Citizen Durkin Just as Popular at Spa

by Mike Kane 
Tom Durkin spent Labor Day signing his name thousands of times, posing for photos and handing out a tiny trophy. Though he was at Saratoga Race Course, he was not working. There were no names to memorize, no races to describe as Durkin transitioned into retirement. 
“You wake up in the morning on Hopeful Day and you've got that little knot in your stomach and when I woke up today, I didn't have that little knot in my stomach,” Durkin said. “That's OK. I guess that's the main idea of retiring.” 
Durkin completed his 43-year career as a race caller on Sunday with the 123rd GI Spinaway S. and was honored in a 15-minute ceremony in the winner's circle. In the later stages of his comments, he paused for a moment to compose himself, then delivered a rousing finish. He said he enjoyed the memorable sendoff given him by the New York Racing Association. 
“It was overwhelming. It was very hard to absorb,” he said. “I think it will sink in in a couple of days when I think about it, but it was just over-the-top emotional.” 
Durkin shook his head in disbelief as he described how the crowd reacted before, during and after the ceremony. He felt the love. 
“I had not idea it was going to be like that,” he said. “None.” 
When the ceremony ended, Durkin climbed into the back of a pickup truck and threw t-shirts in the crowd as the vehicle moved slowly up the stretch along the rail. From there, Durkin headed across Saratoga Springs to a party at the Hall of Springs in the state park. He estimated that about 250 people attended the lively event. 
“I'm not sure what time we went to,” he said. 
Durkin's stomach felt fine, but he acknowledged that the partying left him with a headache in the morning. He arrived for his meet-and-greet and autograph session armed with a couple of bottles of water and a container of Tylenol. 
Hundreds of people were waiting for him in a line that stretched from the Big Red Spring about 75 yards toward the horse path leading to the paddock. Durkin signed and smiled, accepted thanks and best wishes. The line never seemed to get any shorter. 
Durkin joked that his right arm felt better than his head, and said that he was enjoying the interaction with fans. He laughed as he said some people tossed money into his overturned hat on the table, thinking it was put there to collect tips. 
At 2:15, Durkin took a break to participate in the winner's circle ceremony for the Hopeful, the final Grade I race of the season at Saratoga. After doing a few interviews, he headed back to the table to continue his autograph duties. 
Durkin is now a full-time resident of Saratoga Springs and said he does not have any firm plans for the future. 
“The last few years I've been taking off during the winter time, but come spring I always wanted to get back to work,” he said. “So I'll have to have something else to do to fit into that slot. We'll see. I've got a lot of interests. We'll see what happens. I might do some voice over work. I'll certainly do some charity work. That will be part of the puzzle, I'm sure. Maybe public speaking. So we'll see. I might even be a tour guide. I've been tossing that around and it seems like a pretty good idea.” 
In the short term, Durkin said he's pretty sure he can enjoy retirement away from the stress that was part of his life's work. Day 1 of this new chapter was a good one. “I feel great. It's a nice feeling,” he said. “I'll just relax tomorrow and relax for as long as I want to.”