Frank Mirahmadi’s announcing career has been on the rise over the past five years, first being named Santa Anita Park‘s permanent race caller beginning with the 2019 winter/spring meet and then as Saratoga Race Course‘s announcer in 2023.
Next week brings another highlight when he calls a historic running of the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, both on-track and for FOX, which will televise the race for the second straight year. In 2023, Tom Durkin came out of retirement to announce the race for the network as it began its Belmont coverage, while John Imbriale called the 2023 race for on-track viewers and on the simulcast feed.
Larry Collmus now calls the other legs as the television announcer of the Triple Crown for NBC. Travis Stone calls the Kentucky Derby (G1) and other Churchill Downs races on-site, and Dave Rodman does the same for Pimlico Race Course, where the Preakness Stakes (G1) is contested.
Now comes Mirahmadi’s turn at announcing part of Triple Crown history.
“It’s really an incredible opportunity, and it’s something I’ve never even dreamt (possible), which is what makes it even more special,” he said in a telephone interview before announcing racing May 31 at Santa Anita. “I’ve never actually even been to the Belmont Stakes before, so to be able to call this is something that I am deeply grateful for. I recognize how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.”
Mirahmadi said the announcer’s booth at Saratoga offers a vantage point “very different than anywhere else. So it’s a little more challenging. But when you get the caliber of horses that come to Saratoga, that’s really incredible.”
Among the races he called last year there was the Travers Stakes (G1), won by Arcangelo , who had earned his first grade 1 victory in the Belmont months earlier.
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With Belmont Park currently under renovation, this year’s Belmont Stakes is being run under the conditions of the Travers at 1 1/4 miles on Saratoga’s dirt track, not at its traditional distance of 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Belmont. This is due to different track configurations between the 1 1/2-mile main track at Belmont Park and the 1 1/8-mile one at Saratoga.
But the Belmont presents exposure of a different kind, with millions of viewers watching the race on FOX, as they did weeks earlier on NBC for the Preakness and Kentucky Derby when Collmus was behind the microphone for that network.
“That (FOX) chose to use me is a huge compliment. I am just so grateful for it, and I appreciate their trust,” he said. “And I like the fact that it’s not just the Belmont, but there are several races on there, so I can get a little more comfortable because no matter what, whenever there’s a new variable, it’s going to be a little bit different than the norm.”
Mirahmadi will announce all races aired during Belmont Day on FOX from 4-7 p.m. ET June 8.
He thanked Santa Anita and 1/ST Racing executives Nate Newby, Amy Zimmerman, and Aidan Butler for allowing him to take a week off from his regular position at Santa Anita to call four days of racing at Saratoga during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. They “understood how much this meant to me,” he said.
While Mirahmadi is away at Saratoga, veteran race caller Alan Buchdahl will announce at Santa Anita for three days starting June 7.
Buchdahl, 67, formerly was the track announcer at Hollywood Park and the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. He also served as the backup announcer for decades at Santa Anita, where he supported Chic Anderson, Dave Johnson, and Trevor Denman.
Buchdahl, born and raised in nearby Pasadena, Calif., called his first races at the Oak Tree meet in 1974 while a teenager. The following year, he became the full-time Oak Tree announcer, a post he would hold for the next eight years. In 1981, Buchdahl succeeded Harry Henson at Hollywood Park.
Announcer Alan Buchdahl
It will be his first time calling races since a three-day stint at Santa Anita in April 2022.
“It is a privilege and an honor to be in that announcer’s booth at Santa Anita,” Buchdahl told Santa Anita publicity. “I’m thankful for any time I’m calling races, but especially at Santa Anita.”
He has called some legendary horses, among them John Henry.
“I was always a fan of his. Alan has a great voice and is extremely accurate,” Mirahmadi said.
Buchdahl plans to prep for calling racing at Santa Anita with “some practice runs” this weekend.
