DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press Luke Kruytbosch who was the Ellis Park Announcer has died.

Luke Kruytbosch, who had just started his 10th season as the voice of Ellis Park, was found dead in his Evansville apartment this morning.

Don Erk of the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office said the cause of death appeared natural, likely coronary related.

Kruytbosch, 46, had told friends during Sunday's races at Ellis Park that he wasn't feeling well.

Kruytbosch, who hailed from Canada, took the announcing jobs at Ellis Park and Churchill Downs in 1999 after earning degrees in animal science and agriculture at the University of Arizona. He also called the races at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, his adopted hometown.

"This is another sad day for Ellis Park," said Steve Cato, a retired Bosse teacher who worked in the office next to Kruytbosch's announcing stand above the Sky Theatre at Ellis. "Luke was a one-of-a-kind caller; he had a great voice and a great feel for it."

Ellis Park owner Ron Geary said the staff was in shock this afternoon.

"It would have been hard not to like and love Luke," said Geary. "This is a huge loss for the Kentucky thoroughbred racing circuit, and a great loss for Ellis Park.

"Luke was the voice of Ellis. If you heard his voice anywhere, you thought about racing. He was one of the top three callers in the country, and we were fortunate here at Ellis to have him for 10 years."

Fred Schroeder, who owns the Roca Bar in Evansville, was introducted to Kruytbosch five years ago by Cliff Guilliams, the Courier & Press racing writer and Equibase chart caller who died last April at age 53.

"Luke and I took a trip together to Saratoga," said Schroeder. "Being around him at a race track was a wonderful thing. He loved the sport, he loved the people at the sport, and he lived for all that had to offer.

"He lived life to the fullest."

Kruytbosch, a bachelor, is survived by his father and a sister.