Racing: Murtha to switch off mike

Reon Murtha

Reon Murtha is going to miss having the best seat in the house.

Because when the voice of Canterbury racing heads to the races in December it will be as a spectator.

The 65-year-old has announced the Dominion Handicap meeting at Addington on November 24 will be his last in Canterbury, with his hometown meeting at Reefton in January his last official engagement.

Murtha is so entrenched as the man behind the microphone at Addington, Riccarton and the other Canterbury racetracks an entire generation of racing fans cannot imagine racing without him.

But he says the time to step down has come.

"Eventually you come to the conclusion that everything has its final point," said Murtha. "You can't go on forever and I think the time is right now to step aside.

"But I won't lie, it is going to leave a vacuum in my life because racing has been such a big part of who I am for a long, long time."

Murtha says he will miss the memorable clashes, like the home-stretch battle between Hands Down and Delightful Lady in the 1980 New Zealand Trotting Cup.

"Races like that one, No Response's Interdominion Grand Final and Lord Module's come from last to win in his last race, all stick in your mind."

Murtha admits it is harness racing which has given him the greatest memories because the greats all pass through Addington, but he has a head full of great moments from his galloping commentating days as well.

"I loved calling Empire Rose when she won the New Zealand Cup and Show Gate at the cup meeting.

"I got to call great horses like Balmerino and Bonecrusher before they became household names."

Murtha says while leaving will be sad he will appreciate the chance to enjoy the spectacle of racing.

"It is a funny thing as a commentator but you never get to enjoy the race like members of the public do because you are concentrating so much on what you are doing.

"It is work and you don't want to make a mistake and it is not until after the race it really sinks in. So I will be able to go to the races now and watch and enjoy them like anybody else.

"It just means that I won't have the best seat in the house any more."

Murtha's experience will not be lost though, with Racing Board head of broadcasting Glen Broomhall saying he will be used to mentor a new generation of race callers.