Collmus to succeed Durkin as NYRA announcer

Launching a new era for horseplayers and racing fans around the world,

New York Racing Association

CEO and President Chris Kay announced the appointment of Larry Collmus as the

organization's next race caller. The voice of the Triple Crown and the Breeders'

Cup for NBC Sports, Collmus will be succeeding Tom Durkin in this important

role.

"The New York Racing Association was privileged to have one of the greatest

voices in professional sports calling our races for more than two decades. With

our addition of Larry Collmus, we have another," Kay said. "Larry's highly

acclaimed work for NBC Sports, including with the Triple Crown and the Breeders'

Cup has inspired excitement and generated lasting memories for horseplayers and

racing fans everywhere. We are fortunate that Larry has chosen to bring his

talents and passion back to New York, and I would like to extend a warm welcome

on behalf of the men and women of this great organization."

Starting in April 2015, Collmus will assume his duties during the final month

of the Aqueduct spring meet. He will continue during the Belmont Park spring and

fall meets, and the prestigious summer meet at Saratoga.

"I am so excited and honored to become the next voice of New York racing,"

Collmus said. "The racing in New York is second to none -- Belmont Park has such

a rich history of championship racing and Saratoga has the best racing in the

world and an atmosphere unlike any another place. I have some enormous shoes to

fill as Tom Durkin raised the bar of our profession very high over the course of

his brilliant career with The New York Racing Association."

Collmus, 47, has been long admired and is highly respected for his work on

the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup for NBC Sports. He also calls races

during the winter months at Gulfstream Park. Collmus will continue in both

roles, but will be leaving his current position at Churchill Downs to move into

his new role.

"I'd like to thank everyone at Churchill Downs who treated me very well

during my brief time there," Collmus added. "I am trading one dream job for

another. I'm also very happy that The New York Racing Association is also giving

me the opportunity to continue my work at NBC and to call the winter at

Gulfstream."

Durkin, who has been bringing his special brand of excitement to the New York

racing circuit since 1990, announced earlier this year he will call his last

race at Saratoga on August 31, bringing an extraordinary 43-year career to a

close. The New York Racing Association will devote much of Sunday the 31st in

Saratoga to honoring Durkin.

"I would like to congratulate Larry and wish him the very best," Durkin said.

"It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the loyal racing fans of New York

for all of these years. I am confident that Larry will find New York racing as

exciting and rewarding as I did."

John Imbriale, Director of TV Production for The New York Racing Association,

will call the 2014 Belmont fall meet and will continue to serve as the main race

caller at Aqueduct, with the exception of the month of April. Imbriale has been

calling races at Aqueduct for more than 15 years.

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