DURKIN THE TOAST OF SARATOGA

By Mike Kane 
Tom Durkin didn’t go quietly. He left the crowd at rainy Saratoga Race Course roaring Sunday at the conclusion of the retirement ceremony in the winner’s circle to mark the end of his distinguished 43-year career calling Thoroughbred racing. 
After pausing briefly to control his emotions while thanking fans for their support, Durkin, ever the performer, delivered one more time, pumping his fist for punctuation. 
“It’s time to say goodbye and say some final words into this microphone for one last time,” he said. “I have chosen these words very carefully and they are these: Long live horse racing and long live Saratoga.” 
The thousands who had waited through the rain to see Durkin honored, cheered and applauded. 
Durkin, 63, announced earlier this year that he would retire on Aug. 31, the next-to-last day of the Saratoga season. He said that the time that 24 years with the New York Racing Association was just enough and one more might be too many. 
NYRA turned his final week at the microphone into a Tom Durkin lovefest, showing many of his greatest calls between races. Durkin’s last race was the 123rd running of the GI Spinaway and he went out in style, describing Condo Commando as “splash-tastic” during her 13 1/4-length triumph on a sloppy track. 
While the filly was completing her journey through the stretch under jockey Joe Bravo, the crowd started clapping and cheering–clearly to salute Durkin–and turned toward Durkin’s announcing booth above the finish line. The crowd began chanting his name. 
Durkin received a standing ovation moments later when he walked down the stairs in the clubhouse toward the winner’s circle. He paused to wave to the crowd and touched his right hand to his heart to show his appreciation.
NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay presided over the retirement ceremony. Durkin received accolades and gifts from the jockeys and horsemen. Nancy Kelly of The Jockey Club presented Durkin with the Jockey Club Gold Medal. 
Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, noted that Durkin had friends in high places because the rain stopped in time for the ceremony. 
“Tom Durkin is simply the greatest race caller in the history of Thoroughbred racing,” Violette said. “Intentionallly, I said ‘is the greatest,’ because if you’ve been lucky enough to listen to Tom this past week, this past month, you realize that even today, the magic that Tom Durkin is was still with us on Spinaway Day here at Saratoga. 
“The void created by your absence, Tom, will only be exceeded by the gratitude we have for the amazing memories you have left with us. We will miss you dearly. Happy trails.” 
The festivities began before the start of the racing program on a soggy gray day. Standing in the winner’s circle, Congressman Paul Tonko and Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen saluted Durkin, who was in the announcer’s booth, and read proclamations honoring his work. 
Durkin was the voice of the Breeders’ Cup from its inception in 1984 through 2005 and called the Triple Crown series from 2001 through 2011. He started his tour with NYRA in September 1990. 
In his tribute to Durkin, Kay said that he was among the small group of people who could could look back at their careers and say they used all their God-given talents and were the best in their field. 
“But precious and few are those people that are the best in their field when their field is in the public domain, where you are seen and heard by millions of people all the time. That certainly is the case with you,” Kay said. 
“You’ve captured the hearts and minds of millions and millions of people around this globe. From your dramatic race calls to your poetic choice of words to your unabashed passion for this great sport of ours, I speak on behalf of every fans who has ever been thrilled to listen to you speak. We will sorely and dearly miss you.” 
NYRA gave Durkin a bottle of fine Italian wine, a check for another trip to Italy, a key to the city of Saratoga Springs and announced that the Tom Durkin Replay Center will open in 2015 at Saratoga Race Course. 
Durkin said it would take until next year to thank all the people who had helped him during his career. 
“There is one person, that is completely and entirely responsible for this wonderful life that I’ve had the privilege to live in horse racing,” he said. “I’m happy to say that that person who is responsible for it all, is here at Saratoga today. Right now he’s in the backyard at a picnic bench under a pine tree, probably looking up at this very image right ow. She’s at the top of the stretch leaning over the rail, in a clubhouse in a box seat, at an OTB parlor in Syracuse, at a track in Ohio, in front of computer terminal in California. That person, that I express my gratitude to is you, the racing fans, the horseplayers, Thank you for it all. Thank you for everything.”