Stone Named New Churchill Announcer

Travis Stone has been named Churchill Downs’s new track announcer, taking over for Larry Collmus starting at the beginning of the Louisville oval’s Spring Meet beginning Apr. 25. Stone, 30, called the races at Monmouth Park’s 2014 meet and worked as the back-up announcer for the New York Racing Association this winter. Collmus, who will continue to call the GI Kentucky Derby on NBC, will begin calling races for NYRA in April. “It is truly an honor to become the new voice of Churchill Downs and to join a community that shares my passion and enthusiasm for this wonderful sport,” Stone said. “The opportunity to call the Kentucky Derby and all of the prestigious races at Churchill Downs is a dream come true. I am already counting the days!” A native of Schroon Lake, N.Y., Stone graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in Communication Arts before becoming track announcer at Louisiana Downs in 2006 at age 22. He remained at that post through 2013 before succeeding Collmus at Monmouth. “Travis Stone is justly a rising star among the North American announcing ranks,” said Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs Racetrack President. “To no one’s surprise, numerous race callers with a wide range of talent and individual style showed interest in our vacant track announcer position. But it became clear to us that Travis’ passion for horse racing and charisma resonated through the microphone and made him the ideal fit for our team and racing at Churchill Downs. Flanery continued, “It’s apparent that Travis works tirelessly to hone his craft with entertaining, colorful and accurate race calls. We believe he’s one of the nation’s premier announcers and will be a fabulous ambassador for Churchill Downs Racetrack in a community and region that loves horse racing like no other for years to come.”