American Track Announcers From Days Gone By.
 

Hi People!

I have been writing a large work that I hope will be completed in the next twenty four months regarding the development of sports announcing on Television from the UK from 1948-1972.

Along similar lines I would like to do a project between now and mid summer along the lines of exploring the race calls and impact of say 5-10 US Track Announcers whose careers finished more than 15-20 years ago. If you have ideas for names you would like to see included, please post below. I think I am going to start with Clem McCarthy whose few race calls I have heard sound very distinctive and also Joe Hernandez.

However, your thoughts and ideas of US callers to look whose careers finished more than 15-20 years ago is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Chicago's very own Phil Georgeff, who was the announcer when I first got intoduced to this game. Some of his race calls still echo in my mind even now. :ThmbUp:

Ross Morton was iconic at the old Gulfstream as well as Finger Lakes forever, and if you are counting harness callers, Jack E Lee.

Definitely got to include Phil Georgeff. Some of his calls I have heard he was quite ahead of his time in describing the moves horses were making.

I grew up listening to Ross Morton and that's the voice that I'll always remember when I think back to the old days:

https://www.fingerlakesgaming.com/ra...nter%20months.

Aside from the obvious ones, Jack Lamarr (Philly Park) was a great listen. While his bread and butter calls were So and So is first, Whatshisname is second...and so on he'd once in a while throw out a gem like "...draws off under sunny skies and left handed urging..."

For now it will be TB callers but you are third person who has mentioned Ross Morton. When do you think he finished up his career?

Marshall Cassidy and Dick Wooley.

Jim Hannon Rockingham Park

Bob Weems
Luke Kruytbosch

Craig, the three of you have something in common.


-jp
.

When he died of a stroke in 2008.

Retirement date and being out of the game 15-20 years is fine, but getting first hand accounts are going to all the harder. So, I have ignored that to give you all of the memorable callers that I have heard (live or video). My list is no particular order (with some names that many have forgotten):

Fred Caposella
Marty Glickman (YR, 1963-69)
Stan Bergstein (Grand Circuit Meetings)
Jack E. Lee (RR, Freehold, Suffolk Meadows)
"Bullet" Bob Myers (YR, Saratoga)
Max Brewer (MR)
Dick Longtin (Parr Meadows)
Gil Levine (Sportsman's Park)
Tony Salvaro (Maywood)
John Bothe (Meadowlands)
Sam McKee (Starting at Detroit Race Course)
Dave Johnson
Marshall Cassidy
Tom Durkin
Harry Henson
Chick Anderson

Constantine "Costy" Caras -Charles Town

I give a little nod to them both every day I enter the booth at Turf Paradise. Did you ever see the light box I had made up for Luke that lives in the booth now?

Was Jim Hannon also the caller at Calder?

Thanks