John G. Dooley has been named track announcer at Fair Grounds Race Course for the 2004-05 season. Dooley has been announcer at Arlington Park for the last five seasons. Arlington's season runs from May until September, allowing him to announce at both tracks.
Dooley came to Chicago from the Dallas-Fort Worth area after serving for three years at Lone Star Park. He has also called the races at Thistledown in Ohio from 1991-96 and the Aqueduct winter meets of 1996-97. In addition, he was back-up announcer at both Belmont Park and Saratoga.
"I've had a great experience working at Arlington Park and being a part of the Churchill Downs Incorporated team," Dooley said, "and I'm looking forward to be joining our new team at Fair Grounds and being a part of an exciting racing season.
"The announcer often becomes the personality of the track for the fans and that is a responsibility that I don't take lightly. My job is to make sure fans have a good time."
Dooley is from Staten Island, N.Y., and graduated from St. John's University.
