Wednesday, November 12, 2008

STONE TO FILL IN FOR WRONA IN ANNOUNCER’S BOOTH AT GGF

ALBANY -- Travis Stone, a 24-year-old native of New York and the track announcer at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., will call the action at Golden Gate Fields this Wednesday through Sunday.

Stone will be filling in for Golden Gate Fields track announcer Michael Wrona, who will be calling the races at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., this week.

Wrona and Stone are two of five "guest announcers" that Churchill Downs is employing during its 2008 Fall meeting. Churchill Downs officials are seeking a replacement for the late Luke Kruytbosch, who died of a heart attack on July 14 at age 47. Kruytbosch was the voice of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby since 1999.


Stone arrives at Golden Gate Fields fresh off his week of calling the races at Churchill Downs. Golden Gate Fields is the second pinch-announcing assignment for Stone, who called the action at Calder Race Course in Florida from Sunday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 2, while Calder announcer Bobby Neuman took his turn in the Churchill Downs' announcer's booth.

"I'm awfully excited about coming out west and calling at Golden Gate Fields," said Stone. "I love race calling and I love horse racing. It's exciting to be able to share my passion for horse racing with fans at different racetracks."

Stone's career in horse racing began in 2006 when he was named track announcer at Louisiana Downs. He garnered the job less that six months after graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta, where he majored in Communication Arts.

Post time at Golden Gate Fields Wednesday through Sunday is 12:45 p.m.

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