Tom Durkin

With all eyes soon to be on Saratoga for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will open two new special exhibitions, as well as offer several public events. Capturing and Preserving Greatness: A Life's Passion (The Photography and Historic Collections of Barbara D. Livingston, presented by Daily Racing Form) and A Discerning Eye: The Art of Sir Alfred Munnings (Selections from a Private Collection) will both open Wednesday, June 3. The former chronicles the photography career and historic collections of six-time Eclipse...

The Keeneland Library's spring-summer programs will kick off with a handicapping event with racing analyst Tom Leach on Apr. 29 to discuss contenders for the Kentucky Derby and that weekend's supporting races. The event precedes the Library Lecture Series which will spotlight legendary racing announcer Tom Durkin; champion racehorses A.P. Indy, Cody's Wish and Holy Bull; and a memorable journey on a retired racehorse by an acclaimed author. "We are really excited about Keeneland Library's lineup of upcoming events and being able to feature expert handicapper Tom Leach and master...

The 13th edition of the Riders Up! East vs. West Jockey Karaoke contest kicked off to great success in Saratoga, and raised over $100,000 at the conclusion of the festivities, announced the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Leading a competition reportedly as fierce as anything on the track, Michael and Matthew Straight commanded the crowd with their performance of "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers. They had the crowd on their feet and singing along, and the brothers left their competition in their wake as they secured a double by...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Late in the Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, master of ceremonies Tom Durkin moved close to the microphone and declared it time for the "Smarty Party" to begin. The crowd that filled the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion for racing's annual feel-good day roared its approval. Within a few minutes, Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality), winner of the 2004 GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Preakness Stakes officially joined the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. The Pennsylvania-bred had been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2010, but...

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame continues to mark their 75th anniversary with several special Hall of Fame-themed events coinciding with the annual induction weekend celebration Aug. 1-2. Kicking off the festivities will be the traditional Hall of Fame induction ceremony held Friday, Aug. 1. The inductions will take place at Fasig-Tipton with doors open to the public at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. The event is free to attend, but seating is limited. The 2025 Hall of Fame class is comprised of...

Seven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, headed by Smarty Jones, a finalist for the first time and featured on these pages this week. Additionally, Kentucky-breds Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway have been chosen by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee; and Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III, and Richard Ten Broeck have been elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. In the contemporary category, Pennsylvania-bred Smarty Jones was the lone candidate to appear on the majority...

The 12th annual jockey karaoke contest held July 25 in Saratoga Springs raised over $140,000 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and the second half of the event is scheduled for next Sunday, Aug. 11 at Del Mar, the non-profit said in a release on Thursday. The competition between the jockeys at the Spa included judges Jayson Werth and Father Jim Sichko. Famed track announcer Tom Durkin once again served as emcee. Sponsors who made the event possible included 1/ST Bet, Godolphin, Donegal Racing, NYRA, Centennial Farms, Michael Imperio,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While most of the racing world was focused on the 150th GI Kentucky Derby run last Saturday at Churchill Downs, the final stop on the Triple Crown series--the 156th GI Belmont S., some six weeks hence on June 8--is already at the top of the charts for plenty of people in this horse-centric upstate city. In order to accommodate the massive makeover of Belmont Park, New York Racing Association officials decided last year to stage the 2024 and 2025 runnings of the Belmont S. at Saratoga...

Track announcer John Imbriale has announced that he will retire following a 44-year career with the New York Racing Association. Imbriale's tenure with NYRA dates to 1979 when he won a New York Daily News contest, giving him the opportunity to call a race and work with the NYRA press office. In 1990, the Queens, New York native became Tom Durkin's backup and along the way, took on other responsibilities at NYRA by working with Harvey Pack on the Inside Racing program, and in a variety of roles within NYRA...

Champion and dual classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), who passed away July 16 at age 23, will have his life and racing achievements celebrated with a Saratoga Send-Off party Aug. 16 at Siro's in Saratoga Springs. The event will be a tribute to "The Gutsy Gelding" who captured the hearts of racing fans and continued to be a fan favorite during his 15-year retirement at Kentucky Horse Park. Presented by Sackatoga Stable, the evening will feature a tribute video and a panel discussion emceed by Retired Race Caller Tom...

Tom Durkin will return to the announcers booth to call the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 10, according to a press release from FOX Sports. In addition to calling the Belmont Stakes, Durkin will announce all races aired during the network's Belmont Stakes Day coverage on FOX--scheduled for 4:00-7:30 p.m. Eastern. FOX Sports presents the Belmont Stakes for the first time in 2023 as part of the agreement establishing the network as the home of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival through 2030. "This is yet another...

Officially kicking off its fourth season, the Empire Racing Club (ERC) will offer a reduced membership price of $400 through the official re-launch date of May 1. Membership dues for both new and returning members will be $475 beginning May 2, 2022. Membership is open to both licensed and unlicensed enthusiasts looking to enjoy the social and educational benefits of the Club. The ERC will once again be managed by famed race-caller Tom Durkin. Training the current roster of runners for the 2022 season are Hall of Famer Mark Casse;...