Denman in, Durkin out for Breeders' Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Veteran horse racing announcer Trevor Denman has been named to replace Tom Durkin as the voice of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. This year's Breeders' Cup races will take place at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 4.

Denman takes over from Durkin because of Durkin's exclusive contract with NBC. Until this year NBC had televised every Breeders' Cup since the inaugural edition in 1984. This year's World Championships will be broadcast for the first time on ESPN.

"Trevor is second to none among the world’s race callers," said Norby Williamson, Executive Vice President of Studio and Remote Production. "We are extremely pleased to have him in such an important role on our Breeders’ Cup coverage."

A native of South Africa, Denman is the regular announcer at Santa Anita Park and Del Mar racetracks in southern California. He began calling races in South Africa in 1971.

The Breeders' Cup program on ESPN will be expanded from six hours to seven. Running from 12 p.m. (et) to 7 p.m. (et), the show will feature hosts Chris Fowler, and Kenny Mayne, analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss along with reporters Hank Goldberg, Jeannine Edwards, Joe Tessitore and others.

Durkin, who called all the Breeders' Cup races since 1984, remains the race announcer on NBC's telecasts of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. This year he was heard announcing the Belmont Stakes on ABC, but was not identified as a network employee nor seen on camera.