view raw text
! ! ! D j s . j j , I j t 1 J j 3 ! j I j . j - e 3 . Henson to Describe Races At Three Chicago Tracks Engage Westerner for Balmoral, Arlington and Washington Meets LONGACRES. Renton, Wash.. May 10 — Harry Henson, "the voice of Longacres." has been appointed track announcer for the major racing circuit in Chicago. Henson will be "on the horns" for the new Balmoral Jockey Club, which stages it.s inaugural meeting at Washington Park be-I ginning May 16, and then will remain for the Arlington and Washington meeting* for a total of 97 days. Henson has been associated with Long- acres since the 1933 inaugural season, and was track announcer the past 10 years. A Ballard High School Seattle graduate. Henson enjoyed success as a jockey until weight forced his retirement from the saddle. He rode at Longacres in 1933, and also wrote a racing column for the Seattle Times that season. Joseph Gottstein, president of the Wash- ington Jockey Club which operates Long- acres, has released Henson for the Chicago season. "Well miss Harry," said Gottstein. "for he built up a tremendous following with his accurate, clean-cut #nd dramatic announcing. Henson called his first race under strange circumstances. He was assisting in details at the Puyallup Fair Wash., when the late Graham McNamee, imported as master of ceremonies, was called upon to announce a horse race. McNamee was speechless and thrust the microphone to Harry. The young man rattled off the names and distances in rapid-fire order. And so a career was born.