28 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
in the outside ring, their jacket pockets
emblazoned with flags from European nations,
South Africa, even the USA.
The stars were in alignment when Frank
stopped at the first aid room and asked the man
in charge to stow his suitcase. “He couldn’t
believe that I had traveled 250 miles by myself
to the Horse of the Year Show and that I didn’t
have a place to stay,” Frank said. “He spoke to
his superior and they agreed to let me sleep on
one of the stretchers.” The staff of St. John’s
Ambulance brigade took the 13-year-old under
their wing. They arranged for him to have the
wristband (still a treasured memento) which
granted the wearer access to areas restricted
to riders and trainers (including the grooms’
showers!) and also supplied him with meal
tickets.
During his first Horse of the Year Show,
Frank enjoyed countless memorable moments,
rubbing elbows and exchanging greetings with
show jumping stars. In retrospect, Frank would
remember the indelible impression made by Dorian Williams –
equestrian, chairman of the British Horse Society, author, patron
of the arts, and the voice of the BBC1, which televised hours of
daily coverage of the Horse of the Year Show. “At the time, I had
no clue that Dorian would become my mentor for commentating,”
Frank recalled.
A Charmed & Fascinating Life
Frank’s first “gig” as announcer took place more than 44 years
ago at the Knebworth Park Show Jumping Club in Hertfordshire.
“I kept bugging Pat Priestman, who ran the show, to let me
help,” Frank recalled. “Finally she said, ‘I know what you can do
– here, do the commentary!’ I didn’t even know how to use the
microphone, let alone commentate, but after about 15 minutes I
started doing the commentary and by the end of the afternoon I
thought I was ready for the BBC1!”
In fact, Frank worked long hours on his elocution, practicing and
recording, listening and refining his accent. His efforts paid off. In
the mid-1970s at Frank’s first Hickstead, Dorian asked him to do
commentary on the history of hunters in front of a huge crowd.
“I remember exactly what Dorian told me – whatever you do,
don’t go into verbal diarrhea, because you will lose the audience!’
Everything I know about announcing, Dorian taught me,” Frank
said. “I’ve enjoyed so many wonderful times – like the first time
I announced the Horse of the Year Show in 1974,
seated next
to Dorian, who was doing the commentary for BBC’s televised
coverage.”
By 1980, however, British television saw the advent of cable
companies, which competed for viewers with ITV, BBC1 and
BBC2. Televised coverage of show jumping, which Dorian turned
into a British institution, dwindled to 30 minutes here and there.
“In 1982, tragedy struck – Dorian got throat cancer. It stopped his
career and he died a year later,” Frank recalled.
The demise of horse-TV in the mid-1980s affected British
equestrian coverage. Serendipitously, in 1978, Frank ran into a
longtime rider-friend, who had relocated to California. When she
invited him to visit, Frank jumped at the chance. He even did a
guest spot announcing at the Santa Anita Horse Show in 1979.
“I absolutely loved it,” Frank recalled. “I went home, sold my
house and moved to the U.S. on March 3, 1980. In 2000, I became
a Millenium American citizen.” With Florida his current home base,
he continues to travel around the nation and the world to shows.
He is especially proud of being asked to Doha (Qatar) twice – to
Frank and the team in Doha before the start of the 2011 Pan Arab Games that
featured almost 11,000 athletes representing 45 nations from the Middle and Far
East.
Horse of the Year Show 1978: Frank Waters with Ryan’s
Son, the horse that launched John Whitaker into international
limelight, earning Olympic silver and for 10 years the most prize
money on the circuit. Frank risked an asthma attack so that his
good friend John could warm up another horse.
1973 Horse of the Year Ball in London (l-r): Jimmy Hill (famous
soccer player, manager, commentator), Miss Equestrian Nicki
Haynes (daughter of movie star Michael Caine), Frank Waters,
and reigning men’s world show jumping champion David
Broome.
