Passed away today at 86. Ironic, and perhaps fitting he should depart the day ABC will probably televise the first TC winner in 30 years.
An old school sports broadcaster who knew a thing or two about horses, I always enjoyed his racing coverage.
A class act.
It is Ironic
He was a great man. Best thing in racing on tv. I am sure ABC will be all over this. Godspeed Ji,
He was a great racing broadcaster, but, I will never forget the 1972 Munich Olympics, when he made the leap from sports broadcaster to news journalist. He brought us the coverage of that horrible event thoroughly and precisely, and with calm and dignity.
RIP. It was a true pleasure to watch him cover the events. Class act all the way.
He was also the broadcaster for Wide World of Sports. I miss that show.
He was as good at what he did as anyone has ever been, and that’s saying a lot.
What a class act. You don’t see his type these days.
RIP Jim.
Just an amazing man. I guess you could say he guided me and many people through the triple crown year after year, and I know the way he told the tales helped me to truly love this sport.
Also great that he was a fellow marylander.
Rest in peace Jim, go call those match races between Secretariat, Barbaro and John Henry!!
~Emily
I feel lucky that I was able to shake his hand and tell him what a wonderful job he did promoting the Maryland Million, he will be missed.
RIP Mr. McKay.
You deserve the respect. I will miss your ability to get to the heart of racing and give it the kind of coverage it was due.
Give out some sugar cubes for me to Man O’ War, Secretariat, and Slew.
Well said Louise. Though I wasn’t born until 1973, I have seen the footage from Munich.
Jim was pretty instrumental in the whole Maryland Millions idea, and he loved racing, he will be missed by many, and I hope for him that BB wins the TC. Jim would’ve really liked that.
I’ve been telling my son all day that it could truly be a special day, that we just might see history made.
It is, indeed, a truly special day as Mr. McKay has passed. Ironic, sad, and a little shocking. One of the greatest gone 
RIP Mr. McKay. No matter what, history was made today
Oh noooooooo.
My siblings and I watched a lot of sports growing up, so his voice would always take me back…he’s definitely a big big part of why I love racing so much.
A real pro. Nobody holds a candle to him today.
And their off…
What a wonderful man. Your voice is one permantly embedded in my soul. You brought so much to so many.
I think it’s only fitting that you’ll be calling “the race” for those that can not be with us today. Rest in peace.
You’ll be missed, Jim!
He did a great job in influencing me to my life’s work. Thanks Jim! I wouldn’t have it anyother way!
I just read a couple of Sports Illustrated articles online, and was pleasantly surprised to find out Mr. McKay’s real name is Jim McManus, and he lived on a 40 acre horse farm in Monkton, MD. Perhaps that is commonly known, but now I have another reason to appreciate and admire him.
Yup, that is the image i will always have of him
RIP Jim!
They’re doing a nice tribute to him right now on the Belmont Pre-Race show.
Long before I got into horses, McKay was the “face” of horse racing to me. Along with being the face of the Olympics and, of course, my Saturday afternoon date in the days before ESPN!
I think I remember his coverage in '72, but perhaps I’ve seen so many replays that I only think I remember it (I was only 6). Even so, “they’re all gone” remains one of the most chilling things in my memory.
Jim wasn’t just a face and voice on TV, he was a breeder and owner in his own right. I knew he’d been sick the last few years, and had actually been thinking about him lately. What a wonderful man.
