Keith Jones - Parx announcer to retire

[Peter Berry]

Originally Posted by jameegray1

Sad to see the end of a couple of long race calling careers in 2020. Keith with 33 years at Philly plus John Curran who had 37 years under his belt at Delaware. That's an incredible 70 years' between them!

I see Delaware have announced that Josh Brown will take over race calling duties there for 2021. I wonder who will end up calling at Philly? Perhaps Peter Berry would like to step up to a bigger track after almost 20 years calling at Mountaineer? Would LOVE to see him calling at Parx!

Someone pointed out to me that, following Keith Jones's retirement, I will be the second-longest tenured Thoroughbred announcer at one track behind Richard Grunder. I find that astounding, given that I expected the Mountaineer gig would have led to bigger things many years ago.

[Robert Fischer]

enjoyed Keith Jones race calling

best wishes in retirement

[Track Collector]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

enjoyed Keith Jones race calling

best wishes in retirement

Dittos!

I always thought Keith was one of the underrated announcers, just like Dave Rodman and Peter Berry.

[affirmedny]

Originally Posted by Peter Berry

Someone pointed out to me that, following Keith Jones's retirement, I will be the second-longest tenured Thoroughbred announcer at one track behind Richard Grunder. I find that astounding, given that I expected the Mountaineer gig would have led to bigger things many years ago.

I think John Dooley at Arlington and Dave Rodman in Maryland may be ahead of you in tenure

[Peter Berry]

Originally Posted by affirmedny

I think John Dooley at Arlington and Dave Rodman in Maryland may be ahead of you in tenure

I think you're right.

[jimmyb]

Happy trails Keith. Gonna miss you.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by alhattab

Jones really did, plus it sounded like he was calling out of the bathroom with that weird echo sound. Come to think of it, there is a whole generation of callers with unique voices that are gone. I wasn't familiar with Hannon, but Ross Morton, Bob Weems (Monmouth), Mike Battaglia and Marshall Cassidy come to mind where you instantly recognize the track or circuit based on their voices.

Harry & Gary Henson comes to mind as well when thinking of race callers who we instantly think of when hearing their voice. Others I might put in there would be Michael Wrona, Don Alexander, Tony Calo, Tony Bentley, Phil Salzman?

Keith was the matrix board operator at Garden State Park when it re-opened in 1985. I was the backup announcer to Ralph Siraco. When I left to take the job at DRC they posted a message on the bulletin board in the break room for the backup job. Keith had never thought of being an announcer but with those cannonading pipes he decided to look into it and the rest is history. A wonderfully nice, gentle man who deserves all the praise he's receiving and more.

Doug O'Neill used to train a horse named in his honor. I called him a couple times at HP. CREAM DONUT KEITH.

Will be very interesting to see who Keith's successor is?

VERY big shoes to fill.

CONGRATS on a GREAT career KJ!

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Peter Berry

Someone pointed out to me that, following Keith Jones's retirement, I will be the second-longest tenured Thoroughbred announcer at one track behind Richard Grunder. I find that astounding, given that I expected the Mountaineer gig would have led to bigger things many years ago.

Technically, I don't think Trevor has ever announced his retirement, although I would assume Del Mar would love to just move Collmus into the permanent slot.

If Trevor still counts, he started in '84 there.

[Peter Berry]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Technically, I don't think Trevor has ever announced his retirement, although I would assume Del Mar would love to just move Collmus into the permanent slot.

If Trevor still counts, he started in '84 there.

His streak was broken when he sat out this year.

[alhattab]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Harry & Gary Henson comes to mind as well when thinking of race callers who we instantly think of when hearing their voice. Others I might put in there would be Michael Wrona, Don Alexander, Tony Calo, Tony Bentley, Phil Salzman?

Keith was the matrix board operator at Garden State Park when it re-opened in 1985. I was the backup announcer to Ralph Siraco. When I left to take the job at DRC they posted a message on the bulletin board in the break room for the backup job. Keith had never thought of being an announcer but with those cannonading pipes he decided to look into it and the rest is history. A wonderfully nice, gentle man who deserves all the praise he's receiving and more.

Doug O'Neill used to train a horse named in his honor. I called him a couple times at HP. CREAM DONUT KEITH.

Will be very interesting to see who Keith's successor is?

VERY big shoes to fill.

CONGRATS on a GREAT career KJ!

Great stuff. I didn't realize that about Jones running the matrix board!

BTW Vic, nothing left of Garden State Park except the "gatehouse"

https://img.geocaching.com/waymarkin...6cd1aff5b3.JPG

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Technically, I don't think Trevor has ever announced his retirement, although I would assume Del Mar would love to just move Collmus into the permanent slot.

If Trevor still counts, he started in '84 there.

Del Mar would NEVER "LOVE" for anyone to be their announcer other than Trevor. He sat out this year because of worries about COVID. I'm quite sure if the virus threat has passed, Trevor will be right back where he belongs and welcome to stay as long as he wishes.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Del Mar would NEVER "LOVE" for anyone to be their announcer other than Trevor. He sat out this year because of worries about COVID. I'm quite sure if the virus threat has passed, Trevor will be right back where he belongs and welcome to stay as long as he wishes.

The last part is quite true. There's no way in 100 universes that Del Mar wouldn't let him come back if he asked to.

But think about this from a track management / HR perspective- you now have the best announcer in the country working for you, and he's called 2 seasons already. If Trevor does come back, you will lose that, and Trevor will probably retire in a few years anyway (plus his skills are already declining somewhat in the meantime). At that point, Collmus may not be available.

So yeah, Del Mar's management will never say this publicly, but of course it would simplify their lives if Trevor decides not to come back.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

you now have the best announcer in the country working for you

In your opinion of course.

And weren't you the one who always said announcers don't mean squat to the game?

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

In your opinion of course.

And weren't you the one who always said announcers don't mean squat to the game?

They don't. But that doesn't mean track management is indifferent to announcers. Those are two different propositions.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The last part is quite true. There's no way in 100 universes that Del Mar wouldn't let him come back if he asked to.

But think about this from a track management / HR perspective- you now have the best announcer in the country working for you, and he's called 2 seasons already. If Trevor does come back, you will lose that, and Trevor will probably retire in a few years anyway (plus his skills are already declining somewhat in the meantime). At that point, Collmus may not be available.

So yeah, Del Mar's management will never say this publicly, but of course it would simplify their lives if Trevor decides not to come back.

Larry is an accomplished, elite announcer. Calling him the BEST in the country is I'm sure very gratifying to him. And a VERY bold statement on your part.

As a huge fan of announcers myself. IMO along with Larry one could list several others who might qualify for that distinction. Pete Aiello, Kurt Becker, John Dooley, Frank Mirahmadi, Dave Rodman, Travis Stone & Michael Wrona just to name a few.