Marshall Cassidy
Encyclopedia
Marshall Cassidy is an American
Thoroughbred
racing official based in New York State, and a former public address
announcer and sportscaster
. Cassidy is currently a patrol and placing judge for the New York Racing Association
, and has also served as an alternate steward.
Cassidy is best known for the 18 years he spent as one of the race callers for NYRA, at Aqueduct Racetrack
, Belmont Park
and Saratoga Race Course
. He worked as backup track announcer to Dave Johnson
and Chic Anderson
. Cassidy became lead announcer after the death of Anderson in March 1979.
Cassidy was the most prominent announcer in racing in the early-to-mid 1980s, not only for his on-track work but also as a sportscaster calling races for WCBS
radio, CBS
television, ABC
television, NBC television and ESPN
television. He was best known for his accuracy, precise diction and upbeat delivery, especially early in his career when calling a close race as the horses ran down the stretch.
Cassidy remained the lead race caller for NYRA until 1990, when he was replaced by present track announcer Tom Durkin
. Cassidy called the fourth race at Saratoga Race Course on September 1, 2008. The race was won by Tommasi.
He is part of a well-known family of racing officials. His maternal grandfather, Marshall Whiting Cassidy, was a race starter and later steward who eventually became racing director for NYRA’s predecessor agencies, and later executive director of The Jockey Club
.
The current Marshall Cassidy's maternal great-grandfather, Marshall (Mars) Cassidy, was also a fixture in New York racing as a race starter and the first to use a barrier to start a race.
George Cassidy, the grand-uncle of the current Marshall Cassidy, was a race starter for some five decades (mostly at the NYRA tracks) until he retired late December 1980.
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...
racing official based in New York State, and a former public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer and sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. Cassidy is currently a patrol and placing judge for the New York Racing Association
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
, and has also served as an alternate steward.
Cassidy is best known for the 18 years he spent as one of the race callers for NYRA, at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
and Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. He worked as backup track announcer to Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson (announcer)
Dave Johnson is an American announcer and sportscaster, best known for his work in horse racing with ABC and NBC Sports and at various race tracks in New York and New Jersey...
and Chic Anderson
Chic Anderson
Charles David Anderson was an American sportscaster and public address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing...
. Cassidy became lead announcer after the death of Anderson in March 1979.
Cassidy was the most prominent announcer in racing in the early-to-mid 1980s, not only for his on-track work but also as a sportscaster calling races for WCBS
WCBS (AM)
WCBS , often referred to as "WCBS Newsradio 880" , is a radio station in New York City. Owned by CBS Radio, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of the CBS Radio Network...
radio, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television, NBC television and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
television. He was best known for his accuracy, precise diction and upbeat delivery, especially early in his career when calling a close race as the horses ran down the stretch.
Cassidy remained the lead race caller for NYRA until 1990, when he was replaced by present track announcer Tom Durkin
Tom Durkin
Tom Durkin is an American sportscaster and public address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing. He was the race caller for NBC Sports from 1984 through 2010....
. Cassidy called the fourth race at Saratoga Race Course on September 1, 2008. The race was won by Tommasi.
He is part of a well-known family of racing officials. His maternal grandfather, Marshall Whiting Cassidy, was a race starter and later steward who eventually became racing director for NYRA’s predecessor agencies, and later executive director of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
.
The current Marshall Cassidy's maternal great-grandfather, Marshall (Mars) Cassidy, was also a fixture in New York racing as a race starter and the first to use a barrier to start a race.
George Cassidy, the grand-uncle of the current Marshall Cassidy, was a race starter for some five decades (mostly at the NYRA tracks) until he retired late December 1980.