Horse racing is one of the world’s most popular sports, with millions looking to make wagers on the action throughout the year. Popular events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup rank among the most popular with players at TwinSpires, with these races also attracting newcomers to the sport.

 

However, with a growing number of new fans brought to the sport, it is vitally important that they are guided around the sport with care and insightful information.

 

Therefore, it is essential that there are respected journalists and pundits on hand to ensure that the sometimes confusing aspects of racing can be explained in a bias-free and simplistic tone. Still, who are some of the most influential racing figures in the world of media?

 

Nick Luck

 

There are potentially few more respected horse racing media personalities than Nick Luck. The Englishman has worked across the globe on some of the world’s biggest events, offering his insights on races such as the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

 

Luck is also a prominent figure at some of racing’s biggest events, getting key interviews with jockeys and trainers at the Breeders’ Cup and Cheltenham Festival. The 47-year-old previously worked on the Channel 4 Racing coverage before becoming a household name in the U.S. as part of the NBC Breeders’ Cup team.

 

His reputation within the industry is second to none, having been named the Horserace Writers’ and Photographers’ Association Broadcaster of the Year on nine occasions. His podcast, ‘Nick Luck Daily’ is a go-to for racing fans across the world.

 

Ruby Walsh

 

Transitioning from life in the saddle to a career in broadcasting is no easy feat, and it is a process that many ex-jockeys struggle to achieve. However, there has been no such issue for multiple-time Cheltenham winning rider Ruby Walsh.

 

The former stable jockey from the Willie Mullins yard has quickly become one of the most respected pundits across the world, offering insight on channels such as Racing TV for major events such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, and the Dubai World Cup.

 

Walsh made a name for himself during the 1997-98 season, before turning professional and winning the Grand National for the first time in 2000. As a jockey, he was revered as the best in the world of National Hunt racing, ending the Cheltenham Festival as the leading jockey on eleven occasions between 2004 and 2017. Since retiring, he has been a key part of the ITV Racing team, offering insight into how riders have performed on winning and losing horses.

 

Randy Moss

 

There are potentially few better horse racing broadcasts than the offering by NBC for the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup.

 

One of the key reasons for the success achieved has been the insight offered by Randy Moss. The experienced broadcaster has worked across various sports throughout his career, covering the Olympic Games and Super Bowl away from racing. His passion for racing saw him leave the Arkansas Gazette in 1984 to work at the Arkansas Democrat.

 

Moss has also been a key figure in helping bettors find winners, as he has been a part of the team that calculates the Andrew Beyer speed figures at the Daily Racing Form. Due to his popularity among fans, he has since introduced the Moss Pace Figures.

 

Larry Collmus

 

There are few more famous voices in horse racing than Larry Collmus. The 58-year-old has been the voice behind some of the most iconic moments in the sport, calling races such as the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Belmont Stakes. Collmus also serves as the track announcer at Del Mar, and is the respected voice from the gantry for all U.S. horse racing.

 

Collmus began his career in the sport in 1985 after calling the action at Bowie Race Track when he was just 18. His career took off in 1987 when he became the youngest announcer at the Birmingham Turf Club. His career continued to catch fire in 1994 after calling the action at Monmouth Park, which included calling races during the 2007 Breeders’ Cup. The biggest honor of his career was bestowed in 2011 when he was selected by NBC Sports to replace Tom Durkin as the voice of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup.

 

Collmus’s most famous calls would come during the Triple Crown, including his iconic lines following American Pharaoh and Justify’s respective wins in the Belmont Stakes. Once again, in 2025, he will form the important voice of reason during the Breeders’ Cup races, including the Classic, which is expected to be a clash of superstars, with Journalism, Sovereignity, and Sierra Leone all likely to take their chance at Del Mar in November.