By R. David Shew
Last night at the Keeneland Library, Tom Hammond mesmerized a full house with his sports stories and signed his book “Races, Games, and Olympic Dreams: A Sportscaster’s Life.” The night proved to be a real treat for this sports junkie.
Tom mentioned starting his career announcing Keeneland racing results for $35 a day at WVLK, and then going to work at WLEX where he inherited the position as the announcer of “Today at Keeneland.”
From his early broadcasting days in Lexington radio and television, Hammond then credited George Swinebroad, the first sales auctioneer at Keeneland, with asking Tom to become another auctioneer at the Keeneland Sales. Tom laughed about becoming the silent track announcer at Keeneland when Keeneland did not have a track announcer. As the silent track announcer, Tom matched silk colors with numbers and posted the numbers on the Keeneland screen of the horses in the races.
Hammond talked about his first big race at Keeneland in 1979 where Spectacular Bid won the Bluegrass Stakes. Tom talked about learning to be a hot walker for Forego and then going to work for NBC announcing the Triple Crown.
Hammond told the story of witnessing the crowd go silent when Birdstone surged past Smarty Jones at the 2004 Belmont. This writer remembers this all too well even naming his cat in 2004 Smarty Jones Shew.
Hammond also mentioned two of his favorite horses, Affirmed and Alydar, and their famous Belmont race. Tom spoke about becoming a storyteller and painting a picture at races and other sporting events.
Hammond told a great story about taking Dick Enberg to see Secretariat at Claiborne Farm after a University of Kentucky basketball game. Enberg asked Seth Hancock how do you tell if you have a good horse. Tom had already discussed their confirmation and breeding lines with Enberg, and Hancock said that “sometimes you can see it in their eyes.” Next thing, Secretariat turned and looked straight at Dick Enberg.
Then Tom discussed moving from four-legged sports to two-legged sports. Tom covered Notre Dame football, was play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of track and field at the Summer Olympic Games and speed skating and dancing during the Winter Olympics. Tom also covered NFL football working with Chris Collingsworth, Joe Gibbs, and Joe Theisman.
The evening ended with questions from the audience, and jockey Chris McCarron asked about interviewing athletes. Hammond graciously answered Chris stating jockeys were some of the best athletes because being so accessible. He mentioned Pat Day walked right over to Hammond after riding Wild Again and speaking to the stewards after an stewards’ inquiry. Hammond also said witnessing Cody’s Wish win the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland would be something he never forgets.
In closing, this writer would recommend the book “Races, Games, And Olympic Dreams: A Sportscaster’s Life” as a wonderful Christmas gift for the sports person in your family. The Foreword was written by Bob Costas, and Tom was assisted by Mark Story in writing the book.
Final remark, Tom is a gifted storyteller. Hope you enjoy his book.
