Northern Kentucky’s Mike Battaglia, horseracing announcer, will be among the newest members of the Kosair Charities Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
The announcement of seven 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced today at Freedom Hall in Louisville.
The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes athletes and sports figures who were born in or who played their respective sport in the state of Kentucky. Past inductees include Muhammad Ali, Pee Wee Reese, Pat Day, Denny Crum and many more.
The inductees will be honored at a banquet on June 1, 2017 at the Crowne Plaza, located at 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209. The evening will begin with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and will be followed with dinner and a program.
Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit Kosair Charities. To purchase tickets, log onto: http://www.kahf17.eventbrite.com
At home in Edgewood, Mike Battaglia with Affirmed, a special memory.
Battaglia is a popular figure in Northern Kentucky. The eldest son of the late John Battaglia, who created the Spiral Stakes, an early prep for the Kentucky Derby, started announcing horse races in 1972.
He called races at Turfway, Keeneland and Churchill Downs, where he called 19 Kentucky Derbys, from Affirmed in 1978 to Grindstone in 1996. He began working for NBC in 1993 and covered all Triple Crown and Breeders Cup races as an analyst and interviewer until 2014.
He is the morning line maker for Churchill Downs, Turfway, and Keeneland, where he is also the on-air handicapper.
He lives in Edgewood.
Other inductees are:
Marion Miley: From 1936 to 1941, Marion Miley was the best female golfer in America, winning numerous amateur regional championships in the years before the formation of the LPGA. Her prowess on the links, combined with her youthfulness, athleticism and good looks, propelled her to international celebrity. It all came to a tragic end when, at the age of 27, she was murdered during a robbery at the Lexington Country Club. Today she is remembered as a pioneer in women’s sport whose legacy of courage and achievement paved the way for future generations.
Dennis Lampley: A legend in Kentucky high school football. Dennis Lampley arrived at Trinity in 1971 and served as defensive coordinator on three state title teams before becoming head coach. He compiled a career record of 138-21, winning five state titles in 10 years, including a state record 50-game win streak from 1988-91. Five of his teams were in the USA Today Top 25. He was National Coach of the Year in 1990, inducted in KHSAA Hall of Fame in 2003, National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012, and Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Kenny Klein: Kenny Klein is the longtime senior associate athletic director and sports information director at the University of Louisville, joining the Cardinals’ staff in 1983. A graduate of Murray State, Klein is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame. He has worked in media operations for the NCAA Final Four since 1985, multiple PGA Championships and Ryder Cups, the Kentucky Derby, and 1987 Pan American Games. He received the 2012 Katha Quinn Award from the US Basketball Writers Association for outstanding service.
Howard Beth: Howard Beth coached the Marshall County Lady Marshals for 30 years. He retired in 2010 with a record of 794-149. Included in this record are five trips to the finals of the LIT, winning the title twice. His teams made 19 appearances in the Sweet 16 state tournament, including a state runner-up title in 1981. His teams captured state titles in 1982 and 1984, that year going unbeaten (34-0). He was inducted into the KHSAA Hall of Fame in 1994 and Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Rodger Bird: The youngest of the fabulous Bird brothers (the others were Jerry, Calvin and Billy) from Corbin, Ky., Rodger held virtually every UK rushing record when he graduated in 1966. A first team All-American, he was a first-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders, where he was AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 1968 Bird became the first Kentucky native and former Wildcat to play in a Super Bowl.
Swag Hartel: The world-class runner grew up in England. He ran a 1:50:8 and was the fastest 17-year-old half-miler in the world. He came to US on a track scholarship to WKU. He placed 2nd in the British Championship with a 3:40:6, his fastest-ever 1,500 meters. He ran lead off leg for two British relay records and was an Olympic Trials participant. In 1977 he won the first Bluegrass 10,000. In 1979 he won the Ky. Derby Mini-Marathon. In 1981 he ran his first marathon in Louisville 2:19:23. He ran 64 10Ks in under 30 minutes in many towns across Kentucky.
Rob Bromley: Rob Bromley served as sports anchor at WKYT-TV in Lexington for more than 40 years, one of the longest tenures for a sportscaster in Kentucky. His career at WKYT included a run of 30 years on the UK Television Network doing play-by-play, color commentary and sideline reporting. In 2015, he was inducted into the NATAS Ohio Valley Silver Circle, honoring 25 years or more of distinguished service to the television industry. He was named Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year for 2016 by the National Sports Media Association.
2017 High School Athletic Class includes:
Sacred Heart Academy’s Brooke Forde and Johnson Central’s Geordan Blanton have been named Dr. Rudy J. Ellis Sports Medicine Center Kentucky Athletes of the Year.
Brooke Forde: Brooke Forde has not only been one of the top high school female athletes in the state of Kentucky during her four-year career, but has also been one of the elite swimmers in the entire nation. She helped lead Sacred Heart to four straight swimming state titles and currently holds two individual and one relay state record. As a senior, Forde was named to the All-State team after winning state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles – setting the record in both races – also winning as a member of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays teams. Ranked as the No. 1 college prospect nationally by Collegeswimming.com, Forde has signed with Stanford, has been a member of the U.S. Junior National Team since 2015 and was a 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in four events.
Geordan Blanton: Geordan Blanton is one of Kentucky’s top football players and wrestlers but will attend Marshall University on a baseball scholarship. Blanton is one of the best three-way athletes Kentucky has seen in years. In football, Blanton helped Johnson Central to the school’s first Class 4-A state championship last season. He played defensive back and wide receiver, was a finalist for Mr. Football, and named Class 4-A Player of the Year. In wrestling, Blanton won two state titles, finished third overall, and made it to the quarterfinals in his other season. Blanton has also been the star for the Golden Eagles baseball team that made it to the State Tournament during his junior season. Blanton is the team leader in every statistic category – batting average (just under .500), doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs and stolen bases. He was named All-State as a junior and was named the Daily Independent Player of the Year. Geordan is a top candidate for Mr. Baseball honors this season.
