American Track Announcers From Days Gone By.

[Ruffian1]

A lot of great memories and Ray Haight would probably need to be one of those as well.

But, once a trainer, I tried to block that noise out and watched the race and was able to see more by not listening to an announcer.
But for me, the one announcer when I watched races that I could not block out
was Robin Burns.
The funniest, most clever announcer I ever listened to.

Had a horse winning by 12 in the slop going long at Laurel named Milwawkee and he says at the 1/8 th pole, " By a dozen raw with a slide of slaw, It doesn't get any better than this, Ole Milwaukee... in front."

And, a horse named Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice that I had. He is coming to the 1/4 pole and going around 2 or 3 vying for the lead and he says, " and up on the outside it's Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice, here comes all four of them!"

The guy was incredible, and a great golfer as well. No matter what you shot, he would always beat you by one stroke. Lol.


Oh and Costy, "and up on the outside it's Piping Pier...coming on!"

[Tom]

Ross Morton, a legend!

Two calls,

"Mr. Frog hops into the trifecta!"
"Patient Patty waited too long!"

[shoelessjoe]

Dick Wooley Laurel and Pimlico


Costy was a good one

[king kong]

Babe Rubinstein a big player also. late 50s early 60s

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by craigbraddick

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.

Hernandez is really important because he's the first guy who really figured out just how to put together a race call so it sounded coherent.

McCarthy was the first great national radio caller.

Dave Johnson: most important race caller of my lifetime- announced NYRA, Santa Anita, called a ton of Triple Crown races and big races on ABC/ESPN

Chic Anderson, Jack Drees, and Bryan Field were really important for their television work.

Fred Capossela was not only important as NYRA's first really important race-caller, but also called many of the early televised Derbies.

Those strike me as the big ones.

If you want to go beyond that:

Marshall Cassidy: longtime NYRA voice; took over for Chic Anderson; called races for CBS

Harry Henson: original announcer at Longacres, announced at Arlington, then at Hollywood Park and Del Mar

Hal Moore: announced at Hollywood Park

Tod Creed and John Gibson: longtime announcers at Bay Meadows/Golden Gate Fields

Gary Henson: Harry's son, longtime announcer at Longacres

Phil Georgeff: longtime announcer at Arlington

Ross Morton: longtime announcer at Gulfstream/Hialeah

Bob Weems: longtime announcer at Monmouth

Alan Buchdahl: announced Oak Tree and Hollywood Park; called many of the important races in John Henry's career

Roy Shudt: most important harness announcer of all time- called a ton of races on television in the 1950's/1960's and was track announcer at numerous successful harness tracks.

Bobby Doyle: original announcer of quarter horses at Los Al

Terry Gilligan: replaced Hernandez at Santa Anita; longtime quarter horse announcer at Los Al

Edit: of the people others mentioned, I would go with Luke Kruytbosch. He called Derbies and Hollywood Park and was important.

[Inner Dirt]

Harry Henson, the first TB announcer I heard live.

[Dan Montilion]

That guy at Keenland up to and including 1996 was damn good.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Dan Montilion

That guy at Keenland up to and including 1996 was damn good.

ISWYDT

[46zilzal]

Loved old Todd Creed. He would get "loaded" during a program then start singing after the last race. Colorful but undisciplined.

[dilanesp]

1 more: Dick Wooley (longtime Maryland announcer, on track voice of the Preakness)

[46zilzal]

Recall that old Clem McCarthy was fired after calling the wrong winner in a Preakness.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/05...947-preakness/

[Big Russ]

Originally Posted by craigbraddick

When do you think he finished at Charles Town? If it was in the 1980's I may know someone who worked with him there.

Thanks

I think Costy finally called it quits in 1999 at about 75 years young.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Ruffian1

A lot of great memories and Ray Haight would probably need to be one of those as well.

But, once a trainer, I tried to block that noise out and watched the race and was able to see more by not listening to an announcer.
But for me, the one announcer when I watched races that I could not block out
was Robin Burns.
The funniest, most clever announcer I ever listened to.

Had a horse winning by 12 in the slop going long at Laurel named Milwawkee and he says at the 1/8 th pole, " By a dozen raw with a slide of slaw, It doesn't get any better than this, Ole Milwaukee... in front."

And, a horse named Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice that I had. He is coming to the 1/4 pole and going around 2 or 3 vying for the lead and he says, " and up on the outside it's Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice, here comes all four of them!"

The guy was incredible, and a great golfer as well. No matter what you shot, he would always beat you by one stroke. Lol.


Oh and Costy, "and up on the outside it's Piping Pier...coming on!"

Did he call Hollywood Park Harness in the late 70's and early 80's?

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by 46zilzal

Recall that old Clem McCarthy was fired after calling the wrong winner in a Preakness.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/05...947-preakness/

He wasn't fired for that. That was 1947. He continued calling TC races at least through 1951 or so.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Did he call Hollywood Park Harness in the late 70's and early 80's?

That was Robin Burns. He called thoroughbreds at Laurel for awhile too, until they brought in David Rodman.