Australian race caller Michael Wrona has been named the new full-time track announcer at Santa Anita. The 49-year-old, who began his career at age 17 in his homeland and has been in the U.S. for the last 25 years, has spent the past decade as the announcer for Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.
“I'm overjoyed and humbled that Santa Anita is entrusting me with a booth occupied by so few announcers in the track's storied history,” said Wrona. “I shall try my utmost to honor the great legacy of my predecessors – each of whom was of the highest caliber. I would also like to acknowledge the unwavering support and friendship of the Golden Gate Fields management, since I first worked there in 1992.”
The announcement comes following auditions from Wrona, international announcers Craig Evans of the Singapore Turf Club and Racing UK's David Fitzgerald, and Frank Mirahmadi, who has been alternating announcing duties with Wrona since the retirement of Trevor Denman last December.
“This was a much harder decision than anyone could have imagined,” said Joe Morris, SVP of West Coast Operations for The Stronach Group. “The finalists presented us with four incredible options, each a world-class announcer in his own right. In the end, as we said from the beginning, we listened to our fans, our horsemen, the media and our employees. It was an exceptionally close decision, but Michael just raised his game here at Santa Anita. We are honored to welcome him to the historic fabric of The Great Race Place. He has earned the right to make that booth his own.”
Wrona will continue to call Santa Anita's races through the end of the winter/spring meet Apr. 10 and will begin his full-time position when the spring/summer meet opens May 5.
“While we are pleased to welcome Michael as the next Voice of The Great Race Place, this opportunity also showcased three very gifted announcers in Frank, Craig and David,” Morris added. “We encourage them to continue to seek opportunities within The Stronach Group as they become available and we look forward to the chance to work with them.”
Wrona's replacement at Golden Gate will be named shortly and will begin in early May.
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