Durkin to Receive Big Sport of Turfdom Award

Recently retired track announcer Tom Durkin has been named as the recipient of this year’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award, the Turf Publicists of America announced Friday. 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. 

Previous winners include 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; as well as individuals who may not be involved in the day-to-day aspect of Thoroughbred racing but made significant contributions to the sport including author Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman. 

“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 (click here for TDN feature). 

“For so many of us, our memories of racing’s greatest moments are inextricably linked with Tom’s voice,” TPA President Mandy Minger said. “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 Tuesday, Dec. 11, emceed by Chris Lincoln. It is part of the 2014 Symposium on Racing & Gaming presented by the University of Arizona at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz.