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Tuesday, Jul. 22, 2008

Race caller leaves friends laughing

KRUYTBOSCH HONORED AT MEMORIAL SERVICE

LOUISVILLE — For a few moments at Churchill Downs on Monday, Luke Kruytbosch was once again making a room full of people laugh out loud. Video of Kruytbosch at work was shown to the crowd of friends, family and admirers who gathered inside the Jockey Club Suites to pay their respects to the beloved track announcer. And there was Kruytbosch, with trademark pile of crayola crayons, marking up his program as he prepared to call another race from inside the Twin Spires.

Those images and the memory of the man were indelible. More than 400 well-wishers from every part of the Thoroughbred racing industry and beyond turned out at Churchill Downs to honor Kruytbosch in a funeral service one week after his death.

Kruytbosch, track announcer for Churchill, Ellis Park and Turf Paradise, was found dead in his Evansville, Ind., apartment July 14 at 47. The cause of death was probably coronary related, according to the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office.

In his nearly decade-long tenure as announcer for Churchill — he was the fifth in the track's 134-year history — Kruytbosch's sharp baritone voice rivaled the mint juleps and parade of Kentucky Derby hats as track signatures.

During his opening remarks about his friend and colleague, John Asher, vice president of communications for Churchill Downs, said Kruytbosch's ability in the booth was matched only by his warm, gregarious nature.

”Any time anybody came to Luke it was a positive experience,“ said Asher, who fought back his emotions several times during the ceremony. ”Countless people visited that booth on a daily basis, and calling races is not an easy job. There is no thinner margin for error in announcing in any sport than there is in Thoroughbred racing, but if you came to his booth he had time for you.

”That was his magic, his focus was you at all times. It wasn't Luke, it was you and the love of the game. He was a very special person who touched us all in many ways.“

Born in Moscow, Idaho, on May 27, 1961, Kruytbosch joined Churchill Downs at the start of the 1999 spring meet and called his first Derby that year. As he rose through the ranks at marquee tracks, Kruytbosch never let his passion wane or his ego expand.

”This whole week has been a dream and a nightmare for us,“ said his father, Carlos Kruytbosch, who flew in from Switzerland. ”I was able to see on the Web the outpouring of praise and comments of what he did for racing and the fans. That was really impressive.

”He always had a big group of friends and now he has the whole racing community, and he really loved that.“

Carlos Kruytbosch and his daughter, Carla, later spread Luke's ashes in the winner's circle. In addition to two video tributes to Kruytbosch — including highlights of the 10 Kentucky Derbys he called — Churchill chaplain Ken Boehm and former jockey and Hall of Famer Pat Day spoke.

Emotions came to a head when Churchill bugler Steve Buttleman concluded the program with a poignant rendition of My Old Kentucky Home.