Giving Jack his due

In yesterday's post, we mentioned that Parx Racing had created a Hall of Fame, with the first flush of inductees honored in the winner's circle on September 24, Pennsylvania Derby Day, which included current track announcer Keith Jones.

It was unfortunate that the voice of perhaps the greatest Pennsylvania Derby of all was not among those receiving recognition - the late, great Jack Lamar, who was behind the mike for Broad Brush's thrilling victory in 1986.

Here's a link to that historic racecall: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2021784423765&oid=118356888221220&comments

Lamar was the race announcer when the track opened as Keystone Racetrack in 1974 and he continued through 1987.  His call could also be heard on the feature race of the day that was broadcast on radio stations in Philadelphia and South Jersey.  During his career, he also was the track announcer at Dover Downs in  Delaware, Marlboro Downs in Maryland, Hialeah Park in Florida, Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Atlantic City Racetrack in McKee City, N.J.

Here's a link to Lamar's life and career, courtesy of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp10/jacklamar.html

In February, 1987, Lamar - who was 61 at the time - was fired by Philadelphia Park track owner International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and replaced by Keith Jones, who was 29. According to a story in the Philadelphia Daily News of July 12, 1988:

"Jack Lamar, former track announcer at Philadelphia Park and Garden State Park, filed a claim against ITB last year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in which he alleged age and religious discrimination. Lamar, who is Jewish, recently withdrew his claim with the EEOC and has filed suit against ITB in U.S. District Court in Camden. Lamar was fired, with minimal explanation, in February 1987."

Lamar's many accomplishments were ignored by the Parx Racing Hall of Fame committee, and here's hoping they give him his rightful due next year. Those of us who were patrons of old Keystone and the tracks in the South Jersey region remember him fondly as a straightforward, accurate announcer.  Lamar, who died in 2006, does not get even a mention in the track's current media guide.

As an aside, when yours truly researched and wrote the 1997 media guide for the track, Mr. Lamar's contributions to the early days of racing in Bensalem were included, but sadly his name has been edited out of the current online version.