Darren Owen
Encyclopedia
Darren Charles Owen is a horse racing commentator, born 3 June 1967 in St. Asaph, North Wales.
Having been interested in horse racing since a young age, Owen won the regional final of an amateur sports commentator competition, organised by BBC Radio 2 and sponsored by Fosters Lager, in 1989. He finished third in the nationwide final. Following this breakthrough, he began commentating on horse racing for BBC Radio Wales, starting with the 1989 Welsh National won by Bonanza Boy.
He contributed to both the Sporting Life
and Racing Post
from 1992, providing in-running comments for individual races. Following the closure of the Sporting Life, he continued to work for the Racing Post and still contributes to the present day - mainly at local racecourses such as Bangor-On-Dee, Chester and Haydock Park.
Joining the racecourse commentary team in 1997, Owen made his debut at Wolverhampton on 29 March. By the end of 2010, he had called at 40 of Britain's 60 racecourses. In 2011, Kempton Park, Yarmouth, Towcester and Plumpton will be new additions to his list, taking the total to forty-four.
Following a decision by the BBC to add a fourth commentator to their Grand National
team, Owen joined Jim McGrath
, Ian Bartlett
and Tony O'Hehir for the 2004 running of the Aintree spectacular - taking the field from Valentine's Brook to the Melling Road. He continued in this position until 2010, when he moved to cover Becher's Brook
, Foinavon
and the Canal Turn
.
He has also been heard calling at Chepstow and Haydock Park for BBC Television, including the last race to be transmitted from Haydock Park by the BBC before coverage switched to rival broadcaster, Channel 4.
When not working for the Racing Post or as a Racecourse Commentator, Owen can be heard at harness racing fixtures throughout the UK as well as a small-number of Point-to-Points and for William Hill
Bookmakers, broadcasting to their betting shop estate and Internet radio service.
Having been interested in horse racing since a young age, Owen won the regional final of an amateur sports commentator competition, organised by BBC Radio 2 and sponsored by Fosters Lager, in 1989. He finished third in the nationwide final. Following this breakthrough, he began commentating on horse racing for BBC Radio Wales, starting with the 1989 Welsh National won by Bonanza Boy.
He contributed to both the Sporting Life
Sporting Life (newspaper)
The Sporting Life was a British newspaper published between 1859 and 1998 that was best known for its coverage of horse racing. Latterly it has continued as a multi-sports website....
and Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
from 1992, providing in-running comments for individual races. Following the closure of the Sporting Life, he continued to work for the Racing Post and still contributes to the present day - mainly at local racecourses such as Bangor-On-Dee, Chester and Haydock Park.
Joining the racecourse commentary team in 1997, Owen made his debut at Wolverhampton on 29 March. By the end of 2010, he had called at 40 of Britain's 60 racecourses. In 2011, Kempton Park, Yarmouth, Towcester and Plumpton will be new additions to his list, taking the total to forty-four.
Following a decision by the BBC to add a fourth commentator to their Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
team, Owen joined Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath (British commentator)
Jim McGrath is an English-based horse racing pundit and broadcaster. He was associated with Timeform from 1974 until 2009.McGrath had an ambition to become a jockey, but after a summer at trainer Bill Marshall's yard at Whitsbury, he was advised that he wouldn't make the grade...
, Ian Bartlett
Ian Bartlett
Ian Bartlett is a horse racing commentator and occasional analyst for the BBC.. He has also commentated for Channel 4 Racing.For the BBC's television coverage of the Grand National, Bartlett commentates on four sections of the 4½-mile steeplechase, from the 1st to 5th fence, 10th to 12th, 17th to...
and Tony O'Hehir for the 2004 running of the Aintree spectacular - taking the field from Valentine's Brook to the Melling Road. He continued in this position until 2010, when he moved to cover Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year...
, Foinavon
Foinavon
Foinavon was a relatively undistinguished Irish racehorse, until he became famous for winning the Grand National in 1967 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. He was at one time owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours...
and the Canal Turn
Canal Turn
The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England....
.
He has also been heard calling at Chepstow and Haydock Park for BBC Television, including the last race to be transmitted from Haydock Park by the BBC before coverage switched to rival broadcaster, Channel 4.
When not working for the Racing Post or as a Racecourse Commentator, Owen can be heard at harness racing fixtures throughout the UK as well as a small-number of Point-to-Points and for William Hill
William Hill (bookmaker)
William Hill plc is one of the largest bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters is in the north London suburb of Wood Green and in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
Bookmakers, broadcasting to their betting shop estate and Internet radio service.