This comes as surprising news as legendary horse racing announcer Tom Durkin has left NBC as the Voice of the Triple Crown. When NBC took over the Triple Crown from ABC in 2001, Durkin did the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. He continued to call all three races even when ESPN/ABC took the rights to the Belmont in 2006 so he’s had a streak of the last 30 Triple Crown races.
As NBC signed the rights to all three races again this year, Durkin citing stress told NBC he was resigning. Then he quickly had a change of heart, but just recently told NBC he was opting out of the races.
David Grening of the Daily Racing Form says Durkin had to seek treatment for stress before last year’s Triple Crown.
Before NBC acquired the Triple Crown, he was the original voice of the Breeder’s Cup calling the first 22 runnings before ESPN took over the rights.
Durkin will continue to call the Belmont as he works for the New York Racing Association, although only the in-house audience will be able to hear it. Durkin is one of the best at calling horse racing. He will be missed.
NBC says it will have a new caller of the Triple Crown. I’d love to hear Dave Johnson and his famous call of “And down the stretch they come!” but it appears the network is leaning towards Larry Collmus of Gulfstream and Monmouth Parks whose 2010 call of the “My Wife Knows Everything” and “The Wife Doesn’t Know” became viral.
Thanks to Marcus Vanderberg of Sports Newser for the link.
