Race-caller Stone not returning to NYRA

ELMONT, N.Y. – Travis Stone, who has split the race-calling duties at Aqueduct the last three winters with John Imbriale, will not be returning to the New York Racing Association this winter.

Stone, the regular race-caller at Churchill Downs, said he doesn’t want to move around so frequently.

“When I got back from Aqueduct this spring, I felt like I was burned out from moving around,” Stone, 33, said Tuesday. “I thought by the end of summer I’d feel better about it. But as summer wound down, I really didn’t feel better about it. I sought the advice of friends and ultimately decided to take a break from moving around every few months.”

NYRA employs three announcers. Larry Collmus calls the races from April through October. Imbriale calls full time in November and is the primary winter announcer.

Stone has made the morning line at Saratoga the last two years. It is not clear whether he will return to that job in 2018.

David O’Rourke, NYRA’s vice president and chief revenue officer, said NYRA “will explore all our options” regarding a winter announcer and a Saratoga morning linemaker.