TDN Q&A: ERA Chief Racecaller Craig Evans

For Craig Evans, Saturday's Dubai World Cup program represents a career high. The native of Carnavon, Western Australia, got his start at a local radio station in Perth in his late teens, and has covered racing in an official capacity in Hong Kong, Japan and South Africa. For 10 years he was the chief racecaller for the Singapore Turf Club and made the trip to Dubai to cover the exploits of the legendary Singapore galloper Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) each year from 2010-2012. One of two finalists for the open job at Santa Anita in 2016, Evans was among the final three candidates for the feature race calling position with Racing Victoria in 2017 and had since been doing work for RV, Racing.com and Radio RSN in Melbourne. He received an 11th-hour offer last October to call the races at the tracks of the Emirates Racing Association for 2017-2018, not just at Meydan, but also at Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali and Sharjah, home to both Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians. Evans generously took time out of his very busy World Cup week schedule to reflect on his experience over the last five months.

TDN: Describe your emotions when you got the call from the ERA.

CE: Firstly excitement that I would be considered for the position. I'd been to the Dubai World Cup meeting three times and always considered it the best day of racing anywhere. The diversity of the countries represented and the number of horses from around the globe is unrivalled in any one day of racing globally.

TDN: In broad terms, how did you adapt to living in the Emirates, if even for just a short time?

CE: I found it quite easy and the fact I'd spent almost 10 years in Singapore meant that I was used to adapting to different cultures and ideals. Dubai is probably the most multi-cultural city I've ever been to and living here is relatively easy.

TDN: You are very much a family man. How tough was it to be apart from your wife and children over the past months?

CE: My wife Johanna has a fantastic job as a nurse at a prestigious school in Melbourne and my son [William] works for leading trainer David Hayes at Flemington, so it was never a consideration that they would come with me. My daughter Kate is studying Law & Environmental Sustainability at ANU (Australian National University) in Canberra. It has been really tough being away from them, however their support and encouragement to take the opportunities presented in my career has been amazing.

TDN: Compared to the other jurisdictions in which you've called races, what sorts of challenges did Dubai offer?

CE: Dubai is no different to other world class racing jurisdictions. The facilities and racing are world class. There is a vast difference between the turf racing and the dirt racing which takes a little while to adapt to. Funnily enough, the sound system at Meydan is one of the major challenges. As the sound comes from huge speakers on the infield and is slightly delayed, it takes several meetings to get used to hearing yourself in a virtual echo effect.

TDN: Aside from Meydan, which of the ERA tracks did you like best and why?

CE: All four tracks have a certain charm. Abu Dhabi run the richest Arabian race in the world. Jebel Ali have the most unique uphill finish I have ever seen. Al Ain race with the back drop of a huge rocky mountain and Sharjah has a family picnic atmosphere. None of them has the facilities or exposure of Meydan, but if you love horse racing, then they are all worth experiencing.

TDN: Can you tick off a couple of horses that you were particularly fond of over the course of the last four months?

CE: I've made no secret of the fact that I think [G1 Dubai Turf hopeful] Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the best horse I've call here and potentially could be a superstar. I love sprint racing, so seeing Ertijaal (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) fly down the 1000m has been exciting and I liked a horse called Hornsby (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) earlier in the season, as for some reason it's name made me smile.

TDN: How nervous are you being entrusted with calling the races on the richest program in the world?

CE: I've been very busy in the lead-up, so I'm not nervous at the moment, but by the same token I have given the meeting a lot of thought and have suffered many sleepless nights. The fact that every race is in excess of US$1 million means that they are all big races, so in a way that “spreads” the pressure. You cannot afford to get too wrapped up in one race, as another big one is coming up in 35 minutes.

TDN: Best bet for the evening and why?

CE: Bentatl for the forementioned reasons. I think it's a genuine star.

TDN: What's next for Craig Evans?

CE: Immediately after the World Cup I head to China to call a meeting for the Dubai Racing Club (at Chengdu Apr. 7), then head back to Melbourne and hope the phone rings! I would still love to call some races in the US at some stage, so who knows what the future holds.