Episode 221: Darren Flindell (Part 1)

Sky’s chief Sydney caller talks of the circumstances behind his return to Australia in 2014, after 16 years in Hong Kong. He talks of his first race call back in Sydney, and the budding top liner who happened to win it. Darren looks back on the unfavourable comment he received at the hands of tweeters in the first few months of his new career in Sydney.  The race caller’s return to Sydney coincided with the beginning of the Winx era. He got to call the wonder mare in 24 of her 33 straight wins. He pinpoints his favourite Winx races. Darren says Chautauqua’s win in the 2017 T.J.Smith Stakes is the most exciting race he’s ever seen. He talks of the surreal experience of calling to empty houses on Sydney racecourses. Darren talks of his childhood at Clemton Park, just a stone’s throw from Canterbury racecourse. He got to the Canterbury races with school mates as often as possible. He quickly developed the love of a punt. He acknowledges the deeds of his two favourite horses of the 1980’s. The fifty one year old recalls a $200 bet he placed on Bounding Away to win the 1986 Golden Slipper- a pretty good bet for a 17 year old. He talks of his time at the Max Rowley Radio School, famous for developing the talents of several high profile media personalities. Darren looks back on his first paid job behind a microphone. It was a thankless task but it got him on the way.