Harry Henson, Race Caller At Longacres

Harry Henson, who called horse races at Longacres in Renton for 14 years and was track announcer at Hollywood Park for 24 years, died yesterday at his home in El Paso, Texas. He was 78.

Mr. Henson, the father of Longacres Park announcer Gary Henson, retired in 1982.

Mr. Henson's career began unexpectedly at the Puyallup Fair one summer while he was working as racing secretary.

"He was literally forced into it," Gary Henson said. "The fair managers had imported Graham McNamee, a famous announcer from the East Coast, to be master of ceremonies at the fair. When he showed up, they told him he also had to call the races. He balked, just refused. So they said to Dad, `You know the horses, YOU call the races.' "

Mr. Henson called races at Longacres from 1942 to 1955. He was the announcer at Arlington and Washington parks in the Chicago area before he moved to Hollywood Park in 1959.

Hollywood Park recognized Mr. Henson's contributions to racing last year by renaming the Debonair Stakes the Harry Henson Stakes.

Another son, H. Rick Henson, is general manager of The Woodlands race track at Kansas City, Kan.

Mr. Henson will be buried tomorrow in Santa Teresa, N.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund.