Larry Collmus
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Larry Collmus | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 13, 1966 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Sport | Thoroughbred horse racing |
Larry Collmus (born October 13, 1966) is a
Commentary career
Collmus got his start by calling his first race at
Collmus' move to a major summer racing circuit occurred in 1994 when he became the announcer at Monmouth Park, host of the 2007
On August 13, 2014, Collmus was announced to once again succeed Tom Durkin, this time as the voice of the New York Racing Association (NYRA). He began calling the races at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course in April 2015 as part of a five-year contract.[5] He departed NYRA after his contract expired.[3]
Collmus called races at Del Mar in 2020 as regular track announcer Trevor Denman did not attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Denman returned in 2021.[6]
In March 2023, it was announced that Collmus will call the 2023 Dubai World Cup Night at Meydan Racecourse, replacing the regular Emirates Racing Authority caller Alistair Cohen. Cohen stated that the deal to hire Collmus was done behind his back and in response he terminated his ERA contract with immediate effect and returned to his native South Africa.[7]
Notable calls
Collmus earned national notice when on August 22, 2010, he called a race at Monmouth Park featuring two horses named Mywifenosevrything and Thewifedoesntknow. The two horses made a move on the back stretch and found themselves leading the race, with Collmus playing off the contrasts of the two horses' names in his stretch call:
... "Mywifenosevrything! Thewifedoesntknow! They're 1-2! Of course they are! Mywifenosevrything in front, to the outside, Thewifedoesntknow! Mywifenosevrything! Thewifedoesntknow! Mywifenosevrything... MORE than Thewifedoesntknow! (Monmouth Park - August 22, 2010 - Race 7)
Collmus' stretch call attracted worldwide attention[8] and earned hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
Collmus has also called races at
He had the call for NBC on June 6, 2015, when American Pharoah won the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes, in the process becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978:
... "And they're into the stretch, and American Pharoah makes his run for glory as they come into the final furlong. Frosted is second with one-eighth of a mile to go. American Pharoah's got a two-length lead. Frosted is all out at the sixteenth pole. And here it is! The 37-year wait is over! American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!"[9]
He also had the call of the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland for NBC, where American Pharoah attempted to be racing's first Grand Slam winner:
..."And they're into the stretch, and American Pharoah has a four-length lead, Effinex is second, and then it's Frosted, Tonalist, and Honor Code. American Pharoah comes into his final furlong, and he's got a five, a six length lead as they come to the wire. A Triple Crown Winner, A Breeders' Cup winner, A HORSE OF A LIFETIME!!!"
In 2018, Collmus called another Triple Crown win, when Justify won the 150th Belmont Stakes:
..."A sixteenth to go. Justify is still there. Justify from Gronkowski--he's just perfect. And now he's just immortal! Justify is the 13th Triple Crown winner![10]
References
- ^ a b Bossert, Jerry (February 13, 2014). "Larry Collmus Is Named New Track Announcer at Churchill Downs". NY Daily News. New York Daily News. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ "At The Post: Former Suffolk announcer Collmus a hit". The Daily Item. April 28, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Grening, David (January 29, 2020). "John Imbriale takes over from Larry Collmus as NYRA race-caller". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ McKinzie, Brad (August 15, 1990). "Los Alamitos: Larry Collmus, Announcer at Fair Meeting, Is a Man With a Host of Race-Calling Voices". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ Grening, David (June 29, 2016). "Collmus steps down from Gulfstream announcing job". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ "Del Mar announcer Trevor Denman to make return". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Rancour at the mic: Dubai race caller heads home saying Larry Collmus is lined up for World Cup". March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Collmus's 'Wife' Stretch Call Becomes National Sensation" (Press release). Oceanport, NJ: New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. August 25, 2010. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Brothers, Donna (June 19, 2015). "Holding Back Tears After American Pharoah's Triple Crown". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ "Belmont Stakes 2018, Full Race: Justify's Pursuit of the Triple Crown". NBC Sports. June 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.