Churchill Downs has formally launched a search for a successor to Luke Kruytbosch, the racetrack announcer who died suddenly last month at the age of 47.Track spokesperson John Asher says the new announcer will call the races for the on-track crowd and simulcast audience, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.He says only five people have held the job in the track's 134 year history."It's a small but elite group and we're looking for a very special person to try to step into the announcer's booth and succeed Luke and continue on with the great work that Luke did," Asher said. "We're looking forward to the search, (but) we're sad that we have to go through it."Asher says track officials want to have a new announcer in place before the fallmeet, which begins in October.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
