NYRA announces race-caller schedule through end of Aqueduct campaign

by NYRA Press Office

The New York Racing Association has announced the track announcer schedule for the 2018-19 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Frank Mirahmadi, who has called races at the Big A from the start of the just-completed fall meet that spanned November 2- December 2, will continue to man the booth until December 16 at Aqueduct. Mirahmadi was recently named Santa Anita Park's permanent announcer and will assume his duties at the Arcadia, California track starting Opening Day on December 26.

Mirahmadi joined NYRA in 2017 as NYRA's backup track announcer, primarily calling races during the winter meet at Aqueduct in splitting duties with John Imbriale.

"I'm so thankful to NYRA for the opportunity to call world-class racing at a track that has so much history and tradition," Mirahmadi said. "Being able to call races in New York for some of the most passionate and knowledgeable fans in the sport is one of the top highlights of my career."

Imbriale, an institution at Aqueduct with more than 25 years experience in the booth along with duties as NYRA's Director of Television Operations, will call races at Aqueduct from December 20 through January 20. Larry Collmus, NYRA's primary race caller, will return to the booth from January 24-February 3 before Imbriale picks up the calls from February 7-March 31.

Collmus will then return on April 6 for a stacked day highlighted by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, and will continue to call at Aqueduct until Closing Day. Among the other big races Collmus will call include the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers, part of the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series, on February 2.

"It's always a privilege to call some of the best racing in the country, and to be able to return to such a historic venue at Aqueduct - where some of the all-time best horses, trainers and jockeys have competed - is a special opportunity," said Collmus, who became NYRA's primary race caller in 2015. "Having the chance to call the Wood Memorial and Carter Handicap among the other great races in the meet is always special to me."

Aqueduct Racetrack's lucrative winter and spring meets will feature a total of 52 stakes worth more than $7.3 million in purses.