Durkin Wins 'Big Sport of Turfdom' Award

Recently retired track announcer Tom Durkin has been named recipient of the Turf Publicists of America's Big Sport of Turfdom Award, the organization announced Nov. 14.

 

The annual honor is bestowed upon a person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and Thoroughbred racing publicists. Durkin is the first track announcer to receive the Big Sport of Turfdom, which has been awarded annually since 1966.

 

"I am delighted to win this award and join the ranks of some of the people I've admired and respected all of my professional life," Durkin said. "It is thrilling to me to be mentioned in the same sentence as some of those folks."

 

Durkin, 63, called the final race of his career Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course. Over 43 years as a track announcer, he elevated the craft by injecting his calls with unprecedented drama, and the improvised narratives he summoned enhanced the thrill of race watching.

 

Durkin is responsible for many of the most iconic calls in the history of Thoroughbred racing, from "the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar" to "Rachel Alexandra raises the rafters here at the Spa!" 

 

Born in Chicago, Durkin studied theater at St. Norbert College and began calling races at county fairs in Wisconsin in the summer of 1971. In 1975, he moved on to ply his trade at a string of small  tracks, including Cahokia Downs, Balmoral Park, Quad City Downs, and Miles Park before landing the job at famed Hialeah Park in 1981. Three years later, he was hired as the announcer for the annual Breeders' Cup, a job he held until 2005, and gained further fame calling the Triple Crown for a decade beginning in 2001.

 

Overall, Durkin is estimated to have called more than 80,000 races, including at least 40,000 as lead announcer for the New York Racing Association over the past 24 years. Beyond his professional duties, Durkin has been involved in several causes assisting backstretch workers, including New York's Backstretch Employees Service Team, for which he serves as a board member. 

 

Durkin sat for countless media interviews in the months leading up to his retirement. A report on his historic send-off at Saratoga made the front page of the New York Times. 

 

"For so many of us, our memories of racing's greatest moments are inextricably linked with Tom's voice," said TPA president Mandy Minger. "This award recognizes not only his contributions as an announcer, but as an ambassador. Tributes to Tom's career permeated the mainstream media this year, capturing the class and generosity of a man who represents the best of our sport."

 

The Big Sport of Turfdom will be presented at the Race Track Industry Program Awards Luncheon Dec. 11, emceed by Chris Lincoln. It is part of the 2014 Symposium on Racing and Gaming presented by the University of Arizona at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

 

The TPA consists of approximately 150 publicity and marketing personnel from racetracks and racing organizations around the country.