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Bill Downes
@billdownes1
Horse racetrack announcer at Finger Lakes. Formerly at Golden Gate, Emerald, and Indiana. Packers, Chelsea, Pacers, and Mariners fan. Marquette University grad.
Joined October 2011
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Apr 29, 2019
    My Dad passed away peacefully late Sunday night. I was the luckiest son in the world. He loved me, family, friends, the Green Bay Packers, and horse racing in that order. He was an incredible people person. People weren't strangers for long around him. Loved that quality. RIP Dad
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    May 16, 2021
    Found this gem from 2017 when Monomoy Girl broke her maiden at Indiana Grand.
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Nov 27, 2023
    I'm leaving Emerald Downs after two seasons and taking the Golden Gate Fields announcing job for their final year. I really enjoyed ED and Seattle and want to thank Phil Ziegler for hiring me. I will miss working with Vince Bruun and Joe Withee in particular.
    26K
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Jan 21, 2020
    Bad personal news. My Mom passed away on Monday morning on her birthday at the age of 76. Still best of friends with my late Dad even after a divorce, I hope that he and my late sister welcome her to heaven.
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Dec 8, 2021
    I have some personal & professional news that I would like to share with everyone. I will not be returning to Indiana Grand in 2022. As most people that follow me know, I have had quite a few significant changes in my personal life throughout the past couple of yrs. (continued)
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Jul 9, 2020
    A new record of $5.979 million bet at Indiana Grand on Indiana Derby day!! That shatters the old record of about $4.1 million. @IGRaceCourse @RacingRachelM @ericahalstrom #ThankYouBettors
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    May 16, 2019
    I just got word from Arlington that they will name the 4th race on Sunday May 26 after my late Father!! Come one, come all!! Thank you to @HowardSudberry for making this happen!
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Apr 28, 2020
    A year ago, I lost my Dad to cancer. I am awful with remembering anniversaries especially bad ones. Wish I could talk to him now about fun things like the Packers draft or hitting a pick 4 or when the turf course would open up at Undiana Grand. He packed a ton of life in 85 yrs.
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Nov 6, 2023
    My stepDad, Larry, passed away last Friday. My parents got divorced when I was very young though it was not an angry divorce. I essentially had three parents growing up. Larry was as important as my Mom and Dad in a terrific childhood. All three of them are gone but not forgotten
    5.4K
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Jul 7, 2025
    I clicked on Sofia Vives' equibase page. She was at Finger Lakes on Wed, up to Woodbine outside Toronto on Thurs, at Presque (outside Erie, PA) Fri, back to Woodbine on Sat, down to Ellis Park (Evansville, IN area) on Sunday, and here today. @FanDuel_Racing
    16K
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Dec 26, 2023
    Happy opening day @GGFracing !! 9 race card. Quite a view from the booth.
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    7.4K
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    May 15, 2025
    I saw a couple posts on here so I will confirm it. I start as the track announcer at @flgaming on Monday May 19. It is not permanent. Excited to get going. Been to the track only one time previously.
    8.4K
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    May 6, 2019
    We had my Dad's Celebration of Life yesterday at Players Pub and Grill. I think my Dad would have been proud. Plenty of Miller Lite (his fav beer) was consumed. Thank you to everyone that took the time to be there. Meant a ton to me, Megan, and his brothers and sisters.
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    Bill Downes
    @billdownes1
    Aug 11, 2025
    I am staying on as Finger Lakes announcer through Wednesday November 12. I will miss the final two weeks of the meet with personal commitments.
    11K