The race day experience may vary from track to track, whether it’s the food on offer, the layout of the track, TAB or Non-TAB meeting, but consistent at every meeting is the race caller’s voice carrying across the racecourse.
Country races are an opportunity for race callers to hone their skills and gain experience. A familiar voice at racecourses around the state is that of TabCorp race caller Mark Mathews.
Mark’s passion for racing developed early as a child when he attended race days regularly with his father and listened to race calls on the radio often. Whilst working in the corporate sector and calling races on weekends, Mark was given the opportunity to call the Alice Springs Turf Club season in 2014. The opportunity to become a full-time race caller arose in December 2022 after 10 years of balancing a successful corporate career with race calling.
Country Racing SA had a chat with Mark to hear more about why he loves calling country races.
What do you enjoy most about calling country races?
Country racing meetings are very authentic. I like the rawness and the realness that country racing brings. The horses, participants and everything is just more down to earth. Jockeys may have driven four hours one way for just a single ride, or a trainer desperately needs a runner to run well to keep the bills at bay. Country racing also brings towns and people together for a social occasion.
The other part is I get to see places I would never get to. Towns such as Lock, Penong, and Roxby Downs.
From a calling perspective I don’t change how I call. I think someone with a runner at a non-TAB deserves the same standard call as some with a runner at Morphettville.
Do you have some favourite Country Racing SA racecourses to call at? Why is that?
Non-TAB - I would say Jamestown has always been my favourite. The calling facilities are excellent and the vibe on course is always relaxed. Roxby Downs has its own big party vibe, whilst Lock and Penong are about as country as you get.
TAB - Mount Gambier is fantastic because the dog leg offers a unique race shape and as a race caller, I get an excellent side on look at them in the run home. Naracoorte has always had a lovely atmosphere and early on in my career I called there a lot. Penola and Port Augusta both have new broadcast box facilities so they must go on the list.
Overall - Port Lincoln on the west is also very picturesque and the horse’s parade right in front of the caller’s box so it’s a favourite of mine. Special mentions to Clare (the recent Easter meeting was buzzing) and Mindarie-Halidon are also great days out.
Given I can’t sit on the fence, I will say my favourite country track to call at is Port Lincoln. Each way Naracoorte, Mount Gambier and Strathalbyn.
What do you find most challenging about calling country races?
It may surprise people but often calling a non-TAB meeting can be more difficult than a TAB meeting. Often at non-TAB meetings you are in the open exposed to the elements with limited infrastructure.
I remember a 37-degree day at Roxby with 60km winds. I was up on this pedestal and physically couldn’t hold the race book in the wind. Those 6 races were harder than any Saturday race card I have called at Morphettville!
In the southeast it can become challenging as we have a lot of Victorian visitors so learning those colours from scratch takes some work.
Lastly, in places like Port Lincoln trainers have multiple runners in each race and back-to-back races so it can be easy to get confused on colours. You need to have a memory like a sieve - remember it, then forget it all straight after the race.
Do you have some memorable moments from country races you have called?
I have been very fortunate to call most of the country cups now, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Penola, Bordertown, Port Lincoln, Mindarie Halidon, Clare, Lock, Roxby, Jamestown, Ceduna, and Penong. Each cup race meeting usually has a fantastic atmosphere and good crowd on track, so you always get an added buzz.
If I had to pick one, I would say the recent 2023 Port Lincoln Cup was a thrill. I have been calling a lot over the years in Port Lincoln but had never called the Cup. It was a great race, with Splash Some Cash winning for the second year in a row.
Country or Metro, what would be your dream race to call?
From a country racing perspective, I would love to call the Balaklava Cup. That is at the top of the TAB meeting list.
I know most callers would say the Melbourne Cup is the dream race to call but if I could choose any Australian race, it would be the Cox Plate. Put simply, I think it’s the best race of the year with the best horses, plus I just love The Valley.
Catch Mark calling races at various racecourses around the state throughout the year.
