The legend of Trevor Denman started greater than 4 many years in the past within the space behind the highest of the stretch at Santa Anita the place all the manager places of work sit. This unassuming, barely constructed 31-year-old from South Africa was capable of work his manner into the workplace of Frank (Jimmy) Kilroe, the senior vice chairman at, arguably, the very best horse racing monitor within the nation. Or no less than west of the Mississippi.
The request was easy. He needed to name a race at Santa Anita.
Sure, he had the credentials. He had referred to as races in South Africa for 12 years at three completely different tracks. He wasn’t asking for a lot, simply an opportunity.
Kilroe, being the veteran govt he was, did the apparent: He pawned the request onto another person.
At the moment, nobody was conscious of how large Denman would turn out to be within the race-calling world in California and nationally. Or how he would change the face of calling horse races on this nation. Denman, 72, introduced on Thursday that he’s retiring from Del Mar, his closing cease in a lifetime dedicated to telling folks what occurs throughout a race.
Again to Santa Anita. The duty with what to do with this uninvited visitor with large ambitions was lateraled to Alan Balch, who, additionally in his 30s and head of promoting and public relations at Santa Anita, decided that will change the face of how races are referred to as in the USA.
“I said, ‘What? This is Santa Anita,’” Balch, presently the manager director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, recalled when assembly Denman for the primary time.
“I would like to call a race,” Denman stated.
“This isn’t just any place,” Balch stated.
“I know, that’s why I want to call a race at Santa Anita. I call the races in Durban and it would be an honor if I could call a race here,” Denman retorted.
“We don’t let just anyone call a race here,” Balch stated earlier than sending Denman exterior his workplace for a couple of minutes.
Balch referred to as Invoice Kolberg, who was an assistant within the press field who dealt with notes and quotes. Balch knew Kolberg had simply been to Africa and had visited a number of race tracks, together with Durban.
“Alan, you’ve got to have this guy,” Kolberg stated. “For sure there’s no down side. Let him call a race.”
Balch did and the remaining is … effectively, you realize the remaining.
The race, the ninth and final on the cardboard, was not straightforward. It was a 12-horse subject, it was raining and the monitor was sloppy.
Dave Johnson was the common race caller on the time and he was by no means opposed to skipping the final race on the cardboard to keep away from the site visitors to get residence.
“Trevor called the race like it was the Epsom Derby,” Balch remembered. “He called every horse a couple of times. The press box, full of the usual cynics, started saying ‘Who is this guy?’ And as we know those guys are not prone to compliment anyone, especially someone brand new.”
After the race, Balch was escorting Denman downstairs and walked previous a buyer relations sales space.
“The woman working it stopped me and asked who was the race caller,” Balch stated. “I said, ‘He’s right here.’”
That is the place issues may go both manner particularly as the girl held up a stack of buyer criticism sheets. Besides they weren’t complaints.
“Who is this guy? You have to hire him was what the feedback was all about,” Balch stated.
Balch then booked Denman to name the fifth race the subsequent day and immediately Johnson was heading towards the tip of a contract that was not renewed.
Denman referred to as races at Fairplex Park and the Oak Tree assembly at Santa Anita earlier than assuming the full-time position at Santa Anita in 1984. He later referred to as Hollywood Park and Golden Gate Fields. He stored that position at Santa Anita till 2016 when he lowered his schedule to simply name Del Mar. He referred to as each season there, barring the COVID-19 yr, till this yr.
Denman, considerably media shy however at all times pleasant, advised the Del Mar media relations division: “This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. But my soul is telling me that now is the time.”
Despite the fact that Denman had among the finest jobs in racing at Santa Anita and Del Mar, he nonetheless had some work to do.
“He had a very strong South African accent,” Balch stated. “He would say things like ‘Santer Aniter’ and ‘Bull Shoemaker.’ He knew he had some changes to make. [Director of publicity] Jane [Goldstein] and I called Universal seeking some help.
“Robert Easton, a legendary dialogue coach, had a meeting with Trevor, who was polite but reluctant. The coach asked ‘How do you want him to sound?’”
Inside 30 days, Denman sounded similar to he did till he retired.
Trevor Denman at Santa Anita Park in 2007.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
There isn’t a race caller immediately who hasn’t been influenced by Denman.
“I’m not exaggerating when saying that during my high school years, I would rather listen to Trevor call a race with no video than watch a race with no audio,” stated Frank Mirahmadi, who presently calls races at Santa Anita and Saratoga.
Larry Collmus, who will succeed Denman at Del Mar’s summer season season, was equally as complimentary.
“Growing up in Maryland I listened to different race callers from around the country,” Collmus stated. “I realized he’s different and he’s great. I have completely enjoyed his work over the years.
“The one thing he did that no one before him did is paint a picture of what is going to happen. He could pick up a winner early in the race. He had that horse sense about him and how horses are traveling and what they should have left in the tank. I was amazed by that.”
Collmus, who was additionally employed by Balch to work Golden Gate Fields, labored part-time with Denman in 1988 in Northern California.
“I learned so much from him,” Collmus stated. “He taught me part of his craft and how he picks up those moves in a race.”
Balch, who brushes off hiring two of the sport’s greatest race callers as simply a part of the job, couldn’t praise Denman sufficient.
“Trevor revolutionized American race calling and that’s not an overstatement,” Balch stated. “Up until Trevor everyone called the horses in the order with not a lot of foreshadowing.
“Trevor would call the names of jockeys and the lengths from the first to last horse. He paints a picture. You can see the race developing. One of his greatest assets is at the half-mile pole you could tell from the tenor in his voice if he spotted a horse that was up in the bridle had a big chance. That was double-edged sword. Some fans did not like that when he would say ‘The favorite is all through.’”
Denman is famous for a number of signature phrases, reminiscent of “they will need to sprout wings to catch him” or “coming like an express train” or “scraping the paint” when a horse was on the rail. However everybody remembers his first phrases because the horses got here out of the gate: “And away they go.”
Santa Anita was legendary for its race callers. Denman was following within the voice-steps of Joe Hernandez, whose signature “There they go,” began each race. Hernandez collapsed whereas calling a race at Santa Anita after being kicked by a horse earlier within the day across-town at Hollywood Park. He died a number of days later regardless of studies that he died whereas calling a race.
Santa Anita went via a few large names in Stylish Anderson and Johnson earlier than Denman turned the voice of the monitor.
However there was one factor he wanted to do, nearly in tribute to Hernandez. He wanted a phrase to start out the race. Balch mentioned it with him and Denman provided up “And away they go.” It was a phrase that he used tens of 1000’s of instances.
Maybe Denman’s fondness for singling out jockeys comes from his childhood want to be one. However, he outgrew his goals however by no means forgot the women and men using the horse. He was particularly aware of when jockeys would gently hand-ride a horse to victory.
Collmus, who because the voice of NBC’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders’ Cup protection, is actually no newcomer to the panorama as Denman was when he assumed the highest spot at Santa Anita and Del Mar. He was the voice of New York racing for a number of years and has spent the final 5 years calling the autumn assembly at Del Mar. He additionally serves as an analyst for FanDuel TV.
It’s not the primary time Collmus has been requested to interchange a legend. He succeeded Tom Durkin in 2015 in New York.
“It’s a daunting task that I’m looking forward to again,” Collmus stated. “I had to win over the fans at Saratoga and I’m hoping to do the same at Del Mar. “The fall meet is a different atmosphere. I’m looking forward to experience that opening day feeling.
“Trevor would talk about the roar of the crowd when the meeting would start. Durkin would also get the crowd stirred up. Trevor could turn the crowd up to an 11. Hopefully I can engage the crowd and enjoy that opening day roar.”
It could appear unusual for Del Mar to have a packed home with out Trevor Denman. However, fortunately ensconced on his 500-acre farm in Minnesota, he’ll someday grasp the impression he had on horse racing and the way he revolutionized the artwork of race calling.
