Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson's race-calling roles aren't just for movies and TV shows. He's one of the most recognizable sportscasters in the business, calling Triple Crown races for ABC Radio and Tele ...Show More

Dave Johnson's race-calling roles aren't just for movies and TV shows. He's one of the most recognizable sportscasters in the business, calling Triple Crown races for ABC Radio and Television for 20 years and continuing in that role with Premiere Radio to the present day. His 'Down the stretch they come' is a signature call. Johnson, who grew up in the St. Louis area, spent five years (1972-77) as the track announcer for Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga racetracks in New York State, also doing a local TV racing show with Charlsie Cantey and Frank Wright. Johnson and Cantey followed Wright (a CBS Sports mainstay) to the big time in 1978, with Johnson calling his first Derby for ABC-TV and Cantey reporting her first Belmont Stakes for CBS. At New Jersey's Meadowlands Racetrack, which features harness and thoroughbred racing, Johnson has been the lead thoroughbred announcer since the first such meet in 1977. Johnson is also prominent as a commercial voice, having done ads for Mobil Oil and a New York-area furniture outlet. Hide