The voice of Keeneland; meet the track’s first and only announcer

LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — Amidst the raucous crowd at Keeneland if you listen carefully during a race, you will hear the voice that has been calling races at the track for almost three decades.

Kurt Becker would be the first to admit that becoming the first and only track announcer in the history of Keeneland took a bit of luck.

When the opportunity was first presented to him 28 years ago, Becker held his experience in a much different kind of race, broadcasting NASCAR for Motor Racing Network.

“I think what had happened, I think management had checked with some other folks and they said, look, I can’t get free, I can’t take three weeks off in the spring or three weeks in the fall, no matter how much they wanted to,” Becker explained.

Almost three decades later, it would seem odd not to hear Becker’s voice serenading the crowd over the PA system, but it took some time to get used to the newness of it all.

“You had, surprisingly, the more seasoned race fans, they seemed more receptive to having a race announcer than the younger fans,” recalled Becker. “I remember younger race fans saying, look, you know, our parents, our grandparents, they used to come here with no track announcer and a lot of them told the press we wanted to be part of that tradition.”

A typical race day for Becker doesn’t start that morning with the sunrise and a cup of coffee, they start a few days prior.

“I will take a legal pad. I’m old fashioned in that regard, and I will sit down a couple of days out and I will review the entries,” Becker detailed. “Thank goodness we live in the day and age of technology. I’ve learned if I’m uncertain how to say a name, it will throw the race call off. It will even throw the winner’s circle presentation off because one becomes so self-conscious about it.”

This attention to detail allows him to give each race the respect they deserve.

“You don’t want to be someone that tries to override or change that atmosphere. You want to be part of that atmosphere and help enhance the experience.”

Enhancing the experience brings back advice Becker got years ago.

“I remember a piece of advice I got many years ago from a man by the name of Cliff Gilliams,” Becker said. “Cliff pulled me aside one day, and it was here at Keeneland early in my career here, I had called a winner across the line and the call. I had checked the tote board, and I said huge upset. 35 to 1. He pulled me aside. He said, you know, because of the fact that this grandstand is facing west and you’re looking into the sun and there’s a glare on that tote board, he said, you need to be real careful because he said, if you’re not careful, the day might come when you tell the crowd, oh, big upset 35 to 1, and only one is too late, you’re going to realize that’s actually 3 to 5.”

Having this job at Keeneland, it is not lost on Becker how fortunate he is to have the job he does and to be a part of an elite group of Lexington Sports Broadcasters.

“Part of the pressure for me coming to Keeneland, Lexington has been home over the years to some terrific sportscasters,” Becker said.” I think of Tom Hammond, I think of Tom Leach, both of whom are and have been part of the Keeneland family as well and every time I listen to their work product, I think to myself, okay, you’ve been allowed to be part of this broadcast fraternity, so to speak, in Lexington and every day I think, man, I hope I don’t do something to lose their respect because I’ve got great regard for them.”

Situated high above the track, Becker will admit that it can be hard to hear the roar of the crowd, but he uses his love for Keeneland and passion for racing as the driver for each call.

“I look out across this racetrack every day and it’s just so peaceful,” Becker described. “The setting is pastoral, and the backstretch is bordered by, you know, gently rolling pasture and it’s almost like a step back in time.”

Despite all his years of experience, Becker still paces around anxiously in the lead up to each race, saying only one thing relaxes those nerves.

“I’m one of these folks who will ponder everything that might go wrong during the day, and I almost, psych myself out,” Becker explained. “The best time of day for me is 1:00 eastern, when that gate latch springs and the horses come out of the gate for the first race, because I’m at a point where, I’m like let’s go, let’s get the races going because at that point, hopefully I can look at those horses on the track, and in my mind I can think about the fact it’s just them and me.”

So, when you’re at the track this meet season, soak in all the action but also take a moment to close your eyes and just listen.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.