Track announcer, race secretary Billy Perkins died

William J Perkins III, better known by all as Billy or Perk passed away at Allied Services Inpatient Hospice on August 22, 2023, after an illness.  Billy was born at the family homestead in Tanners Falls on May 16, 1946, to the late Robert “Cy” Perkins and Berna Artman Perkins.  Because of constant flooding of the greater Honesdale area, the Jadwin Dam was constructed spurring the abandonment of the upstream village of Tanners Falls and along with that the relocation of Billy’s family to Doctor W.J. Perkins’ sprawling Cold Springs Farm.

Billy spent his formative years on the farm where his love of horses, in particular Standardbreds developed.  Billy was a proud graduate of Honesdale High School class of 1964, having previously completed six years of elementary schooling in the one room schoolhouse at Rileyville.  During the summers of his high school years, Billy worked for legendary Honesdale trainer Russell Dunn at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.  After an abbreviated college stint at Delhi Tech in New York State, the call of harness racing beckoned a grand career that took Billy across the country.

For a time, Billy worked as a 2nd trainer/groom for Uncle Don Perkins at Vernon Downs.  While working for his Uncle Don, Billy’s race announcing career started at the age of 19 working under his father’s and Uncle Al’s watchful eyes calling races on the Keystone Colt Stakes Association fair circuit debuting at the Lycoming Fair in Hughesville and as they say the “rest is history”.

Moving on to upstate New York’s Batavia Raceway was one of Billy’s first pari-mutuel stops soon after landing a job at Ocean Downs spending many enjoyable summers at the Maryland Eastern Shore.  From New England to Michigan and all points in between, if there was a harness racetrack Billy probably worked at it either as an announcer or race secretary or both.

During harness racing’s golden era Billy was an integral part of Rosecroft Raceway.  Located outside Washington D.C., Billy had a twenty-five-year career highlighted by large on track crowds, appearances on the fledgling cable T.V. channel ESPN announcing Breeders Crown races and going viral with his legendary “Come on Fred” race calls.

Other favorite stops in his career included Freestate Raceway, Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago, and Sports Creek outside Flint Michigan.  Billy’s last stop in his professional career was in the Commonwealth of Kentucky working at his beloved Red Mile, particularly as Grand Circuit Race Secretary. Billy also thoroughly enjoyed his stints at Kentucky’s other tracks including Thunder Ridge and Blue Grass Downs.

Regardless of the size or stature of the racetrack Billy was always happiest, when he was around racing people and horses.  He also loved to entertain and cook/grill for his friends and family, his crab cakes were legendary amongst his family as well as his St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner.  Billy often said he considered himself fortunate by being involved in harness racing, he never felt like he worked a day in his life.  The lifelong friends he made in the sport of harness racing remained at the core of his heart until his passing.

Billy is a past President of the American Harness Racing Secretaries Association, was a licensed auctioneer, including being part of the team that developed a Standardbred auction at Rosecroft Raceway and is a member of the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame.  In retirement, Billy enjoyed the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale every August, of course in particular the harness racing and the horse pull, time spent at Elk Lake with his family, taking in his grandnieces/nephews sporting events, always sporting a cap from the proper school or college team.

Billy leaves behind an adoring family, including sister, Susan Firmstone, nephews Jeffrey Firmstone (Polly), George Firmstone (Katie), and niece Carrie Campen, (Bob) as well as grand nieces and nephews that includes Morganne Dudzinski (Brian), Justine Firmstone (Kyle Lebrecht), Abby, Emma, Julia, and Jack Firmstone, Robbie and Claire Campen, and a great grand niece and nephew Carson and Sawyer Dudzinski. He was predeceased by brother-in-law John Firmstone.

I lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Billy’s memory to the Wayne County Fair, 270 Miller Drive, Honesdale, PA 18431, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Donor’s favorite charity.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 26th at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Honesdale at 11 am.  Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Friends may visit Hessling Murray Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Friday, 6 to 8.  All attending are asked to use the 5th Street entrance.

Republished from the Tri-County Independent