MARK JOHNSON, Track Announcer, Churchill Downs Mark Johnson (47
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MARK JOHNSON, Track Announcer, Churchill Downs Mark Johnson (47) has one of the most recognisable voices in both American and British horse racing and in 2009 he made racing/broadcasting history by becoming the first track announcer to call both the Kentucky Derby and the English Derby at Epsom. 2013 is Johnson’s fifth year as the track announcer at America’s most famous racetrack Churchill Downs, in Louisville KY, and on the “first Saturday in May” (this year May 4) he will call the 139th running of the “Run for the Roses” - the Kentucky Derby. Mark is only the sixth track announcer in the history of Churchill Downs and he is the first non-American to hold the position and call America’s greatest race. Born and raised in the modest British beach resort town of Skegness (on the North-East coast of England) Johnson has, in the last 26 years, become one of Britain’s senior track announcers - known as “racecourse commentators” in Britain - having called many of Britain’s most important races in the last few years including - Five Epsom Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) Classics (1998 - 2002) Twelve St Leger (G1) Classics at Doncaster - final leg of the British Triple Crown The Grand National at Aintree - the world’s greatest steeplechase with 40 horses racing over 4½ miles and 30 fences - since 2004 The Cheltenham Festival most years from 1996 In October 2005 he became the first ever non-North American-based announcer (and first ever British commentator) to be included on the “All-Star Announcers Day” team, calling a race at Belmont Park, New York, the day before the Breeders’ Cup. Mark was also part of the “All-Star Announcers Day” team at Monmouth, in October 2007. When, in the fall of 2009, he called the America’s most valuable jumps race - the American Grand National at Far Hills NJ, Johnson also became the first person to call the Grand National on both sides of the Atlantic. He has now called at eleven tracks in America in total the others being - Calder, Gulfstream, The Meadowlands, River Downs, Santa Anita, Suffolk Downs and the now closed Northampton Fair. On Television, Mark is a host of the dedicated horse racing channel RACING UK when in Britain where he fronts the much of the Channel’s International racing coverage including the Arc de Triomphe from France, Prior to his full time involvement in Horse Racing, Mark also commentated on several other sports including Formula One, Test Cricket, Boxing and the Seoul Olympics. Now that Churchill Downs has three meets annually he and his partner Rachel, split there time between living in the South West of London and Louisville KY. .