NEWS
Travis Stone
Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 3:56 PM
TRAVIS STONE
Lou Hodges Jr. photo
Louisiana Downs
At 26 years old, Travis Stone is approaching veteran status as the track announcer at Louisiana Downs and continues to garner a growing amount of recognition as a rising star.
Stone can only guess what he would be doing if he had not heard Tom Durkin’s distinctive race calls as he grew up going to Saratoga Race Course, about 60 miles south of his hometown of Schroon Lake, New York. Stone’s father, a New York state police officer, would save up his vacation time for the family to make regular trips to Saratoga.
Stone found himself drawn to watching Durkin in the announcer’s booth, instead of following the action on the racetrack.
“Tom Durkin is my big influence,” Stone said. “I was able to listen to him all day long, either at Saratoga or on the [off-track betting] channel or the [New York Racing Association] recap show. He really is the one influence that got me into wanting to pursue race calling.”
Stone earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and he attended the Missouri Auction School in 2004, graduating the same day Smarty Jones finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) in his bid for the Triple Crown. Durkin’s call did not disappoint.
“I remember watching it from my hotel,” Stone said. “It was definitely among the top three [of Durkin’s race calls] that I’ve heard.”
Stone broadened his experience this year working in the media development department at Gulfstream Park during the winter-spring meeting.
Date of birth: January 23, 1984
Birthplace: Glens Falls, New York
Residence: Bossier City, Louisiana
Title: Track announcer
Company: Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
Education: Bachelor of Science, State University of New York College at Oneonta; Missouri Auction School
Family: Single
Career: Graduated from college in December 2005 and started at Louisiana Downs in May ’06; worked in media development department at Gulfstream Park during ’10 winter-spring meeting
Background in Thoroughbred industry: “Grew up going to the races at Saratoga Race Course and worked as a writer for The Saratoga Special newspaper for two summers in college.”
Favorite horse: Cigar
What book are you currently reading? Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel Pink
What’s on your iPod? “Wide variety with everything from Billy Joel to Lady Gaga.”
Personal motto: “If you recognize a dream, take it and run with it, because if you set your mind to it, it will come.”
Outlook on the industry: “Racing doesn’t need Band-Aids. It needs creativity, new perspectives, and fresh ideas.”
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