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Downes Named New Announcer At Emerald

Emerald Downs has announced the hiring of Bill Downes as track announcer for its 2022 live racing season, beginning Sunday, May 15.

Downes succeeds Tom Harris, who recently stepped down to spend more time with his family.

A Chicago native, Downes brings an extensive announcing resume to Emerald Downs. He served as Indiana Grand track announcer from 2013 to 2021, and before that called races at Ellis Park, Beulah Park, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He also was back-up announcer at Churchill Downs.

“I'm thrilled to come to Emerald Downs,” Downes said. “Emerald is a track I've always held in high esteem. I was there once for a two-day handicapping tournament, and the thing I noticed was an excellent on-track experience. Everyone was having a good time.”

Asked to describe his announcing style, Downes said his No. 1 goal is accuracy and providing information.

“Accuracy is the most important thing, nothing else matters if you aren't accurate,” Downes said. “I like to set the scene for a race. Every race is a story.”

Harris, who called four seasons at Emerald Downs, commuted from Spokane to Auburn weekly to call the races.

“I will certainly miss all of the great people, horsemen and horses at Emerald Downs,” Harris said. “It truly has been a wonderful adventure in my life, but my family is very important.”

Downes becomes just the fourth announcer in the track's 27-year history. Robert Geller was in the announcer's booth from 1996 to 2015, followed by Matt Dinerman (2015-2017) and Harris (2018-2021).

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Randy Funkhouser, Top West Virginia Owner/Breeder, Dies At 70

Raymond Joseph “Randy” Funkhouser II, longtime owner and breeder in West Virginia, died Feb. 4. Funkhouser operated O'Sullivan Farm with his family, collecting nearly 250 winners of $6.6 million, according to The Racing Biz.

His top runners were Confucius Say, who won four West Virginia Breeders Classics races, and Julie B, who earned close to $900,000 on the track.

Funkhouser was on the board of directors for the Charles Town HBPA and served as the group's president for a total of 16 years across various terms. He was also the vice president of the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Funkhouser was a founding member and organizer of the Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy.

A graduate of Stanford University, Funkhouser returned to his native Jefferson County, WVa., after college to run O'Sullivan with his mother Ruth and mentor Frank Gall.

Funkhouser often went to the mat for the state's horse racing industry and agricultural interests with various community leaders and state legislators.

“He wanted this industry to thrive,” Joe Funkhouser, son of Randy, told The Journal. “There would be no horse racing in West Virginia without my dad.”

Randy Funkhouser is survived by his wife Clissy, son Joe, and daughter Kate Brown, as well as a grandson and a sister. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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 20^th 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 20^th 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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Fair Grounds: Mitchell Murrill Records 1,000th Career Win

Just a little more than eight years into a career that began at Delta Downs on Halloween in 2013, jockey Mitchell Murrill won his 1,000th career race on Sunday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La., guiding Selective Racing's Yin Yang (2-1 second choice) to victory for trainer Brad Cox in the day's sixth race, an “off the turf” optional claiming/first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

“I've got to thank Brad (trainer Cox),” Murrill said. “This is the first horse I've ridden for him in my career, so it's kind of nice to get into the winner's circle for him. He told me before the race that the horse (Yin Yang) was going to be keen and to try to get her to relax and keep her running forward. She did it today.”

Earlier on the card Murrill won the fourth race on Cypriano for trainer Chris Hartman, who just two days earlier reached a milestone of his own at Fair Grounds, winning his 1,500 career race. The duo has contributed greatly to each other's success, teaming up for 82 wins since first joining forces four years ago. Following a five for ten winning streak, Murrill had been in an 0 for 23 slump prior to his fourth race score.

“It's pretty awesome,” Murrill said of reaching the milestone. “All week it's been pretty tough to get into the winner's circle, but we got it done and I can't be more grateful for everyone who has contributed.”

The 27-year-old native of Mobile, Ala., scored his first career win aboard Golden Barbara on May 28, 2014. Perennially in the top five in the jockey standings at both Fair Grounds and Arlington Park, he had a breakthrough meet in November at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth with 15 wins. He earned a career-best $5,619,207 in purses in 2021 and counts the 2018 Fair Grounds Oaks (G3) aboard Chocolate Martini as his biggest win to date.

“Gerard Melancon helped me out from the very beginning when I started riding at Evangeline,” Murrill said. “It's hard grinding, working. My agent Tim (Hanisch) is out here every day working hard, trying to make connections with everybody and trying to keep everybody happy. We are just trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.”

Murrill's parents and girlfriend had been in attendance earlier in the week, awaiting the milestone win that didn't come until Sunday.

“I told them if I didn't win, they had to go home,” Murrill joked. “I wish they could have been here to share this with me.”

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