Tom Durkin to retire August 31st

[knickslions2]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

saw the 87 classic last week, gave me goose bumps.

Just watched it again. Great race!!!

[TouchOfGrey]

DRF|Durkin honored with Big Sport of Turfdom award

Durkin is the first track announcer to receive the Big Sport of Turfdom, which has been awarded annually since 1966.

Durkin, 63, joins a list of winners that includes jockeys Mike Smith, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay Jr., Chris McCarron, Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero Jr., Eddie Arcaro, and last year’s winner, Gary Stevens. Trainers Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, and Jack Van Berg also won this award, as did author Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman, individuals who may not be involved in the day-to-day aspect of Thoroughbred racing but made significant contributions to the sport.

[TouchOfGrey]

Durkin to Receive Eclipse Award of Merit

Capping an extraordinary career as one of North America's premier race track announcers and one of the most popular personalities in Thoroughbred racing, Tom Durkin—longtime voice of the New York Racing Association tracks, the Breeders' Cup, and the Triple Crown—will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

Durkin, 64, who retired Aug. 30 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., after a 43-year-career, will be presented the Award of Merit at The 44th Annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

"This is quite an honor and quite a surprise," Durkin remarked. "The award has never been given to a track announcer before, and to be singled out when you consider all of the great announcers who preceded me like Fred Capossela, Joe Hernandez, Chic Anderson and Dave Johnson, this is quite a distinction.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#ixzz3MHGJaEWB

[casp0555]

Retirement is looking good on Tom....

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...ays-the-thing/

[TouchOfGrey]

Originally Posted by casp0555

Retirement is looking good on Tom....

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...ays-the-thing/

Thanks for posting this. Great to see!