Luke Kruytbosch
Encyclopedia
Lucas Martin "Luke" Kruytbosch (May 27, 1961 – July 14, 2008) was an American
Thoroughbred
horse racing
announcer. He was best known as the on-track public-address voice of Churchill Downs
and Kentucky Derby
from 1999 until his death. He also called races at Turf Paradise
, Ellis Park Racecourse, Kentucky Downs
, Hollywood Park, Sunland Park
, Northlands Park and Ruidoso Downs
during his career.
In 2007, Kruytbosch's call of the Derby was carried live on ESPN Radio
.
Born in Moscow, Idaho
, Kruytbosch began announcing horse races on the Arizona County Fair circuit while attending the University of Arizona
Race Track Industry Program. After college he began announcing both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing throughout the southwest. He called the world's richest Quarter Horse race, the All American Futurity
at Ruidoso Downs, six times. In 1996 he was named track announcer at Hollywood Park Racetrack, then in 1999 he moved on to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
. During the winter months, Kruytbosch returned to Arizona to call races at Turf Paradise.
During Luke's high school years he was notorious for cutting classes at McLean High School in McLean, Virginia especially on Fridays to attend the pony races at Charlestown Racetrack in West Virginia with several willing friends. It is here where he developed his love for horse racing. Luke was also and excellent offensive lineman on a winning team on junior varsity and varsity football teams at McLean.
Kruytbosch did voice-over work on commercials, including a national ad for Hertz
and also voiced-over racecalls on television shows including CBS's Martial Law
and The Sentinel
.
After calling the day's races at Ellis Park on July 13, 2008, Kruytbosch reportedly told co-workers that he was not feeling well. The following day he was found dead in his Evansville, Indiana
apartment after failing to show up for an Ellis Park event. The coroner's office indicated that Kruytbosch likely died of natural causes, possibly heart-related.
About 400 guests attended a funeral service for Kruytbosch at Churchill Downs on July 21, 2008. Kruytbosch's remains were cremated, and his ashes were spread in the Churchill Downs winner's circle after the service.
Kruytbosch is survived by his father, Carlos, his sister, Carla, and a brother-in-law.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
announcer. He was best known as the on-track public-address voice of Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
and Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
from 1999 until his death. He also called races at Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise is a thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in the North Mountain section of Phoenix, Arizona in the United States.-History:...
, Ellis Park Racecourse, Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, near the city of Franklin and just off Interstate 65...
, Hollywood Park, Sunland Park
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino is a racino located in Sunland Park, New Mexico, a suburb of El Paso, Texas.Opened in 1959 as a thoroughbred racing track, Sunland Park was the only legalized gambling venue in the region for many years...
, Northlands Park and Ruidoso Downs
Ruidoso Downs (track)
Ruidoso Downs is a horse racing track in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. The track hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, notably the All American Futurity, the richest race in quarter horse racing.-External links:*...
during his career.
In 2007, Kruytbosch's call of the Derby was carried live on ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
.
Born in Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, Kruytbosch began announcing horse races on the Arizona County Fair circuit while attending the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
Race Track Industry Program. After college he began announcing both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing throughout the southwest. He called the world's richest Quarter Horse race, the All American Futurity
All American Futurity
The All American Futurity is a race for two-year-old American Quarter Horse racehorses run at Ruidoso Downs Race Track in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico on Labor Day. It is the last leg of the AQHA Triple Crown that has only been won once, by Special Effort in 1981. A 4 million dollar bonus was once...
at Ruidoso Downs, six times. In 1996 he was named track announcer at Hollywood Park Racetrack, then in 1999 he moved on to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. During the winter months, Kruytbosch returned to Arizona to call races at Turf Paradise.
During Luke's high school years he was notorious for cutting classes at McLean High School in McLean, Virginia especially on Fridays to attend the pony races at Charlestown Racetrack in West Virginia with several willing friends. It is here where he developed his love for horse racing. Luke was also and excellent offensive lineman on a winning team on junior varsity and varsity football teams at McLean.
Kruytbosch did voice-over work on commercials, including a national ad for Hertz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
and also voiced-over racecalls on television shows including CBS's Martial Law
Martial Law (TV series)
Martial Law was a TV crime drama that ran on CBS from 1998 to 2000, and was created by Carlton Cuse. The title character, Sammo Law, portrayed by Sammo Hung, was a Chinese law officer and martial arts expert who came to Los Angeles in search of a colleague and remains in the US.The show was a...
and The Sentinel
The Sentinel (TV series)
The Sentinel is a Canadian-produced television series that aired on UPN in the United States from 1996 to 1999. It premiered on March 20, 1996, and ran for 65 episodes . The series later reaired on Syfy.-Plot and characters:...
.
After calling the day's races at Ellis Park on July 13, 2008, Kruytbosch reportedly told co-workers that he was not feeling well. The following day he was found dead in his Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
apartment after failing to show up for an Ellis Park event. The coroner's office indicated that Kruytbosch likely died of natural causes, possibly heart-related.
About 400 guests attended a funeral service for Kruytbosch at Churchill Downs on July 21, 2008. Kruytbosch's remains were cremated, and his ashes were spread in the Churchill Downs winner's circle after the service.
Kruytbosch is survived by his father, Carlos, his sister, Carla, and a brother-in-law.