Dale Duspiva, who served as a chart caller for the Daily Racing Form for 28 years before going to work in the publicity and marketing departments at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, died of cancer Wednesday evening at his home in San Bruno. He was 53.Duspiva was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and was introduced to horse racing by his father, Frank, a machinist who liked to spend his weekends visiting with horsemen on the backstretch of the local racetrack, Thistledown. Dale also loved the backstretch and went to work there at an early age, walking hots, exercising horses and eventually serving as an assistant trainer. Duspiva went to work the for The Daily Racing Form in 1971 and during his long tenure with the paper he called charts at racetracks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Kentucky, Louisiana, Colorado, and California. In 1977, Duspiva and his wife, Beverly, moved to Northern California, where Duspiva covered the action at Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields and on the summer fair circuit.
Duspiva began working in the publicity departments at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields in 1998 and eventually joined the marketing staff. Bay Area racing fans got to know Duspiva through his appearances as a substitute host on the television race replay shows "The Bay Meadows Report," "The Golden Gate Report," and "The Summer Fair Report." Duspiva also served as a substitute host on the weekly horse racing radio show "At The Track." Duspiva is survived by his wife, Beverly; his daughter, Erin; his son, David; his father, Frank; his mother, Virginia; and his sister, Nancy.
A memorial service will be held Monday at Bay Meadows in the Longchamps Room of the Turf Club. The service begins at 11 a.m.
