John Lies to call final four days at Del Mar

John Lies, the television paddock commentator, will call the races for the final four days of the current Del Mar summer meeting from Sept. 4-7, the track announced on Wednesday.

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Lies replaces Larry Collmus, who is part of NBC’s coverage of Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs. Collmus has called the races at Del Mar this year for the first time, replacing Trevor Denman, who informed track officials in June he would not call the races because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lies, 43, has called races at venues such as Fair Meadows Tulsa, Kentucky Downs, Lone Star Park, and Will Rogers Downs. He has worked at Del Mar since 2007, and currently works in the backstretch racing office in the mornings. Lies writes the morning line in addition to providing commentary between races.

Collmus will call races through Monday. Denman has told track officials he plans to call the autumn meeting, which begins on Oct. 31.