American Track Announcers From Days Gone By.

[craigbraddick]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

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

Yes, I have found in the first project I mentioned not many first hand accounts left and even getting samples of their work can be difficult. But that is why I think getting something down now will be better than nothing. And archiving is a real passion of mine.

I may for now not do Durkin, Johnson and Anderson. So much has already been written about them. I am not going down the biographical route with these but trying to be a little more analytical. However, that may change. One thing I have learned doing this kind of project is lines you draw in the sand can quickly be erased! Thanks for your list. Definitely some names to look up there!

[craigbraddick]

Originally Posted by Big Russ

Constantine "Costy" Caras -Charles Town

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

[castaway01]

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

There's a 1990 Washington Post article that came up on Google about an average day at Charles Town, and Caras is mentioned in the first sentence, so he was still working there at that point.

[craigbraddick]

Thank you. I actually work with someone who must have worked with him so I will see if I can find some of his calls. Thank you so much!

[cj]

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

Talk with Larry Collmus, he knew Costy well.

[Frost king]

How about Tony Bentley, he called the Fairgrounds.

[affirmedny]

Originally Posted by craigbraddick

Was Jim Hannon also the caller at Calder?

Thanks

Suffolk Downs. Also when Jessica Paquette says "now they're all in" I believe it's a tribute to Jim

[BobBaffertsSyringe]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

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..."

leaving the furlong grounds

[Rollingpk3]

Originally Posted by craigbraddick

Was Jim Hannon also the caller at Calder?

Thanks

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...kingham%20Park.

[craigbraddick]

Originally Posted by Frost king

How about Tony Bentley, he called the Fairgrounds.

I actually still work with Tony at some NSA meets so he is not retired!

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by Frost king

How about Tony Bentley, he called the Fairgrounds.

And Canterbury when it opened, and the 1983 Arlington meet, and was also a fixture on the HUNT circuit.

[mostpost]

Roger Huston at the Meadows.
Joe Hernandez at Santa Anita.
Harry Henson at Hollywood Park.

[rastajenk]

Longtime River Downs fans probably recall some individual Kevin Goemmer calls, especially if it involved the great local filly Tah Dah. He died too soon in the late 80's, I think, but he had an entertaining style. "Winningponies", who used to run some contests here a few years ago, probably has an extensive collection of Kevin's calls.

Great Announcers From the Past is a sure-fire popular topic.

[Johnny V]

Bob Weems.

[BarchCapper]

In that category of retired/gone for 15-20 years:

Grew up with Marshall Cassidy in my ears at the local OTB and at the NYRA tracks - so he will always be my gold standard.

Left NYC for two years of college in Chicago in 1981 - Phil Georgeff was a bit of culture shock - but came to appreciate why he was the gold standard for those out that way.

And feel pretty privileged that my next move brought me to Phoenix and Turf Paradise - just after Luke Kruytbosch had arrived there!