Longtime Meadowlands announcer and director of television Sam McKee suffered a major stroke Thursday and is in critical condition after undergoing surgery at a New Jersey hospital Friday, according to a statement issued by the Meadowlands.
McKee, a Hall of Famer who has called both Thoroughbred and Standardbred races, took up residence in the Meadowlands announcer booth full time in 1998 and is beloved by the harness racing community.
The Meadowlands release stated, “McKee is a tireless worker and gives all of himself to promote his beloved sport. There is no fan, horsemen, or even bettor that has not felt goose bumps while listening to one of his signature “charging hard” calls as the horses come storming down the Meadowlands stretch. While McKee has touched and influenced countless people in the industry, his character and reputation stand above all else. He is the most kind, genuine person one could meet and is tremendously generous to all that know him.”
A GoFundMe account has been established to help McKee and his family during the long recovery ahead of him and can be accessed here.
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