The man behind the mic

By Alan Conway

To many racegoers he is the voice that we all know and trust. The reassuring voice that calls home our winners and more often our losers. Des Scahill has been commentating on Irish racing for the past thirty years. He has called some of the most memorable and mundane moments in racing. If there is Irish racing you will more often than not hear Des’s voice.

However we know little about the man behind the mic. He has been a part of our lives yet we know virtually nothing of the man. A native of Dublin, an avid Manchester United and golf fan Des gained his first break in horse racing commentary when he filled in for Michael O’Hehir on RTE radio during the Leopardstown Chase Day in 1973. His career with RTE radio lasted until 2002. He has also worked for At The Races for a number of years.

Going racing everyday may seem like a dream job but for Des Scahill it is far from an easy day. On any day he could be calling up to thirty horses on an eight race card that could be running over five.

furlongs or three miles. I find it hard enough to concentrate on one horse never mind thirty. Trying to call thirty horses home seems like a tough ask but for Des there is only one element that he needs to work in his favour. “Clear visibility. Once the weather is good it generally isn’t too difficult to call the horses.”

Des also does a lot of forward planning before he puts his headset on. “I have a look at the horses in the parade ring before the race and in the race card to familiarise myself with them. Once they arrive at the start you go through their names as if they are running.”

The doyen of horse racing commentators, Sir Peter O’Sullevan was a firm believer in giving your all for each race and Des has held on to this belief. Indeed there are two commentaries that Des did that are still known to this day. The first was the famous defeat of El Grand Senor in the Epsom Derby. The cries of “Secreto just from El Grand Senor” sent many a heart sinking as David O’Brien denied his father Vincent a seventh Derby success.

The second was Dawn Run and the Gold Cup of 1986. Des remembers this well. “Everyone thinks that the reason I was so passionate was because I had so much money on Dawn Run. I didn’t have sixpence on her. It was a huge moment for the country though.”

There are some people however that would like to see Des Scahill hang up his binoculars. Lee Mottershead in the Racing Post suggested at this year’s Punchestown Festival “Both the Bishopscourt Cup and best-dressed lady competition are fine Punchestown Festival traditions. So too is the sound of Des Scahill as racecourse commentator, but some traditions have to come to an end and this is perhaps one.”

He further stated “All too often Scahill sounds bored and disinterested”. I for one enjoy the commentaries of Des Scahill. Yes there are sometimes when his commentaries lack a bit of punch. But for a big race there is nobody better to call them home than Des. And no one could question his dedication. There are very few meetings that Des misses. His dedication to his career should be admired and respected.

Des has admitted that that the lure of retirement is getting bigger. If and when he does retire I am sure I won’t be the only one who will miss the sound of Des’s voice at Irish race tracks.

By Alan Conway