Marshall Cassidy

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Marshall Cassidy (July 10, 1945 – February 7, 2021) was an American Thoroughbred racing official and announcer based in New York. He spent about 18 years as a race caller for the New York Racing Association (NYRA), calling races at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. He started as a backup to Dave Johnson and Chic Anderson and became the lead announcer after Anderson’s death in March 1979.

Cassidy also worked as a sportscaster, calling races for WCBS radio and for CBS, ABC, NBC, and ESPN television. He was known for his accuracy, clear pronunciation, and upbeat delivery, especially in close finishes. He remained NYRA’s lead announcer until 1990, when Tom Durkin took over. Cassidy called the fourth race at Saratoga on September 1, 2008.

He died at his home in Saratoga Springs, New York, on February 7, 2021, at age 75.

Personal background: Cassidy came from a prominent family of racing officials. His maternal grandfather, Marshall Whiting Cassidy, was a race starter and later NYRA racing director and executive director of The Jockey Club. His maternal great-grandfather, Marshall (Mars) Cassidy, was also a race starter and the first to use a starting barrier. George Cassidy, his grand-uncle, was a race starter for NYRA tracks for five decades.