Frank Mirahmadi

Pete Aiello, the regular announcer at Gulfstream, will take over the Santa Anita booth in place of Frank Mirahmadi while the latter is in New York to call the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. Aiello also served as the replacement during last year's festival in New York. Jason Beem, the regular Tampa Bay Downs announcer, will replace him at Gulfstream for this weekend. "I feel honored that Frank and the Santa Anita team invited me back out this weekend," Aiello said. "The Great Race Place is aptly named and...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has launched its annual TRF online charity auction on eBay, which runs through Thursday, Nov. 13 and features nearly 50 racing-related items, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The auction directly benefits the TRF's mission to provide dignified lifetime care to retired Thoroughbred racehorses, and also benefits its 'Second Chances Program' for incarcerated individuals. This year's auction includes: Thorpedo Anna shadowboxed halter with certificate of authenticity; Autographed memorabilia from industry connections; Artwork, photography, and handcrafted items; Frank Mirahmadi race call experience at the Spa....

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Stradale (c, 2, Yaupon) lost just about any chance in the opening furlongs of his highly anticipated debut at Saratoga July 19 and still ran a remarkable race to finish third. The word was out on the $285,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling turned $1.3-million OBS April breezer (:9 4/5*) and he was hammered down to 4-5 favoritism in his unveiling for owner Kaleem Shah and Hall of Fame...

In 10 days, Frank Mirahmadi will be in the announcers' booth to call the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, both on-track and for the national Fox broadcast. His best trick to combat the nerves? His imagination. "Once the big Fox broadcast starts, there's no question the adrenaline goes to a new level," said Mirahmadi, appearing as the Gainesway Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers' Room podcast, presented by Keeneland. "The key with the big races--and I've learned this over many years, it's almost 30 years now that I'm calling...

Racecaller Frank Mirahmadi is counting down the days until this year's Belmont at Saratoga. He joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss the upcoming Classic event and share his fondest racing memories.

7th-Santa Anita, $64,196, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 1-4, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:36.15, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. MIRAHMADI (c, 4, Into Mischief--More Chocolate {GSW & MGISP, $373,892}, by Malibu Moon), a runner-up in the GI Del Mar Futurity as a juvenile, took the maiden mic at 'The Great Race Place' Oct. 12. Though track announcer Frank Mirahmadi's eponymous equine athlete was well-beaten in the GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 23, the colt was backed as the 2-1 second choice here behind 'TDN Rising Star' and Insight runner Eagles Flight...

How did we get hooked on this sport? We all have stories about how our love affair developed and blossomed. The TDN will be reaching out to numerous notable people in the industry to get their stories to find out how they got hooked and stayed hooked on the sport. When I was very young, we would go to the races, my dad, my mom, my brother and I. My dad liked to bet, so he wasn't passionate about racing. But I became passionate very quickly. I started reading the...

All Frank Mirahmadi has ever wanted to do was be at the racetrack, so he is living his best life as the track announcer at Saratoga Race Course. He is also the main man at Santa Anita in California. He has called big names and has called races as big names. One time he called a race using 23 different voices. Oh, and he was once on "The Price is Right." And he loves pizza. Here is The Saratoga Conversation. TDN: I've heard talk about the sightlines at Saratoga not...

The Belmont Stakes on FOX will feature Curt Menefee, Tom Amoss and Richard Migliore as its principal hosts, FOX Sports announced Thursday morning. On Saturday, June 8 beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET with Belmont Day on FOX, the network's pre-race show coverage is anchored by veteran studio host Menefee, multiple grade I-winning trainer Amoss and retired jockey Migliore. Hosting from the paddock, Charissa Thompson will be joined by FOX Sports wagering expert Chris "The Bear" Fallica and handicapper Jonathon Kinchen, who will both be providing up-to-the-minute wagering expertise. Reporter Tom...

Santa Anita Park will host a charity poker tournament to benefit the 'Folds of Honor' Foundation following a special Memorial Day card at 6:30 p.m., the track said in a release. Folds of Honor provides financial assistance to better than one million dependents adversely affected by war. Players will make a charitable donation of $300 and will take part in a full night of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker and will enjoy a day at the races in Santa Anita's Stretch Run Suites. Last year's event raised more than $35,000....

Bill Downes has been named track announcer for the upcoming winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Downes, who has called the races at Emerald Downs for the Washington track's last two seasons, has over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth. "We look forward to having Bill call our races," said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. "He has called all over the country and provides viewers and listeners with an accurate description of a race." Along with his stint at Emerald, Downes has also...

My first race was two years ago. The 2021 Haskell Invitational S., the summer before my senior year of college. It was the post parade that hooked me. When "Born to Run" sounded through the grandstand as Mandaloun, Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon bounced onto the track, it didn't matter how the race would go. I was in. It was enough to latch onto despite the outrage I felt towards my home-state regulators for an ill-advised whip rule that took down Midnight Bourbon, along with my exacta box. But...