The riveting autobiography of iconic American sportscaster Tom Durkin

Sports have become indelibly linked to the voices that describe the action, from Al Michaels at the Olympics to baseball’s Vin Scully and basketball’s Marv Albert. In horseracing, perhaps no single voice did as much to reshape, modernize, and improve the soundtrack of the sport as Tom Durkin.

In A Life’s Calling: The Voice Behind the World’s Greatest Horse Races, Tom Durkin, alongside longtime turf writers Paul Volponi and Lenny Shulman, shares his fascinating story. Readers will revel in his tales of life in the backwater stops of the Midwest learning horse racing among rickety grandstands and local hustlers, and of the day when he called the first Breeders’ Cup and ended up at an after-party surrounded by Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Cary Grant. Durkin also candidly recounts how the pressure to describe each race with flawless accuracy became too much, leading him to step away from the spotlight while still at his prime.

Durkin’s life is as colorful as his description of a come-from-behinder weaving his way through horses toward a photo finish. A Life’s Calling is a must-read for anyone wanting to learn more about the voice behind many of horse racing’s greatest calls.

Anyone familiar with Tom Durkin knows that his is a unique world packed with excitement, humor, and epic race calls. But I assure you, A Life's Calling will far surpass your expectations. Each page harbors rollicking adventures and revelations. This is storytelling at its very best. -- Steve Haskin, author and Hall of Fame turf writer
Tom Durkin delivers in this riveting ride through his life as one of America’s most iconic race callers. From the how-he-did-it prep work to people who influenced his calling style—everyone from Talking Heads’ David Byrne to composer Maurice Ravel—the magic of Durkin is all here, amped up Durkin-style in the memorable storytelling that defined his calls. A terrific read that embraces the moments in history that Durkin helped define. -- Kim Wickens, author of Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse
Tom Durkin elevated the craft of racetrack announcing, and in A Life’s Calling, you’re brought behind the scenes and on every step of his life’s journey. As Durkin tells you about his favorite race calls, you can almost hear them echo off the pages while remembering where you were when you first heard them. -- Dave Grening, Daily Racing Form correspondent
Tom Durkin made every race interesting and many unforgettable. He was a master of the craft—a virtuoso of words, language, and drama. This book is as eclectic and entertaining and exciting as the races he called. He changed my life and reading this could change yours too. -- Travis Stone, Churchill Downs track announcer
‘Energy, energy, energy!’ is the mantra Tom Durkin lives by, and he brings just that to this delightful memoir. Learn the stories behind the unrivaled race calls and get to know the man behind the most iconic voice in horse racing. -- Maggie Wolfendale, racing commentator

Tom Durkin is a retired American sportscaster specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing and the iconic voice of the Breeders’ Cup and Kentucky Derby. He was the race caller for NBC Sports from 1984 through 2010 and served as announcer for the New York Racing Association for over two decades. He lives in New York.
Paul Volponi is the multi-award-winning, bestselling author of over 20 books, including Black and White, Rikers High, The Final Four, and Famous First Impressions. His recent work, The 32 Principles: Harnessing the Power of Jiu-Jitsu to Succeed in Business, Relationships, and Life (co-authored with Rener Gracie), made a trio of bestseller lists. He lives in New York.
Lenny Shulman is an Emmy Award-winning television and film writer. He is the author of Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory; Ride of Their Lives; and Head to Head. He received the prestigious Walter Haight Award for lifetime achievement as a turf writer. He lives in Kentucky.