Tag: John Dooley

What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Cody’s Wish

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com

“Cody's Wish was definitely one of my racing highlights of 2023.”
–Susan Anderson, Trainer

“There was no shortage of amazing horse racing memories in 2023. But one story that transcends racing is the incredible journey Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman (and his family) took us on. Beyond inspiring and heartwarming, it showed us in vivid color the genuine beauty of the magical connection between horses and humans. The Breeders Cup victory of Cody's Wish and celebration of Cody and his family is truly the feel good moment of the year.”
–Jeff Bloom, Bloom Racing Stable and TAA President

“There are several moments and races to choose from, but if I had to pick one, it would be the story of Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman, which was already incredible leading to the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The excitement and anticipation was huge and the way the race unfolded all the way to the end was absolutely breathtaking!”
–Ramon Dominguez, retired Hall of Fame jockey

Cody Dorman with Cody's Wish | Kelly Dorman

“Cody's Wish showed his resolve and determination to win the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by a narrow margin and to remember his namesake, Cody, who brought us all together this year to root him on.”
–John Dooley, track announcer

“My favorite moment was Cody's Wish giving everything he had to win one last time for his namesake, Cody Dorman. Cody is a special, gifted horse who understood and fulfilled his mission, one that transcends racing.”
–Deirdre Duke, racing fan

“Cody's Wish and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. With a lot of talk throughout the year about what is wrong with the sport, the last eighth of a mile was a reminder of what makes horse racing so uniquely special.”
–Amy Zimmerman, Executive Producer, Santa Anita Park

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Air Quality Concerns Cause Midwest Cancellations

Dangerous air quality conditions caused by wildfires in Canada have forced the cancellation of the live racing programs at Hawthorne Race Course in suburban Chicago and at Horseshoe Indianapolis further to the south and east.

“Based on the poor air quality in Indiana today's races have been canceled,” a tweet from the track read. “This decision was made mutually with our horsemen based on the safety of the participants in our racing program coming first. A decision on bringing today's races back will be made shortly.”

Track announcer John Dooley tweeted a graphic from WRTV in Indianapolis indicating that the air quality index (AQI) in the state capitol was a 'very unhealthy' 257 as of 8 a.m. ET Wednesday. Racing is scheduled to return Thursday at 2:10 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

“Safety and consideration for our equine and human athletes always comes first, no matter what the circumstances are,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “We are fortunate to have a great partnership with our racing organizations, and as a group, we decided this decision was the best for everyone involved. We even want to take into consideration the safety of our racing fans who enjoy sitting trackside to watch the horses.”

The AQI as of 7 a.m. ET in Cicero, Illinois, was also in the very unhealthy range at 218, according to Hawthorne's Jim Miller, prompting track officials to take a similar decision. Miller said racing is expected to return Thursday.

Racing at Belterra Park near Cincinnati, at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennyslyvania, and at JACK Thistledown outside of Cleveland was also called off.

Tracks on the eastern seaboard were also forced to cancel racing over the last few weeks, the result of wildfires in Eastern Canada.

 

 

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Dooley Named Race Announcer At Horseshoe Indianapolis

John G. Dooley, veteran racing announcer who has provided the call for hundreds of graded stakes races, has been named the new track announcer for Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino. Dooley will step into his new Indiana role when the 20th season of racing gets underway Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

“We are elated to add such an accomplished track announcer to our racing team at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “John Dooley's voice is associated with so many top races each year and having him in the announcer's booth in Indiana will be a big boost to our racing program.”

A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Dooley moved into horse racing following graduation from St. John's University in 1987 where he obtained a degree in sports management. After serving in the publicity offices of Monmouth Park in New Jersey and NYRA, he moved into his first announcing position at Thistledown in Ohio for six years before returning to NYRA as the assistant track announcer until 1997.

Dooley then became the announcer for Lone Star Park in Texas during their inaugural season in 1997 and relocated to Arlington International Park in 2000, a position he held until the track closed in 2021. In addition, Dooley joined the staff at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as the track announcer in 2004 during the winter months, creating a circuit between Fair Grounds and Arlington for the past 18 years.

“I'm excited for this new opportunity to join the broadcast team for the newly branded Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Dooley. “I think racing in Indiana is moving in a positive direction. Having lived and called races in the Midwest for the past 22 years, and knowing many horsemen and fans in the region, I look forward to being a part of the 20th anniversary season in Indiana.”

Dooley has been associated with some of the top races in North America over the past two decades, including the Arlington Million at Arlington Racecourse and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He has been the voice behind tens of thousands of races during his career with two calls holding a special place in his heart.

“I enjoy every race card I get a chance to do, but I'll never forget my first Grade 1 race,” said Dooley. “The race was Go for Wand winning the 1990 Beldame at Belmont Park while I worked for the NYRA Press Office. And I always think back to the great moment for Chicago racing fans when The Pizza Man rallied to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million in 2015. It was a thrilling finish to see the Illinois bred win it for the home team.”

Dooley will make a circuit out of calling races in Indiana as well as Fair Grounds moving forward. He also has a large following of fans on social media and is engaged in all aspects of promoting horse racing.

“In addition to being such a recognizable force in the announcer's booth, John (Dooley) will assist our race marketing team with several promotions and events throughout the year,” said Halstrom. “He's definitely very invested in our sport and having him as part of our program is a big boost to our entire production.”

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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Dooley Named Track Announcer at Horseshoe Indianapolis

John G. Dooley, a fixture in the announcer's box at numerous Midwest tracks, has been tabbed to replace Bill Downes as the voice of racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis Race Course, the former Indiana Grand Racecourse. Eric Halstrom, the vice president and general manger of the track, revealed the news in a tweet Friday afternoon.

A native of Staten Island, New York, Dooley graduated from St. John's University on Long Island and served as an intern at the Meadowlands and at the New York Racing Association before accepting his first announcer's job at Thistledown in 1991. After five years at the Cleveland-area oval and after calling the winter meet at Aqueduct in 1996 and 1997, Dooley relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and was on the mic at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie from 1997-1999.

He got his major break in the year 2000 when he was given the nod to take over announcing duties at Arlington Park when the track reopened following a two-year closure. Dooley brought the curtain down on racing at Arlington this past September.

In 2004, Dooley added the Fair Grounds to his portfolio and has called the races in New Orleans ever since. The 2022 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis, highlighted by the GII Indiana Derby in July, begins Apr. 19.

 

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