BILL DOWNES NAMED GOLDEN GATE TRACK ANNOUNCER FOR 2023-2024 WINTER/SPRING MEET

By David Joseph —-

BILL DOWNES NAMED GOLDEN GATE TRACK ANNOUNCER FOR 2023-2024 WINTER/SPRING MEET

Berkeley, Calif. (Sunday, November 26, 2023)-Golden Gate Fields has hired Bill Downes as Track Announcer for the upcoming 2023-2024 Winter/Spring meet. Downes has called at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington for their last two race seasons and comes to Golden Gate with over two decades of experience in the announcer’s booth.

“We look forward to having Bill call our races,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “He has called all over the country and provides viewers and listeners with an accurate description of a race.”

Along with his stint at Emerald, Downes has also described the on-track action at Beulah Park, Ellis Park, Indiana Grand, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He began his race calling career at Arapahoe Park in 1999. A Chicago native, Downes grew up attending Arlington Park with his father, which quickly culminated into a lifelong passion for thoroughbred racing.

Golden Gate is also pleased and excited to note that Santa Anita announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be calling the final two weeks of the Fall Meet, which ends on Sunday, December 10. The Winter/Spring Meet begins the day after Christmas, Tuesday, December 26, and runs through mid-June on a Friday through Sunday basis.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.