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Darrell Williams
Very sad. When I started work as a v/o at SIS Dave was forever offering advice and help.
I then got to work alongside him on the original Sky Sports Greyhound programme.
He was a master of his craft as a commentator, judge and presenter but also a genuinely good guy. RIP Smudger
Bruce Millington
Sad news. Dave’s double act with Gary Wiltshire on the Sky dogs coverage was good value.
Very sad. When I started work as a v/o at SIS Dave was forever offering advice and help.
I then got to work alongside him on the original Sky Sports Greyhound programme.
He was a master of his craft as a commentator, judge and presenter but also a genuinely good guy. RIP Smudger
Bruce Millington
Sad news. Dave’s double act with Gary Wiltshire on the Sky dogs coverage was good value.
Either way Bruce being as genuine as a box or fake eye lashes ffs....what a muppet......Lrts hope he never gets tasked with writing someones eulogy.
"He was an alright bloke in truth, annoyed most but not me really"
Tard
"He was an alright bloke in truth, annoyed most but not me really"
Tard
Same bloke (?) who got sacked as a judge, for calling too many racing photos in double-quick time.
Used to cause uproar on the forum as many thought he got calls wrong.
Called a Dead Heat at Kempton in about 20-30 seconds and was gone forever, when it clearly wasn't a DH
Many on here were beyond exasperation with his quick calls
Used to cause uproar on the forum as many thought he got calls wrong.
Called a Dead Heat at Kempton in about 20-30 seconds and was gone forever, when it clearly wasn't a DH
Many on here were beyond exasperation with his quick calls
* Google says it was 50 seconds and corrected days later
The man had an ego the size of the Empire States Building and was warned several times to stop showboating.
He knew better
He knew better
Greg Wood
Racing's bad news travels quickly but BHA took five days to put matters right after Kempton 'dead-heat'
The first thing that should be said about Dave Smith, who was relieved of his duties as a racecourse judge last week after 13 years in the job, is that at least 99% of the time, he was good at his job. The second is that in a position with the power to shift six- or even seven-figure sums from one pocket to another, even a 0.5% failure rate is unacceptable.
It took Smith 50 seconds to determine and then declare the result in a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton Park on 26 June, which went to a photo-finish between Extra Noble, the even-money favourite, and Fire Fighting, a 16-1 chance.
By Smith's well-established quick-fire standards, 50 seconds was nothing new, almost dragging his heels in fact. In this instance, though, the "result" was that the pair could not be separated. "That was very quick for a dead-heat," observed one of Racing UK's studio pundits as this was announced. "That was very quick," his colleague agreed. "Dave Smith's on tonight, isn't he?"
Five days later, the British Horseracing Authority announced that, having contacted Smith and asked him to reconsider, he had decided that in fact, Extra Noble had held on to first place by a nose. This was five days too late for favourite-backers who had already been paid out – or short-changed, to be more precise – on the original decision.
We all make mistakes, journalists included, so it may seem unfair to criticise Smith too harshly for doing the same. I've made some toe-curlers over the last 20-odd years, most of which, thanks either to a good subeditor or an alert lawyer, have failed to make it into print.
Smith did not have an equivalent safety net. But he did have more than 50 seconds to make a decision. No one would have cared if it had taken three or four minutes to announce the result, had it been the right one. Smith, though, always seemed to see it as a matter of honour that he could announce the result of a close finish – sometimes without even calling for a photo – faster than any judge in the business.
It is a little like pushing all-in at every possible opportunity in a game of poker: a tactic that works just fine, until it doesn't. The modern technology available to judges is impressive, and makes the job easier, and generally quicker, than in the past, which in turn helps to keep money turning over in the shops. But in a very tight finish it will never be sufficiently easy, or swift, to justify a 50-second turnaround for a dead-heat, even if it proves to be the correct decision.
Some bookmakers did pay out on both results, because it was worth it for the PR value, but others did not. Most of us have had the miserable experience of backing the "winner" on the wrong side of the track in a big sprint handicap, but backing an actual winner and still not being paid out in full is a good deal worse. Nothing annoys a punter more than getting it right and still feeling robbed.
Racing's bad news travels quickly but BHA took five days to put matters right after Kempton 'dead-heat'
The first thing that should be said about Dave Smith, who was relieved of his duties as a racecourse judge last week after 13 years in the job, is that at least 99% of the time, he was good at his job. The second is that in a position with the power to shift six- or even seven-figure sums from one pocket to another, even a 0.5% failure rate is unacceptable.
It took Smith 50 seconds to determine and then declare the result in a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton Park on 26 June, which went to a photo-finish between Extra Noble, the even-money favourite, and Fire Fighting, a 16-1 chance.
By Smith's well-established quick-fire standards, 50 seconds was nothing new, almost dragging his heels in fact. In this instance, though, the "result" was that the pair could not be separated. "That was very quick for a dead-heat," observed one of Racing UK's studio pundits as this was announced. "That was very quick," his colleague agreed. "Dave Smith's on tonight, isn't he?"
Five days later, the British Horseracing Authority announced that, having contacted Smith and asked him to reconsider, he had decided that in fact, Extra Noble had held on to first place by a nose. This was five days too late for favourite-backers who had already been paid out – or short-changed, to be more precise – on the original decision.
We all make mistakes, journalists included, so it may seem unfair to criticise Smith too harshly for doing the same. I've made some toe-curlers over the last 20-odd years, most of which, thanks either to a good subeditor or an alert lawyer, have failed to make it into print.
Smith did not have an equivalent safety net. But he did have more than 50 seconds to make a decision. No one would have cared if it had taken three or four minutes to announce the result, had it been the right one. Smith, though, always seemed to see it as a matter of honour that he could announce the result of a close finish – sometimes without even calling for a photo – faster than any judge in the business.
It is a little like pushing all-in at every possible opportunity in a game of poker: a tactic that works just fine, until it doesn't. The modern technology available to judges is impressive, and makes the job easier, and generally quicker, than in the past, which in turn helps to keep money turning over in the shops. But in a very tight finish it will never be sufficiently easy, or swift, to justify a 50-second turnaround for a dead-heat, even if it proves to be the correct decision.
Some bookmakers did pay out on both results, because it was worth it for the PR value, but others did not. Most of us have had the miserable experience of backing the "winner" on the wrong side of the track in a big sprint handicap, but backing an actual winner and still not being paid out in full is a good deal worse. Nothing annoys a punter more than getting it right and still feeling robbed.
RIP dave
...it was actually 13 seconds iirc between his announcement of "photograph photograph that's a photo" & the announcement of the DH
...it was actually 13 seconds iirc between his announcement of "photograph photograph that's a photo" & the announcement of the DH
I think there was one at Windsor where he called a 'winner' in about 5 seconds
I have a vague recollection of the race commentator 'next door' imploring him to have another look
He then corrected his mistake a minute or two later before the weigh in fortunately
I have a vague recollection of the race commentator 'next door' imploring him to have another look
He then corrected his mistake a minute or two later before the weigh in fortunately
just found an old post of yours pd I'll post it
Poppydog.
04 Jul 13 15:11
Joined: 07 Sep 01 | Topic/replies: 21,875 | Blogger: Poppydog.'s blog
Sort of anyway
A summary for those still unaware of all the fuss
Just to say it took me about 90secs to organize these with a 10yo Screen Capture and Zoom tool.
The close up speaks for itself.
Surely Dave Smith's was so much clearer?
Acknowledging Roger De Bris who recorded the race on RUK:
Smith calls a photo at 7.23.57.
He announces "judge couldn't split them at 7.24.38
04 Jul 13 15:11
Joined: 07 Sep 01 | Topic/replies: 21,875 | Blogger: Poppydog.'s blog
Sort of anyway
A summary for those still unaware of all the fuss
Just to say it took me about 90secs to organize these with a 10yo Screen Capture and Zoom tool.
The close up speaks for itself.
Surely Dave Smith's was so much clearer?
Acknowledging Roger De Bris who recorded the race on RUK:
Smith calls a photo at 7.23.57.
He announces "judge couldn't split them at 7.24.38
41 seconds it was between the announcements but I'm sure I remember him discussing saying it was (approx presumably!!) 13 seconds to adjudicate over the print
remarkable its 12 years now I remember judge couldn't split em
remarkable its 12 years now I remember judge couldn't split em
Poppydog an ardent Thommo groupie by the sounds of it.?
seen it on twitter rico
.
https://x.com/billybrennan247/status/1982873314604564961
haven't seen it elsewhere but dave been out the game circa 10 years
.
https://x.com/billybrennan247/status/1982873314604564961
haven't seen it elsewhere but dave been out the game circa 10 years
last gig was sky dogs, when that finished that's last I saw him in media
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_3A3VT0r8&t=7265s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_3A3VT0r8&t=7265s
I have it in my head that they changed the process, and a second person now 'proofs' the original decision before it is announced. As a direct result of those previous errors.
Was that not due to an Emily Jones error Cider?
Whoever the judge was it was a good few years after Dave Smith left the judges box.
Whoever the judge was it was a good few years after Dave Smith left the judges box.
Could well be, I had it in my mind that it should now be impossible to call the incorrect result, and the process was changed due to a judge calling the incorrect result.
the bha did instigate supposed extra checks, pretty sure emily jones then still got one wrong, wheeler hashed up more than one
There was a female judge, Stickels who got it wrong more than right and took an hour to do so
Aside from that, a mean-spirited fred about the departed imo. He was cruising for a fall alright but was not a bad sort
Aside from that, a mean-spirited fred about the departed imo. He was cruising for a fall alright but was not a bad sort
Riding for a fall, you’re riding for a fall 
John Holt, good tune. As is Police in helicopter
John Holt, good tune. As is Police in helicopter
liked him on the dogs excellent interviewing owners etc. and nobody can ever say his good looks played a part over ability.
A CELEBRATION of the life of racing broadcaster Dave Smith is to take place at the Bentley Crematorium & Cemetery in Brentwood at 2.30pm on Tuesday, November 11.
Smith, an accomplished SIS commentator and racecourse judge, also became renowned as part of a popular betting ring double act with Gary Wiltshire on Sky Sports’ live greyhound shows.
In recent years Smith had fought a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease, one which he sadly lost on October 18. He was 78.
His daughter Kirsty shared the sad news and said: “If you wish to pay your respects then please join us in remembering and honouring his life.
“If anyone wishes to send a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society then please feel free to do so.”
Dave Lawrence, who produced the popular Sky Sports greyhound shows, said: “This is very sad news. Smudger was a top guy and a big part of SIS and, of course, the Sky Sports greyhound shows for many years. RIP.”
Smith, an accomplished SIS commentator and racecourse judge, also became renowned as part of a popular betting ring double act with Gary Wiltshire on Sky Sports’ live greyhound shows.
In recent years Smith had fought a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease, one which he sadly lost on October 18. He was 78.
His daughter Kirsty shared the sad news and said: “If you wish to pay your respects then please join us in remembering and honouring his life.
“If anyone wishes to send a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society then please feel free to do so.”
Dave Lawrence, who produced the popular Sky Sports greyhound shows, said: “This is very sad news. Smudger was a top guy and a big part of SIS and, of course, the Sky Sports greyhound shows for many years. RIP.”
Did anybody state that he was a bad man,Busytool?
He was an egomaniac,pure and simple.
He was an egomaniac,pure and simple.
ALways rely on Irons to find a bad word to say about someone
Not a bad word,simply a fact that he self destructed his career,Busytool
If you continue to burn up the erbs, we’re going burn down the Kane fields
Rip Dave, one of the better ones, anyone know why he was called smudger ??
Rip Dave, one of the better ones, anyone know why he was called smudger ??
It is worth bearing in mind that Busytool also defends AK Bets
He could hardly have self-destructed someone elses career could he?
47 bets restrict me to as much as I want
You would like such a facility Ironhoof
You would like such a facility Ironhoof
I brought up his horse racing judging career earlier in the thread.
He was very good on the Greyhound racing programmes and his horse commentaries were Okay, too.
Nevertheless, as all photo judges have and will make human errors.......he can't be criticised for that.
It was the fact that he was warned to take his time on photos several times, but still persevered (enjoyed?)
banging out the tannoy result announcements as quickly as possible, making several minor errors and finally
a major error at Kempton, which resulted in his dismissal.
RIP
He was very good on the Greyhound racing programmes and his horse commentaries were Okay, too.
Nevertheless, as all photo judges have and will make human errors.......he can't be criticised for that.
It was the fact that he was warned to take his time on photos several times, but still persevered (enjoyed?)
banging out the tannoy result announcements as quickly as possible, making several minor errors and finally
a major error at Kempton, which resulted in his dismissal.
RIP
aye he tried way to hard to be the klevver dicky when there was a photo that ultimately cost him his livelyhood and me plenty money..
but rip smudger.
but rip smudger.
What simpler job could a jobsworth have,for life?
You don't have to find a winner pre race.
You just make certain that you have got the photo outcome correct after due consideration
You don't have to find a winner pre race.
You just make certain that you have got the photo outcome correct after due consideration
Sad way to go (Alzheimers) for him and more so for his family. RIP Dave.
I really used to enjoy the SkySports greyhound nights with Dave Smith and Gary Wiltshire. Far better than the soul-less Red Button and fill-in coverage of greyhounds on SkySports Racing
Also used to like to visit Walthamstow, and way back in the day - Bradford Greenfield if anybody remembers that.
Also used to like to visit Walthamstow, and way back in the day - Bradford Greenfield if anybody remembers that.
It wasn't just the chance of getting one wrong it was also killing bets on the photos and therefore less betting turnover
.
https://x.com/GaryWiltshire16/status/1983512846336975172/photo/1
printed in the RP
https://x.com/GaryWiltshire16/status/1983512846336975172/photo/1
printed in the RP
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