by The Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — As many have heard, the longtime Hall of Fame voice of the Meadowlands and director of television, Sam McKee, suffered a major stroke on Thursday (Feb. 2). He is out of surgery, but still in critical condition at a N.J. hospital.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hall of Fame member Sam McKee is one of the most recognizable and beloved members of the harness racing community.

There will be a challenging road ahead for his emotional and physical recovery. McKee will most likely require months of physical rehabilitation.

Many have had the privilege to work with McKee since he first came to the Meadowlands in 1998. His knowledge, devotion and love for harness racing is simply unmatched. Anytime he walks into a room, his energy and excitement is infectious.

McKee is a tireless worker and gives all of himself to promote his beloved sport. There is no fan, horsemen, or even bettor that has not felt goose bumps while listening to one of his signature “charging hard” calls as the horses come storming down the Meadowlands stretch.

While McKee has touched and influenced countless people in the industry, his character and reputation stand above all else. He is the most kind, genuine person one could meet and is tremendously generous to all that know him.

The McKee family would like to invite everyone to continue sharing their thoughts and prayers with him. A GoFund Me account has been established to help his family during the long road to recovery. The medical fund can be accessed via this link https://www.gofundme.com/sam-mckees-medical-fund.

While the family continues to appreciate the outpouring of support from so many people, they ask that their privacy be respected during these challenging times. More updates will be provided as necessary.