Trevor Denman is not one of the boys.
The greatest race announcer of all-time, who calls races with the perfection of a computer and the passion of a Van Gogh, Denman is not the type to go out with the guys for a few beers after a hard day's work. He's not aloof, but in the clubby atmosphere of the press box, he's definitely not a mingler. In some circles, Trevor Denman might be considered a loner. He is a very private person.
Maybe it's because he spends most of his life in isolation, high in his booth where he studies the horses, makes announcements and calls the races like no other before him.
Whatever social strata the 43-old native of South Africa fits into, his brief encounters in the workplace are upbeat and friendly, accompanied by a ready smile. After that, however, it's on about his business.
And it is because of "his business" that thoroughbred fans will not be treated to his calls during the 1996 spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park.
Denman, in a joint statement with Hollywood Park on Dec. 20, announced he would miss the lengthy meet at Inglewood this year, citing "personal" reasons.
At Santa Anita on opening day, just back from a three-week vacation, Denman took time from his absorbing schedule to provide some insight on his decision.
"I felt kind of sad about leaving," Denman said. "It's not something that I did with relish. But it comes down to that I really feel I want to do something else with my life than just horse racing, and I'm extremely lucky to be in a situation where I can have it both ways. I can do horse racing seven months and I can pursue some personal goals that I have the other five months of the year."
Any truth the speculation he may join Triple Crown Productions?
"Anybody who says that is jumping the gun," Denman said. "If that had come along, it would have been a nice cherry on the top, but no, that has nothing to do with it. This is purely a personal thing.
"My wife and I have purchased a farm in Minnesota (near Rochester) and I'm going to really get into (equine) research, hopefully with the goal of writing biographies in a few years' time. That's my No. 1 goal, along with some animal welfare, as well. That's 99 and nine-tenths percent of the reason. I've been doing this (calling races) for 25 years now, so I've had a pretty good inning. I have nothing against racing. It's just that I don't want it to be the end-all of life. It's not.
"It's a lovely way to make a living, and it's a great sport. But it is not life. There's more to life than the race track. So, as I say, I can have the perfect blend of pursuing other goals and still be involved in racing. It's not like I've just thrown in the towel and said, 'That's it, I'm outta here. I'm not going to the races anymore.'"
True. But for five months a year, Southern California racing won't be the same without him. Denman, who began his career at 18 in South Africa, estimates he has called 30,000 races in the United States alone, perhaps 50,000 overall. He is the prototypical caller who has taken his profession to state of the art. Memorizing the horses' colors, the most important requirement in providing a competent call, is second-nature to him. His forté is an accurate description, or, if you will, descriptive accuracy.
Either way, Denman has spoiled Southern California race goers. Some may even take him for granted, if you can take for granted an announcer who can call the winner three-eighths of a mile from the finish line.
Anyone who thinks calling a race is easy should try it. Step behind a live mike in front of an audience of thousands of critics just waiting for you to make a mistake. Try rattling off the call without phumphing, and do it in just over a minute. No second chances and no editing. And you can take a four or five-horse field, for starters, before going on to fields of 10 and 12.
No matter who replaces the greatest race caller ever, there will be the inevitable comparisons. And that will be unfair.
Because when it comes to calling races, there's Trevor Denman.
And then there's everybody else.
GOLDEN PICKS
LETTHEBIGCAJUNDOIT -- Consistent gelding ran winning race in defeat, just couldn't overtake front-running favorite Slewshine Boy in paceless race on speed-favoring track. Repeat performance in $25,000 distance race for unheralded trainer Barry Abrams should do it.
GRACE OF DARBY -- Ran monster third in first start in five months for Gary Jones, beaten 1 1/4 lengths despite being intimidated by late-drifting
favorite The Exeter Man, who was DQ'd on a very iffy call, at best. Son of Seattle Slew should be tight enough now to grace winners' circle vs. allowance sprinters.
SOCIALLYUNENCUMBER -- Randy Bradshaw removed the blinkers and it made a major difference for this son of Hansel, who stalked the pace before drawing off impressively when set down for the drive, winning by 3 1/2 lengths. Improving colt should hold his form vs. non-winners of two at a mile or longer.
bell rung," said his agent, Jim Pegram . . . Allen Paulson still has the $4 million Dubai race on Cigar's agenda, while Dick Mandella has made Talloires a late nominee at a cost of $10,000 to the March 27 event at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt. If Talloires is not chosen by the selection committee, the 10 grand is refundable. Mandella was cautiously thrilled over Afternoon Deelite's 2-length victory in the Malibu, the colt's first start since suffering a tendon injury in the Kentucky Derby some eight months ago. The Malibu was at seven furlongs, but Mandella is confident Burt Bacharach's buzzsaw can get a mile- and-a-quarter, the distance of the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Feb 2; the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, and the $4-million race in Dubai on March 27. "As long as this horse is healthy and sound, I don't think he has any limits," Mandella said. "It's just a matter of keeping him healthy and sound . . . He's so gifted . . . He's done enough to show what a great horse he is, but what a great Christmas present to have him back. It doesn't get any better than this." Another Bacharach runner, Soul of the Matter, also is a candidate for Dubai. Mandella couldn't get back to his seat following the winners' circle ceremony without signing two autographs, one on a fan from China's shirt sleeve, another on a more conventional spot for a girl from Texas. "I do this every once in a while," Mandella beamed. P.S. He doesn't charge . . . Trainer Randy Bradshaw, a protégé of D. Wayne Lukas and one of the nicest guys in the business, has his Louisiana Derby winner Petionville on vacation. "He's up at Santa Ynez," Bradshaw said. "Been up there for a while. We're going to give him a good break and he's going to start back the end of January. I'm not sure whether he'll come back here (to the
race track) or we'll start him back up there. We'll put a few miles in him before he comes down." Bradshaw has a competent stakes winner in Petionville, who won the La Jolla Handicap on the grass. "He's only run on the turf that once, and he ran a good race in the La Jolla. He didn't beat a whole lot in there, but it looked like he handled the turf. It makes him versatile and gives us a few options. He's a nice little horse and I'll be glad to get him back." . . . Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally said he scratched Mr Purple from the Malibu Stakes due to filling in a front leg. "He was 95 percent, but we wouldn't run him unless he was 100 percent. We iced it and he should be fine. He shouldn't miss much training." . . . Greg Otteson, former assistant to trainer Darrell Vienna, has taken to the air. Otteson, whose wife, Kim, manages the Vienna operation while also serving as senior vice president of James Klein (livestock division) Insurance, now flies horses around the country. Greg doesn't actually fly the horses. He flies with the horses for Instone Air Services out of Durango, Colorado . . . Golden Picks update: three horses have run back thus far. One was second and one ran third, but Attleboro was a daylight winner at almost 14-1, paying $29.60, $12.40 and $7.60 across the board . . . How difficult is it for a jockey to compete in Southern California? It might be easier putting together a charity fund-raiser for the Menendez brothers' defense. "It's tough to make a living around here," reasoned Jim Pegram, agent for top apprentice Jose Valdivia Jr. "They've got seven-horse fields and 10 Hall of Fame riders."
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