World War I Wellington, to a Welsh miner Dad and English schoolteacher Mum. He learned to sing around the family piano and by 18 was crooning in the capital’s dance halls, where he was billed as “New Zealand’s Bing Crosby”. Tucker also performed during the interval at Wellington’s De Luxe Theatre (now the Embassy), accompanied by a Wurlitzer organ.

As a youth he represented Wellington at soccer and cricket. Later, Tucker’s first gig behind the microphone was reporting on the cricket, and he would go on to commentate international test matches for radio and television. “I would be watching it anyway,” as he told the Auckland Star in 1977.

In the late 30s, just out of college, he replaced a mate on the staff of the New Zealand Racing Conference, the body set up to control the horse-racing industry in NZ. And so Tucker opened the starting gate on a lifelong association with the gee-gees.

Tucker returned to the Conference after war service in Egypt. In 1952 he was appointed Keeper of the New Zealand Stud Book — the register of the births, deaths and marriages in the NZ racing world — a position he led until 1968. In the late 60s he was a recognised authority on thoroughbreds, and became an independent bloodstock consultant under the banner ‘Southern Cross Bloodstock Agency’. 

What did he look for in a horse? He told Alex Veysey in a 1977 Sunday Times profile: “They come in all shapes and sizes. They’re like humans. Look at Murray Halberg, When he ran he looked like an accident going to happen. But he won races.”

The same year he told the Auckland Star: “I am one of the lucky people who likes their work. I love horses and I loved the stud side of it. Perhaps more importantly I like the people I meet in horse racing.”

In the early 70s Tucker helped pioneer one of the first live racing telecasts in New Zealand, commenting from a tree platform at Ellerslie. In 1972 Tucker started radio show Straight Talk on Wellington’s 2ZB. It played on Friday nights for three years, and provided the segue into screen work for the man known as New Zealand’s ‘Mr Racing’. “I used to get letters and phone calls from all over the country. Then one day the television people waddled into my office and asked if I would do a programme on racing.” 

That programme became Turf Talk. The hour-long show was split into coverage of all things racing related, and a Game of Two Halves-style quiz between sports celebrities of the day. On Turf Talk he worked with a young Phillip Leishman. In a 2012 ScreenTalk interview Leishman described Tucker as “inimitable … an overpowering man, an amazing personality, loved his horses, knew everything about racing.” Leishman described himself as Tucker’s ‘little shadow’, hosting the quiz and tailing Tucker around race courses. “I just loved it.” 

Tucker’s genial gift of the gab — “she’ll stay all day like a mother-in-law” — made him telegenic and a sporting identity, and he went on to be punting pundit on Saturday morning TV1 sports preview show Sports Extra.  

A singing appearance on Ray Woolf-fronted chat show Two on One in 1977 led to viewer requests for more. Aged 54, Tucker moved from the turf to compering talent — from jugglers, jazz troupes and show girls to Kamahl and Suzanne Prentice — when he fronted TV variety show Everything is Beautiful. He became an idol for older viewers and even cut a record (Step Out and Sing) which went gold. In 1977 Tucker's place in Kiwi culture was indicated by him donning the big red suit in end-of-year show Will the Real Mr Claus Please Stand Up.

Tucker’s next screen excursion into light entertainment was the infamous Club Show (1979), co-hosted with Ernie Leonard. Times and tastes had changed; the live light entertainment spectacular found little love from the public or critics. 

But Tucker treated his screen work as a ‘hobby’ and never took himself or his celebrity too seriously, “I’m a hard man to get annoyed. Other people get sad and sour, but life’s too short.” The toilets in his office were labelled ‘colts’ and ‘fillies’.

By the early 80s racing’s TV form was waning and Tucker’s trackside shows had been scratched, but he continued to feature as a commentator on cricket and live racing telecasts for Sport on One. “G’day Glyn, how's it going?” chants from young sports fans followed him down the street and from the stands. 

In 1978 he published autobiography Thoroughbreds are My Life. Tucker made his final screen appearance on Auckland Cup Day 1984, when he left his sickbed to describe the big race. 

Tucker died in May that year from a heart ailment, aged 62. He requested to be buried on a Thursday. “That’s a day my racing mates won’t have any excuse for not attending [my funeral].” He was made an MBE for services to the racing industry.

TV critic Barry Shaw eulogised in the NZ Herald: “the viewers of New Zealand do not really know how good Glyn Tucker was for New Zealand television … just as a lot of racegoers never wake up to how good a performer a horse is until it is spent — and is gone.”

 

I used to enjoy Glynn Tucker's program, also paddy O'Donnell radio racing show + Phil leishman when he was on t.v, Des's radio show he does on a Sunday is pretty good too, Des along with peter early are the last of the old guard not scared to ask the hard questions especially P Early. The rest are just puppets now from the nzrb. I seriously don't listen to popplewell, guirin and all that crowd for anything now, all the constant moving of the the hands while talking gives me shits, not many Left with any mana, in my eyes anyway!

[Thomass]

11 hours ago, Freda said:

I recall Mark Sweeney in front of the camera at one stage ?  I thought he was excellent,  combining knowledge and an articulate manner.

Don't know whether he was ever offered a permanent spot though.

He was offered a job but wasn't interested...Maybe any critical analysis would have put his wife under pressure...

[Thomass]

Just watch the Oz shows 'Punters Intel' and Get On' for the pros at work...

Meanwhile Tan and Rodely are to be seen investing '10ew' on their tips to see who gets to 'be punished'...ffs

Tan got a work out with Kelly née Myers in the Gym...that's a winners workout Shirley?

[hesi]

2 hours ago, Thomass said:

He was offered a job but wasn't interested...Maybe any critical analysis would have put his wife under pressure...

No such thing in NZ

Same as with KFE, had there been issues to critique about Te Akau, and there were many, such as the time the connections of Xtravagant were allowed to walk the Te Rapa track.  That was the day, if I recall correctly, that on a rain affected track, Xtravagant stayed close to the rail, while others all ran wide

[Thomass]

Shillings for Jillings was apprehended wasn't he...Ellis's previous trainer

Imagine the chaos if all 'connections' were out on the course digging their Williams boots into the turf before each race??

Just give Punters the pen. Readings...and the providers of the stakemoney could have told Davo the best place ffs

[Poisoned Dwarf]

Colin Shillings was a track surface expert. One day he was fuming when Takanini's No 1 grass was closed for gallops.

So Colin found some chalk and noted on the official blackboard that the NZ Open Fours bowling championships  will be held on the No 1 grass tomorrow......

[curious]

6 minutes ago, Poisoned Dwarf said:

Colin Shillings was a track surface expert. One day he was fuming when Takanini's No 1 grass was closed for gallops.

So Colin found some chalk and noted on the official blackboard that the NZ Open Fours bowling championships  will be held on the No 1 grass tomorrow......

lol....that sounds about right.