Track Announcers Frank Mirahmadi and Frank Becker at Clockers' Corner

East meets West at Santa Anita in these days leading up to the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship. It is definitely an event that brings together racing people from all across the globe. And nowhere is it more apparent than at Clockers' Corner in the mornings, where trainers, riders, racing journalists and people from all segments of the racing industry are busy renewing old acquaintances and catching up on the news.

Race callers Frank Mirahmadi and Kurt Becker

Today I caught a photo of race caller Frank Mirahmadi (announcer for the California Fairs) and Keeneland track announcer, Kurt Becker. Both are taking part in live broadcasts from Clockers' Corner all week.

An Interview with Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi

On a recent trip to the Big Fresno Fair, I had a chance to visit one of California's well-known track announcers, Frank Mirahmadi, in his rooftop announcer's booth, where he graciously allowed me to videotape an interview.

Race caller, Frank Mirahmadi, in the announcer's booth at The Big Fresno Fair.

Mirahmadi, who often entertains race fans with celebrity impression race calls,
has called races at tracks across the country, including Hialeah Park, Louisiana Downs, and Ruidoso Downs (where he called the All American Futurity in 1999). Currently he calls races for the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF).

Frank Mirahmadi Adds Interest to Belmont Stakes Day at Hollywood Park

Frank Mirahmadi interviewing trainer John Sadler in the paddock at Hollywood Park.

Frank Mirahmadi was at Hollywood Park this weekend, where he was doing the on-air interviews for TVG from the paddock. I had the pleasure of hearing his race calls live at a couple of the Northern California racing fairs last summer, and it was a treat to catch up with him today between interviews.

Mirahmadi is well known for calling races in the voice of various celebrities – including Rodney Dangerfield, Marlon Brando and Andy Rooney. He provided the voice of the Santa Anita track announcer in the movie Seabiscuit and the voice of the Monmouth Park announcer in Ruffian. Currently, he calls races for the California Authority of Racing Fairs, in addition to working as a racing analyst on TVG.

Mirahmadi, a native of Los Angeles, called his first race at Hollywood Park on December 24, 1992, closing day of the fall meet, filling in for Trevor Denman who was on vacation. He was subsequently invited back as a guest announcer on closing day of the 1994 and 1995 meets.

In 1996 he was named track announcer at Hialeah Park, where he served until the track closed in 2001. He was track announcer and racing publicity manager at Louisiana Downs from 2000-2005, and has also been a guest announcer at several tracks across the country.

Mirahmadi will be back on the Northern California fair circuit this summer, beginning with the San Joaquin Fair in Stockton on June 18.