Phil Georgeff
Encyclopedia
Phil Georgeff is a retired racetrack announcer from the Chicago area.
"THE VOICE OF CHICAGO RACING" called races at venues including Arlington Park
and Hawthorne Race Course
, from 1959 to 1992. He was also Publicity Director at Hawthorne Race Course. His surname is pronounced as if it were spelled "George F."
He earned his BS degree at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.
He currently lives in Alabama.
He still actively cultivates among many other life enjoyments, his past "personal magnificent obsessions." His love of horse racing, his admiration for the great tenor, Mario Lanza, and The Master, Eddie Arcaro, jockey immortal.)
Phil Georgeff holds the Guinness Book of World Records for calling 96,131 horse race calls.
He always describes himself as a "race caller" not announcer, because that is what he did. He called the races for millions of racing fans in his inimitable, memorable way.
He called countless races including such events as the Arlington Million
. He was known for his signature call at the top of the stretch, "Here they come, spinning out of the turn!" That catchphrase was a convenient starting place for TV sports highlight shows, as the replay of any interesting race he called would typically be picked up from that point.
His colorful, always clear race calls enabled racegoers to always experience accurate, spirited and exciting moments with every race he called.
He is great source of information, history, personal "portraits", knowledge, and truly loves the magnificent equines and people that make up the world of horse racing. He is a talented writer and historian of the "Golden Age of Horse Racing."
He was a close friend and admirer of The Master, Eddie Arcaro. He has written a biography about the great jockey Eddie Arcaro. His admiration for Citation is well documented in his classic, published bio of The Greatest Thoroughbred, CITATION, IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF.
Phil Georgeff has written several historically based fictional racing mystery novels:
"THOROUGHBRED IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF", "THE MAN WHO LOVED MARIO LANZA"("A Sweet Mystery of Life") and "THE MAN WHO LOVED EDDIE ARCARO" (Don't Never Get Beat No Noses.)
He is always "tuned" into the happenings, and keeps current with every facet of the World of Thoroughbred Horse Racing. And still keeps in touch with his many friends, fans, and professionals with whom he regularly contacts. He continues to write. He also shares his views via manuscripts, views, opinions, information requests, editorials, and various articles.
Georgeff told his life story in the 2002 book And They're Off! : My Years As The Voice Of Thoroughbred Racing (ISBN 0-87833-264-2).
He is also the author of the 2003 book titled Citation: In a Class by Himself (ISBN 0-87833-292-8) that tells the story of U.S. Triple Crown
winner, Citation
. He is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
.
"THE VOICE OF CHICAGO RACING" called races at venues including Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
and Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America...
, from 1959 to 1992. He was also Publicity Director at Hawthorne Race Course. His surname is pronounced as if it were spelled "George F."
He earned his BS degree at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.
He currently lives in Alabama.
He still actively cultivates among many other life enjoyments, his past "personal magnificent obsessions." His love of horse racing, his admiration for the great tenor, Mario Lanza, and The Master, Eddie Arcaro, jockey immortal.)
Phil Georgeff holds the Guinness Book of World Records for calling 96,131 horse race calls.
He always describes himself as a "race caller" not announcer, because that is what he did. He called the races for millions of racing fans in his inimitable, memorable way.
He called countless races including such events as the Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. He was known for his signature call at the top of the stretch, "Here they come, spinning out of the turn!" That catchphrase was a convenient starting place for TV sports highlight shows, as the replay of any interesting race he called would typically be picked up from that point.
His colorful, always clear race calls enabled racegoers to always experience accurate, spirited and exciting moments with every race he called.
He is great source of information, history, personal "portraits", knowledge, and truly loves the magnificent equines and people that make up the world of horse racing. He is a talented writer and historian of the "Golden Age of Horse Racing."
He was a close friend and admirer of The Master, Eddie Arcaro. He has written a biography about the great jockey Eddie Arcaro. His admiration for Citation is well documented in his classic, published bio of The Greatest Thoroughbred, CITATION, IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF.
Phil Georgeff has written several historically based fictional racing mystery novels:
"THOROUGHBRED IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF", "THE MAN WHO LOVED MARIO LANZA"("A Sweet Mystery of Life") and "THE MAN WHO LOVED EDDIE ARCARO" (Don't Never Get Beat No Noses.)
He is always "tuned" into the happenings, and keeps current with every facet of the World of Thoroughbred Horse Racing. And still keeps in touch with his many friends, fans, and professionals with whom he regularly contacts. He continues to write. He also shares his views via manuscripts, views, opinions, information requests, editorials, and various articles.
Georgeff told his life story in the 2002 book And They're Off! : My Years As The Voice Of Thoroughbred Racing (ISBN 0-87833-264-2).
He is also the author of the 2003 book titled Citation: In a Class by Himself (ISBN 0-87833-292-8) that tells the story of U.S. Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winner, Citation
Citation (horse)
Citation was the eighth American Triple Crown winner, and one of three major North American Thoroughbreds to win at least 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competition...
. He is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Hawthorne Race Course, in Stickney/Cicero, near Chicago, Illinois, honors sports greats associated with the greater Chicago area. It was founded in 1979 as a trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The...
.