Tony Calo

"Inside Churchill Downs," the popular weekly horse racing radio show, returns for its 11th season Friday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN Louisville's ESPN 680/105.7. Co-hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack's Communications Team--Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein--the one-hour program will feature insights from a rotating cast of Churchill Downs' expert racing analysts: Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free, Tony Calo and Kevin Kilroy. Friday's season opener will spotlight this weekend's key Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Championship Series races. Fans outside the Louisville area can listen live at www.espnlouisville.com or catch...

Florence, KY--"Okay, I'm coming!" said Kaitlin Free. Bursting into a small room sandwiched between the announcer's booth and Free's broadcast studio at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, the Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) analyst was only halfway through applying her mascara and eyeliner, but that wasn't going to stop her from watching Flood Zone (Frosted) take the GII Gotham Stakes. With half her face on and the other 'au naturel,' Free's eyes were glued to the screen as she watched intently, offered an assessment as the field blazed for the far...

Tony Calo has been named the new track announcer at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Monday. The North California native, who replaces the departing Scott Shapiro, will continue to serve as the announcer at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming in addition to a handicapping analyst at Churchill Downs. Aside from his duties as an announcer, Calo will join Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free and, newly-promoted handicapping analyst, Kevin Kilroy on the Churchill Downs simulcast feed for the Spring, September and Fall Meets. "I'm honored to become the...

Veteran racecaller Tony Calo will be at the mic when the Kentucky racing circuit returns to Turfway Park in Florence Wednesday, Nov. 29. A California native, Calo--best known for his growling 'and there they go' at the break--began his career at Arapahoe Park in Colorado, returning to the Golden State one year later to describe the action at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. Calo has been the track announcer for the last 15 years at Finger Lakes in upstate New York. He takes over from Jimmy McNerney, who will...

The $700,000 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, offering qualifying points for a spot in the field for the GI Kentucky Derby, is the centerpiece of a 20-strong stakes schedule at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, this winter and spring. Jeff Ruby Steaks Day will feature a total of six stakes events, including the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic, the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks--a Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying race--the $250,000 Animal Kingdom S., the $250,00 Latonia S. and the $250,000 Rushaway S. Turfway will host one other Derby points race, the...