The hilarious incident appeared to be the final straw for the race caller who was already unhappy that scaffolding was also visible during the greyhound race at Kilkenny
A commentator had a minor meltdown when a workman appeared in front of the camera while he was trying to call a race.
Greyhound racing is a daily staple of the betting shop offering in Britain and Ireland with the races often described by commentators working from home. So it came as an unwelcome surprise to the Kilkenny commentator who, when he sat down on Wednesday to call the first of 13 races, the 10.57, to see that scaffolding had been erected right in front of the camera.
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And he didn’t hide his frustration at the situation as the starter checked that the six dog field was loaded before the hare was set running.
“Absolutely diabolical that this scaffolding is fronted right in front of the camera view here,” he complained.
Once the traps were opened, he got on with describing the race only to see the dogs momentarily disappear behind one of the horizontal poles from the scaffold structure as they approached the first bend.
“What a joke this is!” he lamented.
That wasn’t the end of his travails as the greyhounds exited the back stretch and took the final bend, a workman in a high viz vest and hard hat entered the camera shot.
“It’s 2 from 1,” he struggled on, but then said, “Oh, for – what a joke this is!”, before completing the race with, “It’s 2 from 1 then 4 up the straight. 2 wins it, Yacht Tom.”
The incident has been shared on social media and attracted nearly 200,000 views. It was posted with the caption, “If you think you’re having a bad day, watch this..”
There was no shortage of sympathy for the commentator’s effort. “Commentator POLES APART, from any other one, lol,” said one post.
“Unbelievable,” said another. “SIS hierarchy have lost there s*** today, Commentator had to use all his will power, not to swear.”
“Could you blame him? He showed great restraint!!,” came the reply.
The camera position was moved for later races.