Brian BLACKMORE

  General Notes:

Article in Bendigo Advertiser
Race caller dies - Racing community mourns the passing of Brian Blackmore
23 Jun, 2006 08:54 PM
THE horse racing industry is mourning the death of popular Bendigo race caller Brian Blackmore.
Blackmore, who called races around Victoria for nearly half a century, died on Wednesday [this would be 21 June] aged 67 after a battle with diabetes.
Blackmore travelled the length and breadth of the state to broadcast races during his 48-year career.
He called his last race at Bendigo in August last year.
His career started at Quambatook near Swan Hill on Easter Monday, 1957 before he joined Traralgon's 3TR where he covered Saturday race meetings at Moe and Bairnsdale.
In 1963 he called under his mentor, the legendary Bill Collins, at 3DB and later worked for Channel Nine and the Sporting Globe.
Blackmore returned to 3DB in 1983 and called there until 1988 when he became the number two caller at Sport 927 until his retirement.
He was at home broadcasting both gallops and harness racing.
The 1961 VRC Oaks won by Indian Summer at Flemington was the biggest race he called.
However he regarded Media Puzzle's win in the 2002 Geelong Cup as his most memorable.
Distinguished race caller John Russell said Blackmore would be sadly missed.
"He was an excellent caller in all fields," Russell said.
"He was right up there with the leaders and I can't speak highly enough about him."
Another colleague, Rick McIntosh, said he owed his career to Blackmore who encouraged him and others in the profession.
"You wouldn't get a better team player," McIntosh said.
"He called for 50 years and was a virtually number two wherever he went. He was prepared to do the hard yards and he was good to joke with."
Blackmore said he always wanted to retire on top.
In an interview with the Advertiser last year he said race calling was "a young person's game".
"I know a lot of callers who stuck around for probably too long, and when your reflexes are going and eyesight is probably failing you tend to make more mistakes.
"I decided with the management at (radio station) 927 I would give it away while I'm on top, rather than go down the gurgler."