The All-Star Buglers
The All-Star Buglers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Glenolden, PA, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1997–2019 |
The All-Star Buglers were a famous trumpet ensemble formed by former New York Racing Association bugler Mark O'Keeffe. The group featured official track buglers from across the United States performing the traditional First call at prestigious horse racing events.[1]
Overview
- Founded by Mark O'Keeffe in July 1997 at Delaware Park Racetrack.[1]
- Performed 271 times at major horse racing events, MLB games, television appearances and many private events between 1997 and 2019.[2]
- Employed over 40 distinct musicians (mostly trumpet players), helping launch or boost the careers of many race track buglers.
- Performed at 34 race tracks in 18 states and Canada.[3]
History
The All-Star Buglers were formed on a whim at Delaware Park Racetrack in time for the running of the 1997 Delaware Handicap.[4] Management suggested a "dueling buglers" gimmick with O'Keeffe dueling another bugler all day long. O'Keeffe countered with an offer of a bugler trio composed of official race track buglers in their respective race track uniforms. Buglers Frank Hughes from Monmouth Park and Sam Grossman from Belmont Park were recruited and joined O'Keeffe in performances of fanfares and popular melodies[5] in addition to the traditional First call in 3-part harmony prior to each race. The group would usually reserve the fanfares and melodies for featured stakes races on the day's racing program, but in later years the group could be found wandering the grandstand on occasion, performing popular tunes for the racing patrons.[6]
Performances
The Breeders' Cup (G1)
In 1998, The All-Star Buglers were invited by The Breeders' Cup to perform at Churchill Downs for the 15th running of the Breeders' Cup.[7] Buglers Sam Grossman from Belmont Park and Jay Cohen from Santa Anita Park joined Delaware Park Racetrack bugler Mark O'Keeffe in the first performance ever by a trumpet ensemble at the Breeders' Cup.[4] Subsequent performances at The Breeders' Cup include:
- 1999 at Gulfstream Park[8]
- 2000 at Churchill Downs[9]
- 2001 at Belmont Park[10][11]
- 2005 at Belmont Park[12][13][14]
- 2006 at Churchill Downs[15][16][17]
- 2007 at Monmouth Park (2 Days)[18]
- 2008 at Santa Anita Park (2 Days)[19][20]
The Belmont Stakes (G1)
In June of 2000, The All-Star Buglers were contracted to perform at the Belmont Stakes. This was the first time a trumpet ensemble had ever performed at a Triple Crown event.[21] Mark O'Keeffe, Sam Grossman and Jay Cohen were joined on this day by Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttleman.[22] (Buttleman would later go on to perform at the 2018 Preakness Stakes, making him the only bugler to perform at all 3 Triple Crown events.)[23] Subsequent performances at The Belmont Stakes include:
The Meadowlands
In 2001, The All-Star Buglers were contracted to perform at the Meadowlands Racetrack for the most prestigious event on the harness racing calendar - the Hambletonian. This began a 20 year relationship with the Meadowlands Racetrack,[30][31] with the group also frequently performing at the Meadowlands Pace and the Breeders' Crown.
Other racing events
- Pennsylvania Derby (1997,1998,2004[13],2012-2019,[32])
- Ocala Breeders' Championships (1998-2010)[33][34][35]
- Florida Derby (1998,2001,2002,2003,2005,2006)
- Tampa Bay Derby (1998[36]-2004,2006,[37]2007)[38]
- West Virginia Derby (1999)
- Santa Anita Handicap (1999-2000)[39]
- Oaklawn Handicap (1999)
- Arkansas Derby (2000-2001)
- Ohio Derby (2005-2006)
- Maryland Million Day (2005,2007,2008)
- West Virginia Breeders Classic (2006-2016)[40]
- Haskell Invitational (2006)
- Malibu Stakes (2007)
The Late Show with David Letterman
On August 8, 2003 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, The All-Star Buglers received a call from Jill Lederman, producer at The Late Show with David Letterman inviting The All-Star Buglers to perform that night on the show.[13] Taping began at 5PM and only 2 buglers were available to do the show. Atlantic City Race Course bugler Richard Garrick joined Mark O'Keeffe for this performance at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
The performance required The All-Star Buglers to interrupt Dave's monologue with a simplified performance of First call. The performance went off as planned, to the delight of the host and studio audience.[41]
Major League Baseball
On March 6, 2006 The All-Star Buglers gave their first performance of The Star Spangled Banner at a Major League Baseball game, a spring training event at Progress Energy Park between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[42] Subsequent performances include:
- 7/30/2006 at Citizens Bank Park - Florida Marlins vs Philadelphia Phillies[13]
- 3/31/2007 at Tropicana Field (Spring Training) - NY Mets vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays[43]
- 8/10/2007 at Citizens Bank Park - Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
- 3/10/2008 at Tropicana Field (Spring Training) - Cleveland Indians vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays[44]
- 7/06/2008 at Citizens Bank Park - NY Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies[45]
- 9/03/2009 at Citizens Bank Park - San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies
Other Performances
Off track, The All-Star Buglers were active playing at horse racing related award ceremonies, auctions, grand openings[46][47], track closures[48][49] and parades as well as weddings and church services, occasionally performing as a brass ensemble.
Summary
In total, The All-Star Buglers performed 271 times with 235 of those performances at major horse racing events held at 34 race tracks in 18 states and Canada. The group drew from buglers employed at Belmont Park, Monmouth Park, Atlantic City Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park Racetrack, Churchill Downs, Tampa Bay Downs, Lone Star Park, Sam Houston Race Park, Emerald Downs, Oaklawn Park, Ak-Sar-Ben (arena), Meadowlands Racetrack, Hialeah Park, Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park as well as other free lance musicians. The group covered the entire spectrum of horse racing, performing at thoroughbred, harness, quarter horse, steeplechase[50] and Arabian events.
Discontinuation
With dwindling opportunities and the onset of COVID-19, the group ceased operations in 2019.
External links
References
- 1 2 "The Rumble". New York Post. August 5, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- ↑ "The All-Star Buglers". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pluul4SlCe4
- 1 2 Mondello, Nick (January 2022). "Mark O'Keeffe: Master Track Bugler". ITG Journal. Vol. 46, no. 2. International Trumpet Guild. p. 57. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mhlprwaH54
- ↑ The All-Star Buglers (2020-12-08). I Got Rhythm. Retrieved 2026-07-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wszJekuvabo&list=PLnyoky1f6M7kX8Fsq8CzlWqSb5BL7fJeQ&index=3
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3kz_DdcjKo&list=PLnyoky1f6M7kX8Fsq8CzlWqSb5BL7fJeQ&index=5
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMwN5heDlO0&list=PLnyoky1f6M7kX8Fsq8CzlWqSb5BL7fJeQ&index=7
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K35T6_JaJg&list=PLnyoky1f6M7kX8Fsq8CzlWqSb5BL7fJeQ&index=10
- ↑ http://www.horse-races.net/library/aa102701misc.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76TTmUmr-Wo&list=PLnyoky1f6M7kX8Fsq8CzlWqSb5BL7fJeQ&index=12
- 1 2 3 4 5 Butler, Dylan (June 24, 2008). "Astoria resident sounds the call". QNS. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ http://www.horse-races.net/library/bc05-misc.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA0FeY7R7mE
- ↑ Stewart, Julie June (May 4, 2016). "Call to the Post is Call for Life Well Lived". America's Best Racing. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ "2006 Breeders' Cup Miscellaneous Photos". Horse-Races.Net. November 6, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTKu6s3sEmk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYL5wCq1KCo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS2hEv4c5WI
- ↑ Mullinax, Gary (June 16, 2000). "Local bugler at Belmont". The News Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ The All-Star Buglers (2021-01-14). 2000 Belmont Stakes (G1). Retrieved 2026-07-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Stewart, Julie June (June 8, 2018). "Meet the Schoolteacher Who Moonlights as Triple Crown Bugler". America's Best Racing. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILjiTIZTZTM&list=PLnyoky1f6M7mpjUboUZV6agh92J2u1Y7-&index=2
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QOPSYcKNc&list=PLnyoky1f6M7mpjUboUZV6agh92J2u1Y7-&index=3
- ↑ http://www.horse-races.net/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?/postcard/pictures/buglers.jpg&width=300
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtajNmavARc&list=PLnyoky1f6M7mpjUboUZV6agh92J2u1Y7-&index=4
- ↑ http://www.horse-races.net/library/bel03-misc.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0hswuX5CE&list=PLnyoky1f6M7mpjUboUZV6agh92J2u1Y7-&index=5
- ↑ http://www.horse-races.net/library/hambo05-ucresults.htm
- ↑ Little, Debbie (August 13, 2021). "A look back at Hambletonian Day". Harness Racing Update. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Ae1UAAxw4
- ↑ "OBS Championship Stakes". Ocala StarBanner. March 22, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ "OBS Day of Champions races". Ocala StarBanner. March 21, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/66432692@N00/2263378792/
- ↑ Dickman, Bernie (March 23, 1998). "Busy Day at Downs continues run". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Isbitts, Steven (March 18, 2006). "Race Buglers Blow Their Own Horns To Promote Dying Craft". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved July 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Two Top Triple Crown Favorites to Run Saturday in Tampa Bay Derby". The Tampa Tribune. March 15, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duydEevH6lA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to_WL0PccoA
- ↑ The All-Star Buglers (2020-12-04). Late Show Short Clip. Retrieved 2026-07-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVbFSEWvY3g&list=PLnyoky1f6M7nuRhX4S6g19_QJQD-6Nsm0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4NIQBYBDPQ&list=PLnyoky1f6M7nuRhX4S6g19_QJQD-6Nsm0&index=2
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En3W9lgqwM4
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ1TD3HXxy0&list=PLnyoky1f6M7nuRhX4S6g19_QJQD-6Nsm0&index=4
- ↑ "Suffolk Downs opens meet Preakness day". Paulick Report. May 19, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ Marr, Esther (July 19, 2008). "Pinnacle Reaches the Top in Attendance". BloodHorse. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Farewell Beulah Park". The Columbus Dispatch. May 4, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ Dubovec, Marc (May 9, 2014). "Fine last ride for Beulah". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ https://todmarks.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Radnor-Hunt-Races-5-21-11-COMPLETE/G0000QwhCSAKSX0g/I00002kIBEaPqplA/C00001maYq50VdZ0
