Churchill Downs' Stone to Call Saudi Cup

Travis Stone, the on-track voice of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), this year will become the voice of the world's richest horse race: the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 20.

Stone, track announcer at Churchill Downs since 2015, arrived midweek in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in preparation for calling two days of racing. Up first is the action Feb. 19, featuring the Saudi Cup's International Jockeys Challenge, followed the next day by numerous stakes highlighted by the Saudi Cup.

"It's a unique opportunity. Not a lot of callers get to call on an international stage," Stone said by telephone from Saudi Arabia.

More often than not during international events, English-speaking announcers come from other parts of the world other than the United States, often from Britain. The inaugural Saudi Cup last year was called by ITV Racing's Richard Hoiles.

I’m excited to share that after an unexpected overnight stay in Jordan, I’ve safely arrived in Riyadh and look forward to calling @thesaudicup! A challenge looms but what an honor it is. For now the goal is to maintain negative tests, manage jet lag and memorize silks! Let’s go!!

— Travis Stone (@TravisStone) February 17, 2021

This year, Stone gets to put an American spin on the race—perhaps appropriate since the race's favorites, Charlatan and Knicks Go, are U.S.-trained, as are several other top contenders.

"It's pretty cool, to be honest. I'm very excited about it," said Stone. "It's a very good race, as we all know. Charlatan and Knicks Go are extremely talented horses. Tacitus is a deserving contender in that group, as well. It's a different challenge. I'm looking forward to that race the most.

"I have a little more anxiety over calling some of the local horses over the next couple of days. English is my first and only language. So it's a learning curve, and some more research needs to be done in the next couple of days to get some of these names down. But that's probably the one part I have the most anxiety about. But calling the big race, it's going to be a lot of fun. I think these two horses are talented and fast, and I trust they'll put on a good show because they're good, and the way the race figures to shake out."

Americans watching the simulcast and television feed from Saudi Arabia should recognize another face and voice. Michelle Yu, simulcast host at Santa Anita Park, is on-site.

Walk through the schooling gate @thesaudicup pic.twitter.com/MrDVM83x8a

— Michelle Yu (@TheMichelleYu) February 18, 2021

They are joined there by American horsemen, some that initially arrived with the traveling horses, and others traveling closer to race day.

Stone, 37, said he has enjoyed his first couple of days in the region, though getting there was not without its hurdles. First, seven inches of snow threatened to impact his outgoing flight from Chicago, Stone said, and then he had to make an unscheduled one-day stop in Jordan to await additional COVID-19 testing before completing his travel to Saudi Arabia.

Since arriving, he's provided commentary on morning training and viewed his sightlines from the booth from where he will call the action, atop the finish line at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

"It has a feel like walking around Churchill during Derby week. There are people moving around, setting things up, getting things ready for the big race days," he said.

Stone is also completing his preparation. One area of focus has been to familiarize himself with the pronunciation of the names of horses and participants.

"The Arabian names are going to be challenging. In one of the races, there are five of them where the only difference is the first word in a three-word name, and they all have the same silks," he said with a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, that is going to be a very methodical, slow-to-develop call."