When there was a horse race near Chicago, it was a sure bet that August E. “Gus” Cacini was there.
Mr. Cacini, 77, the longtime horse-race timer at Arlington Park, Hawthorne Race Course, Balmoral Park and Sportsman’s Park, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, of emphysema in his Brookfield home.
Mr. Cacini worked most of his career with Visumatic timers, the timing equipment used at most of the country’s racetracks, and timed at all three Triple Crown races–the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. One of the highlights of his career was timing Secretariat during its Triple Crown run.
From around 1960 until he retired Dec. 31, 1990, Mr. Cacini made his home at the Chicago tracks, where he did more than just time the races, said Phil Georgeff, the veteran Chicago area track announcer.
“He was the most helpful man I’ve ever known,” said Georgeff, who added that Mr. Cacini did many odd jobs–from delivering lunches to the press box to picking up jockeys at the airport–to ensure races went off without a hitch.
Mr. Cacini had an infectious love for racetracks, said Dave Surico, the Tribune’s thoroughbred handicapper and turf writer.
“He was proud of what he did and he did his part in the process of putting on the races,” Surico said. “He was always there. I don’t recall him ever missing a day, and he loved what he did.”
Born in Chicago, Mr. Cacini served in the Army during World War II, said his niece, Michelle Bednarz.
He came back and worked as an electrician, marrying his wife Nancy in 1951. The couple moved from La Grange Park to Cicero and to Brookfield in the early 1970s.
Mr. Cacini jumped at the chance to work with Visumatic, and he always controlled the urge to place a few dollars on the horses, his niece said.
“He would never gamble,” Bednarz said. “He was there to work, and he had to concentrate.”
For years, the timing and announcing crews traveled from track to track in the Chicago area in a caravan, sometimes working three sets of races at three different parks in one day.
“Gus would be there and he’d lead the brigade,” said Georgeff, who recalled Mr. Cacini using the CB handle “Good-Timer Gus” as they drove on the highways.
As a tribute to Mr. Cacini, Georgeff said he used a special call whenever a certain horse raced.
“There was a horse called Speedy Cassini, and every time that horse raced, I would call it `Speedy Gus Cacini’ once” during the race, Georgeff said.
Other survivors include wife, Nancy; a brother, Albert; and a sister, Esther. Services have been held.
