Page 96 - Speedhorse November, 2018

“I love the natural speed of the Quarter Horse and the ability to handicap a type of racing that has fewer twists than the Thorough- breds.”
ED BURGART
by John Moorehouse
To paraphrase Will Rogers, the rumors of Ed Burgart’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated. In 2017, Burgart—the long-time track announcer at Los Alamitos—announced he would be hang- ing up the microphone in the summer of 2018. Instead, Burgart has decided to come back for the 2019 season.
One of the best-known voices in Quarter Horse racing broke the news during a live television interview on Aug. 11 on “The Quarters” show broadcast on TVG.
Burgart told TVG he plans to take off some time in February, March and September, but that he still will be calling the majority of the Quarter Horse races at the California track. He also told TVG what coaxed him to return, saying, “What did it for me was California Breeders Champions Night and all of those great horses and big races,” he said. “I really love the sport and I’m looking forward to being here another year. I also have to credit and thank my wife, Marsha. We had a long conversation and we agreed for me to do this.”
And so a career that began in March of 1977— longer than this writer has been alive—continues. Burgart, who broke into the industry when he was hired into the Los Alamitos publicity department as the radio-television coordinator, now wears several hats. Prior to that, he attended UCLA, where he worked as sports editor of the Daily Bruin and regularly covered Bruins basketball games during the era when the legendary John Wooden was coach. Then Burgart worked as a sports writer in newspapers for a few years before heading to Los Alamitos. In addition to commen- tating each night of the racing at Los Alamitos and working as an analyst for satellite broad-
casts of Thoroughbred races at Los Alamitos,
the 66-year-old Burgart also makes the morning betting lines. He is considered arguably the most recognizable Quarter Horse announcer in the country and has built a reputation as a formidable handicapper as well.
Burgart flexed his writer’s muscles in respond- ing to these questions in the latest installment of our “Lighter Side” feature series.
Q: Where Were You Born?
A: I was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 4, 1952, and grew up in Studio City.
Ed Burgart, track announcer at Los Alamitos
Q: What are your hobbies outside of horse racing?
A: I am a dog lover and have two small Shih Tzu poodles. I enjoy spending time with my dogs and vis- iting our grandkids. My wife and I also have a home in Prescott Valley, Arizona. We love visiting the many great Italian restaurants in Prescott.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: My favorite movie is “Dreamer”. I did a voice-over as a race caller in the movie that featured Dakota Fanning
Q: What’s an interesting fact about
your family? A:Mydadwas61andmymotherwas44whenIwas born. My dad passed away when I was 10 and my mother died when I was 27. My father loved the horses and started taking me to the races when I was four years old. I used to watch races sitting on his back.
Q: Do you have a nickname and, if so, what is it and how did it come about?
A: Many used to call me “Rah Rah” which came about in the early 1980s at Bay Meadows when I would utter the words rah rah after I had consumed a few beers.
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SPEEDHORSE, November 2018
John Moorehouse
THE LIGHTER SIDE