The man behind the bugle: Steve Buttleman

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Churchill Downs is iconic for multiple reasons.

Whether it be the Twin Spires, the fashion or, of course, the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.

However, one of the most iconic sounds of the track is the Call to the Post.

It’s the sound you hear before every race and the man behind it is Churchill Downs’ Official Bugler Steve Buttleman.

Kentucky Derby 150 will be his 29th, making him the longest tenured bugler to play at Churchill Downs.

Even though he’s been playing the cornet and bugle since he was a child, Buttleman says it wasn’t his original plan.

“I thought I would probably end up being, you know, in a symphony or local orchestra,” he said. “Something like that.”

But then the opportunity arose.

Before the 1995 racing season, a bugler stepped down and Churchill Downs held tryouts. Eight talented musicians showed up but only one could get the job.

“We all played our Call to the Post and they narrowed it down to two of us and then Steven and I went back and forth and then the committee deliberated and I was lucky enough to be the guy they picked,” Buttleman said.

Luck had nothing to do with it, though.

Buttleman said he practices playing the bugle every day in preparation and that continues even today.

Standing in front of an awe-inspiring crowd of more than 160,000, and yet he never misses a note.

Still, he has to remind himself to do the simple things.

“I try to stay consistent and, especially on Oaks and Derby Day, you try not to overthink things and make sure that I breathe,” he said.

Buttleman isn’t just a one-trick pony.

At Keeneland, he plays Boots and Saddles and, for the kids, he even takes requests.

“The hot song right now is the theme from Bluey,” he said. “That usually gets them or making the horse sound and making the horse toot.”

Even on his busiest days, Buttleman finds time to give the people what they want, playing for eager fans every chance he gets. He said he constantly reminds himself to never take his position for granted, taking steps back to humbly embrace what he calls one of the most electrifying jobs ever.

“About an hour before the rest, I kind of take a walk and get out of here,” he said. “I walk up the turf track and when I get to the top of the stretch, I turn around and see all of the people having a great time and the Twin Spires and the sun shining on them and I’m just like ‘God. What did I do to deserve to be the guy.’”

While there might be some nerves ahead of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, Buttleman said the most nervous he’s ever been was the Covid year because there was no one in the stands and he feeds off the energy.

And with Derby 150 expected to draw in record crowds, this could be his best Call to the Post yet.