THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE MONDAY • AUGUST 19,2019 D3 JACK WHITAKER • 1924-2019 BROADCASTER DID IT WITH ELEGANCE BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN basically the British Open is the same as it was in 1860 Jack Whitaker, an Emmy- when they first played it winning sports broadcaster down the road at Prestwick. for more than three decades Playing in the British Open is whose specialty was elegant, like reading American his- graceful commentaries, first tory at Independence Hall or for CBS and later for ABC, studying opera at La Scala. died on Sunday at his home It’s golf at its most simple, its in Devon, Pa. He was 95. most pure, its most magnifi- His death was announced cent.” by CBS Sports. After graduating from St. Whitaker was a thought- Joseph’s College in Philadel- ful white-haired figure who phia, now St. Joseph’s Uni- covered just about every versity, he was hired in 1947 niche in the by a 250-watt radio station in sports world Pottsville, Pa. At the first —from the event he covered, a midget first Super auto race on a dirt track, the Bowl to Sec- cars threw up so much dust retariat’s vic- that he could barely see any- tory in the thing. But better times beck- Belmont oned. Stakes, as Jack He was hired by a radio well as base- Whitaker station in Allentown, Pa., ball, golf and then caught a glimpse of the Olympics. In 1961, he be- golf’s 1950 U.S. Open on a TV BENOIT PHOTO came the host of the anthol- set in the studio and looked Prince Earl (right) with Geovanni Franco aboard and trained by Phil D’Amato, wins the Del Mar Mile. ogyseries “CBS Sports Spec- to a future in the new me- tacular,” and he began cov- dium. DEL MAR REPORT ering the PGA Champi- Joining WCAU-TV in Phil- onship and the Masters in adelphia soon afterward, he the early 1960s. broadcast sports for the late- But he was perhaps best evening news. known for his essays about Whitaker began doingcol- D’AMATO IS KING OF GREEN sports, inspired by writers he or commentary for Philadel- admired like Alistair Cooke phia Eagles games in 1956, and Heywood Hale Broun. then became the team’s play- BY TOD LEONARD than $3.9 million in earnings. that was scratched down to the Breeders’ Cup with Ac- He received an Emmy in 1979 by-play broadcaster in 1960, He’s still got quite a ways to four horses. celerate in the 2018 Classic. as “outstanding sports per- when the Eagles won the DEL MAR go to catch Brown, who has The race was only the “I’m going to toot your sonality” and a Lifetime NFL championship. It was wryly suggested to saddled 137winners for more third in 11 months for horn,” Hronis said with Achievement Award at the Whitaker became the trainer Phil D’Amato on than $18.7 million earned in Flagstaff, co-owned by Sadler at his side on Sat- Sports Emmy Awards in play-by-play broadcaster for Sunday that at the rate he’s 2019. Lanes End Racing. He’s 2- urday. “All of those horses he 2012. He was elected to the New York Giants football winning turf stakes races at “I have great owners and for-3 this year in optional brought to the Breeders’ Sports Broadcasting Hall of games in 1965, and he was Del Mar this summer, he great help behind me,” claiming races, with a win at Cup, how many of them Fame in 2012. “I know that part of the CBS broadcast might pick up the title of D’Amato said. “I think all of Santa Anita on May 4 and would have even been in a I’m regarded as The Talking crew at the first Super Bowl “Chad Brown of the West those, combined with a lot of runner-up at Del Maron July Breeders’ Cup race? Head,” he told Sports Illus- two years later. He teamed Coast.” confidence from them, is giv- 20. “He hasn’t been blessed trated in 1977. “I’d like to be with the baseball Hall of Brown is the East Coast ing me a chance to develop On Saturday night, with really fancy, fancy exactly that and say some- Famer Frankie Frisch as the king of the grass and the na- horses like this.” Sadler said of his work with horses that he can say, ‘This thingthatpeoplewillremem- backup duo for baseball’s tion’s top trainer the last With only four career Kosta Hronis, which uses one belongs.’ ” ber or get excited about. I’d game of the week, and an- three years with a likely starts, Prince Earl was the the trainer exclusively, “With Sadler has plenty of those like to bring sports into the chored Kentucky Derby cov- fourth title on the way. most lightly raced competi- Hronis Racing we like to play now. He has won four stakes thinking process.” erage. “The poor man’s Chad tor in the Del Mar Mile. Orig- at all levels. We’ll claim a races in Del Mar’s summer Whitaker reserved his He covered Secretariat’s Brown,” D’Amato said with a inally purchased at a Del horse, we’ll buy some as meet with Hronis Racing greatest passion for golf. Cov- 31-length victory in the 1973 grin. “I’m probably pennies Mar yearling sale and now yearlings, some as 2-year- and six overall. eringthe1982 BritishOpenat Belmont Stakes — he called on the dollar compared to owned by Old Bones Racing olds. We’ll look into some pri- The $600,000 victory for Troon, Scotland, for ABC’s it the most dominant individ- the horses I’m buying.” Stable and Todd Marshall, vate purchases.” Hronis in the Pacific Classic “World News Tonight,” he ual sports performance he In a stellar weekend on the 4-year-old gelding raced Higher Power was a pur- puts the owners’ winnings at wove historical imagery into had ever seen. Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante four times in his first eight chase this past spring at a $1.1 million for the meet and his account of golf’s origins Whitaker joined ABC in Turf Course, D’Amato months as a 3-year-old, the Keeneland sale. guarantees them a third on the Scottish links. 1982, and on the eve of the scored a stakes double with last coming in December “John was at a 2-year-old consecutive summer owners “Through all the years, Kentucky Derby, he pon- apair of Grade II victories. 2018 when he finished fourth sale, and I said, ‘You’re going money title at Del Mar. the British Open has dered the aura surrounding He captured the Del Mar in the Grade I Hollywood to buy what?’ ” Hronis re- changed very little,” he said. the race. Handicap on Saturday with Derby. called with laughter about Notable “The biggest addition has “America never looks bet- Acclimate and came back on After that, D’Amato said the call Sadler put into him Stellar Sound ($5), a 2- been the tented city, looking ter than on a spring after- Sunday in the Del Mar Mile he had “minor” throat about Higher Power, a 4- year-old filly trained by Bob like Henry V’s camp at the noon at the horse farms with a score by Prince Earl. surgery and was brought year-old based in Kentucky Baffert, overcame a bad Battle of Agincourt. Hereyou around Lexington,” he re- Neither of the California- along slowly up to Sunday’s recommended to Sadler by break from the gate in the can buy among other things flected on “World News bred winners was a favorite, start. fellow trainer Michael Stid- first race to win in her debut. lawn mowers, cashmere Tonight.” with Acclimate going off at “He came back with a ham. Five other fillies were first- sweaters and Champagne, 7-1 and Prince Earl ($21.60) vengeance,” D’Amato said. Four races later under time starters in the which is replacing tea as Brit- Goldstein writes for The New York 1 at 9-1. Prince Earl burst be- “We decided to take a big Sadler, Higher Power is now 5 ⁄2-furlong race, with Doug ain’s national beverage. But Times. tween horses at mid-stretch shot here.” qualified and expected to O’Neill’s Buyer’s Remorse, and beat five-time stakes D’Amato said he now run in the Breeders’ Cup off at 14-1, being the only winner Sharp Samurai by hopes the Breeders’ Cup se- Classic. other strong challenger. J. BRADY M C COLLOUGH three-quarters of a length, lection committee will con- “The idea behind buying Don Alberto Stable owns On college football with Grecian Fire taking siderPrinceEarlfortheMile. ahorse likethis is, we want to Stellar Sound, as well as the 6 DAYS UNTIL THE SEASON KICKS OFF third. be prepared,” Sadler said. third-place finisher, Matera, The weekend victories Sadler, Hronis win again “Whether it’s Saudi Arabia who is trained by Jerry Hol- gave D’Amatothehattrickin The day after their big or Dubai or Pegasus or the lendorfer. Del Mar’s longer stakes score in the Pacific Classic Pacific Classic, this is the di- • On Sunday, three train- Which Power 5 coaching grass races thus far. He won with Higher Power, Hronis vision we like to play in.” ers won for the first time in the Eddie Read with Bowies Racing and trainer John For an owner that has be- the meet: Jack Carava (fifth Hero, who went off as the fa- Sadler were back in the win- come a major player in rac- race, Twirling Tiger, $9), positions might open up? vorite in the Del Mar Mile, ner’s circle at a different rac- ing, Hronis is decidedly Jim Cassidy (sixth, It’s Fit- but nevercontended and fin- ing level.