An Australian racecourse commentator has issued a heartfelt public apology after making what he described as 'the type of blunder you never want to make' during a high-stakes race at Meydan in Dubai. Pat Comerford, who has been the resident racecaller at the prestigious UAE track since the 2023-24 season, found himself in an embarrassing situation after mixing up the colours of two horses in a closely contested handicap event.
The Confusion at the Dubai Carnival
The incident occurred during the 11th meeting of the Dubai Carnival season on Friday, which featured several British stables among the competitors. One notable runner was Tailgunner Joe, a 28-1 outsider trained by Dylan Cunha, a South African former airline pilot who has established a successful operation in Newmarket. The horse was ridden by jockey Bernardo Pinheiro in a one-mile handicap race.
A Costly Mistake in the Final Straight
As the race entered its crucial final stages, Comerford mistakenly identified Tailgunner Joe as Carron, another British challenger who was the 7-4 favourite. Both horses were wearing similarly pale colours, which contributed to the commentator's confusion. Comerford called the action believing Carron was making a strong challenge along the rail under jockey Billy Loughnane, when in reality it was Tailgunner Joe who was surging forward.
In his race commentary, Comerford declared: "Carron is taking the short way home. It's Jolly Roger the leader, but here comes Carron up the inside. Jolly Roger and Carron, Breakdancer reeling home as well in the late part. Carron is diving at Jolly Roger who goes to fight. Carron! Tailgunner Joe! My apologies, Tailgunner Joe has come over the top to win."
Public Apology on Social Media
Following the race, Comerford took to his X account to offer a formal apology to trainer Dylan Cunha and the connections of Tailgunner Joe. He wrote: "I want to apologize to @dylancunha_uk and connections of Tailgunner Joe there, similar colours racing together under the lights and have made the type of blunder you never want to make and called him the wrong name the whole way down the straight. I'm glad I realized the last second at the line but apologies to the stable and team there, congratulations on the amazing win."
Comerford added that it had been "a long time since that has happened," acknowledging the rarity of such a significant error in his professional commentary career. The commentator's mistake occurred despite his extensive experience calling races at Meydan throughout the Dubai Carnival season, where he describes every race at the track.
The Race Outcome
Despite the commentary confusion, Tailgunner Joe managed to secure a dramatic victory by a neck over Jolly Roger in the closing moments of the race. The win represented a significant achievement for trainer Dylan Cunha and his team, particularly given the horse's outsider status against the favoured Carron.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by race commentators who must accurately identify horses moving at high speed, often in difficult lighting conditions and when animals wear similar colours. While such mistakes are uncommon at the professional level, they can have significant implications for viewers, bettors, and racing connections who rely on accurate commentary.
