by James Witherite, Vernon Downs Racing Media
Vernon, NY – Vernon Downs has named Michael Chamberlain their lead
racecaller, as legendary announcer Jim Moran will retire after a half century
in the broadcast box.
Announcer Emeritus Moran, a member of the Harness Racing Hall
of Fame’s Communicators’ Corner, will call his final race at Vernon Downs to
kick off the Opening Night program on Friday, April 11. The evening,
capping a 50-year legacy of Moran's describing the races at Vernon, will be a
celebration of what Moran brought to the Central New York track, with a poster
giveaway, tributes, and a meet-and-greet throughout the card.
Moran’s successor, Michael
Chamberlain, is a 43-year-old New Jersey native who has established himself
well as a sports broadcaster—in horse racing and otherwise—since earning a
degree in broadcasting from Arizona State University in 1994. After a
stint as the color commentator for the IHL Phoenix Roadrunners, Chamberlain
served as the track announcer at Sam Houston Race Park for twelve years before
assuming a similar role at Turf Paradise in Phoenix in 2009. He has
also called races at Lincoln Race Course in Nebraska and Fair Meadows in
Oklahoma.
"I am incredibly excited to be coming to Vernon Downs,” said
Chamberlain, who will assume the microphone in early May after Turf Paradise
concludes their season. “Succeeding a legend like Jim Moran will be
difficult, but it will be an honor for me to follow in his footsteps.”
With Chamberlain maintaining his winter base in the Valley of the
Sun and returning to Turf Paradise for their fall opening, Tioga racecaller
James Witherite and Vernon director of racing Scott Warren will describe the
beginning and end of the Vernon meet in his stead. While he may be new
to calling harness racing, Chamberlain has long been a fan of the trotters and
pacers, and looks forward to bellowing his signature “They Are Off!” sendoff at
the central New York oval.
“Coming to Vernon will bring me back to my eastern roots,” continued
Chamberlain. “As a Northern New Jersey native, I have always enjoyed
harness racing and look forward to being part of it from now on."
Post time for the first of 90 cards at Vernon Downs is slated for
6:45 p.m. (Eastern time).
