Own it, apologise, move on…….set to jump in the next!

Long time Perth based Darren McCauley, one of the country’s best race callers, will step trackside at Ascot tomorrow to call a nine-race card including its feature, the 2024 Winterbottom Stakes.

This being only one week, after McCauley produced what can only be described as a ‘deadset shocker’ in the Group 1 Railway Stakes; by mistakenly calling the wrong winner (declaring Socks Nation the winner in the 1600m event, as opposed to the actual winner Port Lockroy).

Last Saturday, all racing eyes were on the Railway Stakes (one of Ascot’s, just eight kilometres from Perth’s CBD, premier thoroughbred races) in the richest race of the carnival, with a total prize pool of $1.5 million.

With the call going seamlessly and well, it was only within the last two hundred metres of the race that McCauley split Port Lockroy (predominately yellow silks) and Socks Nation (in red silks) apart and called the name of Socks Nation as the winner as it crossed the finish line, despite an obvious error being the different colour silks worn by the respective jockeys.

To those watching ‘live’ at the time it did appear that, and even to McCauley’s horror himself (later revealing that the closing stages of his call “wasn’t quite right”), upon crossing the line that the Annabel Neasham trained Port Lockroy, and not Socks Nation as was declared, was in fact the winner in first place.

The coverage on Sky Racing even briefly put up Socks Nation as the winner, before promptly switching it back out for Port Lockroy within seconds. Ironically, Comfort Me ran second, which is what McCauley may have been thinking to himself in the immediate aftermath.

In short, McCauley had a real ‘mare’.

Ever the professional, McCauley was horrified and instantly apologised on air in the moments after his botched call as he learnt of his honest mistake.

The call was almost immediately rectified and redone for prosperity purposes (the recreated call correctly declaring Port Lockroy as the winner).

It was a timely reminder for all racing punters and observers of what a specialised and unique skillset it takes to be a race caller (or any broadcaster of ‘live’ events for that matter). It is a difficult job and career; often taking many hours the day before to study (horse colours, numbers, jockeys, barriers, owners) and prepare for often up to 10 races per race day. And not to mention the challenges and pressure that come with it (in the moment you only get one shot at it!!).

Deeply embarrassed and regretful, McCauley owned his mistake in the aftermath and the immediate days following, interviewed on Racing Rewind, admitting that once it has happened you cannot take the moment back. McCauley stating that the only thing you can then do is “admit it, own it and apologise unreservedly”.

McCauley acknowledging and thanking all of the support offered within the racing industry and to those closest to him for all their love and care in the days following. Interestingly he gave the listeners an insight that he doesn’t participate in any social media; so despite all the negativity and those critical of his call (in the words of Tay Tay: “haters gonna hate”), pleasingly he hasn’t read or engaged in any of it.

McCauley confirming that he has shaken things off and is in fact “doing fine”, reinforcing there are bigger issues in life and to put things into perspective.

In short, he is not lamenting his inadvertent error or looking for any self-pity or sorrow.

McCauley assures us that he is a strong character and that he has moved on……set to jump at Ascot and the Winterbottom Stakes tomorrow!

In such an unfortunate event for McCauley, he has managed to demonstrate and remind us all about how to respond when a mistake is made: admit it, own it, apologise (unreservedly if circumstances warrant it), learn from it, don’t repeat it (well in a broadcasters world with never any guarantees, just do your very best not too!).....and importantly, just move on!!!