Phil Georgeff, was born in Chicago, IL on January 1, 1931 and died November 7, 2016, age 85. He retired from a stellar race calling career in December 1992. A Guinness Book of World record holder for calling 96,131 race calls, (aka "The Voice of Chicago Racing"). He lived a good life in retirement with wife in Fairhope, AL.Whirlaway, ridden by Eddie Arcaro (Phil's favorite jockey) won 1941 Triple Crown, ignited Phil's interest in thoroughbred racing when Phil was 10. By age 16, 112 pounds, Phil was an exercise boy and hoped to be the next Eddie Arcaro. At 17 his weight jumped to 132, thus in Phil's words, "...so if I couldn't ride 'em, I'd write about 'em. I pursued writing and journalism with a passion..." He was sports editor in chief of his Austin High School paper. Phil received his bachelor's degree in 1954 at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.Phil Georgeff called his first horse race professionally, in Illinois, on May 18, 1959 at Washington Park and called his last race at Hawthorne Race Course, IL on December 31, 1992. He was a master in the art of race calling.Throughout those years Phil memorably, inspired and accurately, called races at Hawthorne Race Course (IL), Arlington Park (IL). He also called at other Chicago area racetracks.Among his familiar fan-favorite and well known calling phrases are: "And They're Off! and "Here they come, spinning out of the turn!"He was also Director of PR at Hawthorne and worked closely with family owners, Tom and Bob Carey. He edited "The Winner's Circle" an Illinois thoroughbred publication among his many other career successes.Phil remained a writer and thoroughbred racing historian, kept current with Thoroughbred horse racing, and wrote editorials, articles, answered any media requests for interviews, comments, fan-mail, autograph requests, etc. until his death at 85 in AL on 7 November 2016.(2002) Phil Georgeff told his life story in his autobiography, "And They're Off!" (My Years as the Voice of Thoroughbred Racing) (ISBN 0-87833-264-2).(2003) Phil Georgeff has also written, the definitive biography, about the legendary 1948 Triple Crown Winner and first Thoroughbred Millionaire, entitled Citation - In A Class By Himself, with Forward by Tommy Trotter. (ISBN 0-87833-292-8).
