Larry Collmus to replace Tom Durkin

Larry Collmus, the longtime track announcer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey and race caller at Gulfstream Park in Florida since 2007, will be the new voice of the televised Triple Crown races, NBC Sports will announce Wednesday, according to officials.

Collmus, 44, will replace Tom Durkin, who had called the Derby for the past 14 years. Durkin decided earlier this year to step down from calling the Derby and other Triple Crown races, citing stress.

This year's Derby is scheduled for May 7. The Preakness is scheduled for May 21, and the Belmont Stakes is on June 11. All three races will be televised by NBC Sports this year.

Collmus said in an interview on Wednesday that being selected to call the races "was a dream come true."

"I've been calling the races since I was 18 years old, and it's all I've ever dreamed about," Collmus said. "It's incredibly exciting."

Collmus has been the full-time track announcer at Monmouth Park since 1994, after getting his start on the Maryland circuit. He said that his preparations for the Triple Crown races will include listening to all of Durkin's previous calls.

"Following Tom is going to be a daunting task," he said. "He's a legend. I have big shoes to fill."

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