Dave Johnson | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dave Johnson Joins TDN Writers’ Room, Talks Secretariat

On that June afternoon nearly 50 years ago, Dave Johnson was there to witness one of the most memorable moments in the history of horse racing. As the NYRA track announcer, he called Secretariat's win in the GI Belmont S., an event he, and anyone who was there that day, will never forget. To share his memories, Johnson joined the team for this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. Johnson was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.

He recalled that Secretariat came around at the perfect time, that the country was looking for a hero and a heroic story after the struggles of the late sixties and early seventies.

“There was Watergate and Vietnam, and this was before people scratched off lottery tickets and before sports books and casinos,” he said. “Racing was the great place to go and make a legal bet. And then along comes this great horse with a great crew. You had Lucien Laurin training and Ronnie Turcotte riding and Mrs. Tweedy was a great cheerleader. She just she captured the audience. When you'd see her on television rooting for a horse, you wanted her to win. So it was all of those things that came together with this magnificent animal. Secretariat just came at the right time and with the right people and at a time where the sport didn't have the problems it has now. People loved Secretariat and loved the story, and it was a hell of a story.”

In that era, announcers were not allowed to call the finish of a race because that was seen as a violation of the Wire Act of 1938, which was meant to discourage bookmaking. But he did his best to let his audience know that something special was taking place.

“I called Secretariat in front by 25 lengths at the sixteenth-pole,” he said. “I had never called a horse in a race other than a steeplechase race in front by that much. So I called him in front by 25 lengths at the sixteenth pole and then I shut the mic off at the 70-yard mark saying Secretariat wins the Triple Crown or something like that. I don't think NYRA has the call. But that's what I remember, how gigantic the margin of victory was. It seems like yesterday. It doesn't seem like 50 years ago.”

Johnson has called hundreds of major races, including a slew of Triple Crown events while working for ABC. But nothing, he said, will ever top the 1973 Belmont.

“It was the greatest spectacle in my lifetime of watching horse races,” Johnson said. “If you brought any horse in the world to the Belmont that afternoon at a mile-and-a-half, Secretariat would have beat them. It was it was just spectacular. It was the greatest moment for me in horse racing. I don't think you'll ever match it.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore,https://lanesend.com/ the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, 1/st Racing, WinStar Farm, XBTV, Lane's End and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley, Zoe Cadman and Randy Moss discussed the news surrounding the National Thoroughbred League, the new racing initiative that hopes to bring the team aspect that is at the core of other sports to racing. There was some skepticism that it will succeed and Moss pointed out just how expensive it will be purchase the 36 horses that will be needed to form the racing teams. But there was agreement that the league deserves a chance and they applauded its founders for trying something new and different that could bring new fans to the sport. The rash of fatalities at Churchill Downs took up much of the podcast. As is the case with just about everyone in the industry, the team doesn't see there being any magic bullets but was in agreement that the situation is a terrible problem for a sport holding on dearly to its social license to operate. And how will Rich Strike (Keen Ice) do now that he has been turned over to Bill Mott? The consensus was that Mott will have his work cut out for him but that if anybody can get last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner back to top form it is his new trainer.

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Retired New York Post Racing Writer Ray Kerrison Passes

Ray Kerrison, a former racing columnist for the New York Post known as a fearless reporter who was never afraid to tackle the most sensitive subjects, passed away Sunday. He was 92.

His death was first reported by the Post, for whom he covered 32 Kentucky Derbies. A native of Australia, Kerrision came to the Post in 1977 and was a regular on the racing beat through the 1985 season. He then moved over to the news side and worked as a columnist up until 2013. The news department would lend Kerrision to sports after his career change and he continued to cover the major races like the Triple Crown events and the Breeders' Cup up until his retirement.

Kerrison was a product of a different time, when the New York tabloids kept close tabs on racing and were unapologetic when it came to shining a light on the good, the bad and, when it was called for, the ugly. Kerrison's reporting skills helped land him the exclusive on one of the biggest scandals ever at the New York tracks. Kerrison uncovered the 1977 betting coup that involved the switching of the identities of the horses Lebon and Cinzano. Cinzano, a champion in Uruguay, raced under the name of Lebon, a non-descript horse who also came out of South America. Running under the name of Lebon, Cinzano won a race at Belmont at odds of 57-1. For his work Kerrison was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

With his reporting, Kerrison also played a key role in uncovering the scandal that led to charges being brought against Con Errico, Anthony Ciulla and more than 20 others.
According to the Post, Kerrison also covered the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the 1969 moon landing and the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack before moving to the U.S.
“Horse racing needs more journalists like Ray Kerrison,” former NYRA announcer Dave Johnson said. “He was fearless and he took on all subjects, no matter if it might cost his paper advertising dollars. He was an invaluable asset to the game. It's a shame we don't have people like that in racing anymore.”

Kerrison was born in in Cobdogla, Australia. He came to New York in 1963 to work for News Limited. In 1970, he went to work for fellow Australian Rupert Murdoch at the National Star and then joined the Post, also owned by Murdoch.

“It was never about him,” said his son, Patrick. “He was extraordinarily humble. He was very protective of the $2 bettor. When he came on the racing season, Jan. 1, 1977, the other turf writers did not like him and neither did racing personnel, trainers, jockeys. That's because it was very insular and the turf writers acted more like publicity agents as opposed to investigative journalists. What my dad did upset a lot of people. He didn't care. He just wanted to protect the bettors and he wanted everything to be on a level playing field. That's how he was with everything in his life.”

“All I can tell you is Ray Kerrison was just a wonderful human being,” Greg Gallo, a former Post sports editor, told the Post.”He was a terrific journalist, columnist, a tenacious reporter who went after stories full tilt. But he was so gracious in the way he did his business. I used to refer to him as the Fred Astaire of Thoroughbred racing because he was the best. He was the classiest guy who ever worked that beat. No one was better as a journalist. … We really have lost a special person here.”

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Marshall Cassidy, 75, Former NYRA Track Announcer, Passes

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) mourns the loss of Marshall Cassidy, who served as its track announcer from 1979 to 1990. Cassidy, who died Sunday at the age of 75, was noted for his enduring accuracy and even-keeled delivery.

Cassidy, who later served as a patrol and placing judge in New York, was a member of NYRA's elite fraternity of track announcers. Serving as backup announcer during much of the 1970s to Dave Johnson and Chic Anderson, Cassidy took over as NYRA's lead announcer after Anderson's death in 1979.

In addition to his duties on the NYRA circuit, Cassidy called races throughout the 1980s on television for CBS, ABC, NBC and ESPN. He was succeeded at NYRA by Tom Durkin in 1990.

“Marshall Cassidy was incredibly skilled at his craft and a true ambassador for thoroughbred racing in New York,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. “Marshall was a friend to so many, especially in Saratoga, where he could so often be found mixing it up in the press box or talking to fans in the backyard. We mourn his loss and offer our condolences to his friends, family and colleagues past and present.”

Durkin praised Cassidy's unique delivery and accuracy which he said rivaled that of Fred Capossela, NYRA's race caller from 1934 to 1971.

“Marshall had a voice that belonged in the Hall of Fame. He had a resonant baritone and his timbre was perfect,” said Durkin, who was NYRA race caller from 1990 to 2014. “In terms of New York announcers – and this is the highest praise – he was on an even par with Fred Capossela. The most important thing for a racetrack announcer to be is accurate. And for that, Marshall was peerless.”

John Imbriale, NYRA's current race caller, also remembered Cassidy for his accuracy and his distinctive style.

“Nobody was more accurate than Marshall,” said Imbriale. “His call of Easy Goer's Belmont Stakes win will be remembered forever.”

Cassidy also mentored Imbriale in the 1980s at Aqueduct, often critiquing and analyzing his practice calls and teaching him the ropes of a profession that few ever master.

“He was very supportive and really took the time to help me,” Imbriale said of Cassidy. His help was extremely important.”

Cassidy was a member of a distinguished multi-generational family of racing officials in New York. His maternal grandfather, Marshall Whiting Cassidy, was a race starter and later a steward, who eventually became racing director for NYRA's predecessor agencies, and later the executive director of The Jockey Club. Cassidy's maternal great-grandfather, Marshall (Mars) Cassidy, was also a fixture in New York racing as a race starter, the first to use a barrier to start a race, and immortalized in coverage by Damon Runyon.

George Cassidy, Cassidy's grand-uncle, was also a race starter, serving for upwards of 50 years, mostly at NYRA tracks, before he retired in 1980.

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Up the Stretch Awards–‘The Stretchies!’

For the past few years, we have celebrated the highs and sometimes lows, of the Royal Ascot meet with A Tip of the Top Hat awards.

Originally over these five days, we presented `The Down the Stretch’ awards, but the homestretch at Ascot is a gradual uphill tussle. I think it is much harder for a thoroughbred to pull, to dig down deep on the incline in the final three furlongs. Very trying and tiring. Thus, the Up The Stretch Awards.

Here are the 2020 STRECHIE winners.

The winner of the QUICK TURNAROUND AWARD is also the hero and the goat this week. We in the colonies don’t see thoroughbreds, especially at this high level, return to the racing wars so soon after a race. Hey Jonesy (Ire) (Excelebration) {Ire})

finished 22nd in a field of 23 on Tuesday at 33-1 in The Buckingham Handicap. So when you saw this longshot roll right back with only four days rest, and leave the starting gate at only 17-1 on Saturday in the seven-furlong Wokingham S., wouldn’t you scratch your head and wonder where the money was coming from? Even more baffling is the fact that this gelding beat 21 others to win by a nose! Well, there you have the goat on Tuesday, becoming the hero on Saturday. His victory was the low point in the week for me.

The very BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HORSE was Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}, a sensational stayer, bred and owned by Bjorn Nielsen. The now 6 year-old won the G1 Gold Cup for a remarkable third year in a row. Like Forego and Kelso, Stradivarius seems to be getting better as he ages. His margin of victory was 10 geared-down lengths. And on Thursday, Frankie Dettori riding for trainer John Gosden on the gallant now-6 year-old completed this very difficult hat-trick. Leading the stretch procession was simply breathtaking.

The HIGHWAY ROBBERY STRETCHIE goes to Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 St. James’s Palace S. Pinatubo had won six out of six as a two-year old, and was the heavy heavy favorite on Saturday. He finished second, and (in U.S. dollars) paid $2.02 for a $2 tote bet in England.

BEST SINGLE RIDE AWARD goes to Ryan Moore, who I think may have been the only rider who could have coaxed, muscled, bullied and pushed Circus Maximus Ire (Galileo {Ire}) to a nose tally in the G1 Queen Anne S. I should also salute the gutsy and tough winner, trained by Aidan O’Brien.

TOP TRAINER UP THE STRETCH AWARD goes to the classiest of gentleman, John Gosden. He gave himself a good excuse for Stradivarius before the race, if he had lost. John was not comfortable with the soft designation of the course. How wasted his words. It looks like Stradivarius could run on mushy porridge and still win.

THE INVADER AWARD goes to Wesley Ward. A super professional outstanding trainer, who is also a great ambassador for America at the highest level of European thoroughbred competition. Wesley finally got his 11th Royal Ascot victor on Friday with Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). He is the most famous American trainer at Ascot because of his extraordinary groundbreaking efforts at the Royal meeting. And the locals love him.

THE RITZ UP THE STRETCH AWARD is not now called the Leading Jockey of the Royal meeting. I’m going back to the previous moniker. Give THE RITZ AWARD to Frankie Dettori, showman, exuberant, crowd loving Italian, who is also, at age 49, one of the best jockeys in the world. Like Kelso, Forego and Stradivarius, Frankie gets better and smarter as the years pile up. When I was working at Santa Anita, many journalists and broadcasters said Bill Shoemaker should retire. Soon after that, “Shoe” rode the winner of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t retire Frankie.

LUNCH OF THE WEEK award this year will go vacant. Scribes like me enjoyed the extravagant buffet spreads in the Ascot Press Box. But this year those great repasts were non existent. Somehow the ballpark franks I have been having for lunch, even with Skyline chili, just doesn’t get the same dining star rating from Bobby Flay. Maybe next year?

THE BACHELOR AWARD goes to Tom Marquand, who won his first Royal Ascot race 24 hours after his girlfriend Hollie Doyle won her initial Royal tally. Tom took the Queen Alexandra S. on Who Dares Wins (Ire) (Jeremy).

THE JOHN HENRY AWARD (for old timers) goes to a repeat winner. The 94 year-old owner of Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), hero of The Windsor Castle S. Every year, for the past 86 years, she has attended all days of the Royal Meeting. If you don’t think being a fan of this beautiful and exciting sport keeps you young, check out how racing has kept owner, breeder, and fan still on top of her game. She is also the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. Hope to see you next June.

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