Collmus to Announce at Del Mar This Summer

Larry Collmus, the voice of the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup on NBC television and a national race caller with 35 years of experience, will announce at Del Mar this summer in what the track describes as a "pinch-hitting" assignment for the track's regular announcer, Trevor Denman.

According Del Mar, Denman recently told track officials that he and his wife Robin did not wish to travel away from their Minnesota farm and asked to decline this summer's assignment because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"When Trevor told us of his situation, we naturally had to respect what he was feeling," said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar president and COO. "We immediately worked up a shortlist of possible replacements and Larry was the man we zeroed in on. Happily, he said he was available and would be delighted to call our meet. We're very pleased to be able to have him be the guy in our booth when we're off and running on July 10."

Collmus, 53, a New Jersey resident, called his first race at the age of 18 at Bowie Race Course in Maryland and has announced at various racetracks from Golden Gate Fields in California to the three New York Racing Association tracks with additional stints at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Monmouth Park.

Earlier this year, NYRA announced it had made John Imbriale as its primary race caller, replacing Collmus, who had called most of NYRA's races from spring through fall since 2015.

"I can't wait to get out there," Collmus said in a telephone interview June 17. "I called the Breeders' Cup out there in 2017 but that's the only time I've had a chance to call races there. It's one of the best places around. So I can't wait to be a part of it and enjoy a summer by the Pacific Ocean, even though I live a block from the Atlantic Ocean."

Since 2011, the Baltimore native has taken on the prestigious role of race caller for the Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup races on NBC. This week he will call the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1) for television.

A reshuffled Triple Crown will take Collmus to Churchill Downs for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and to Pimlico Oct. 3 for the Preakness Stakes (G1) for NBC.

Collmus will announce at Del Mar through the end of August before he travels to Churchill Downs for the Derby. He said he was uncertain of the Del Mar's announcing plans for the final week of its meet, which concludes Sept. 7.

Following the Kentucky Derby, Collmus will share announcing duties with Michael Wrona at Kentucky Downs during that track's six-day meet Sept. 7-16.