Announcer and Host Commentator

Woodbine; Milton; Hybrid; CAD 102,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodbine Mohawk Park is seeking an experienced voice of Standardbred racing to deliver live play-by-play, official decisions, and wagering information for on-site and simulcast audiences.

You will conduct live interviews, provide race analysis, and contribute to feature productions. A broadcasting degree and proven on-air announcing skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing.
• Experience with live race calling and on-air hosting.
• Ability to memorize horses and silk colors for accurate calls.
• Strong analytical and handicapping abilities.
• Experience with social media and on-air interviews.

Responsibilities

• Deliver live-to-air race calls and explain official decisions.
• Conduct live and pre-recorded interviews for simulcast.
• Analyze races and provide wagering opinions.
• Host events and participate in feature productions.
• Collaborate with radio and social media programs.

Skills

Horse racing knowledge

Wagering knowledge

Handicapping

Live broadcasting

Interviewing skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Broadcasting

Tools

Broadcast equipment familiarity

Job description

## **A NEW BREED OF ENTERTAINMENT**With almost 150 years of proud horseracing history, Woodbine Entertainment Group is the founding pioneer and largest operator of professional horseracing in Canada.Building on our rich past, we are surging ahead to the future with an energized, new vision. Today we deliver the most thrilling and highest quality racing, dining and entertainment experiences to our visitors. In doing so, we remain a world-leader in horse-racing — and also among the most exciting and diverse entertainment facilities on the globe.# **JOB SUMMARY** Reporting to the Director of Broadcasting, this position’s primary responsibility is to be the voice of Standardbred racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Accountabilities include: delivering the race call of each and every race on a racing card, delivering pertinent and appropriate racing and wagering information required for racing fans on-site and watching our simulcast, hosting of industry events as required, handicapping and analysis of races for the purposes of providing wagering opinions to customers, interviewing subjects as required and participating in feature production where needed. This position also acts as an additional host on our simulcast broadcast, working with the existing hosts to handicap and provide nightly commentary on our racing cards. This position may be asked to back-fill as a race-caller on our thoroughbred side from time to time if applicable. # **KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES*** Live-to-air hosting and calling of live horse racing (includes play-by-play descriptions, official decisions and explanations and general info surrounding all of our racing (post parades, minutes to post, official order of finish, lineage for horses, practice training outcomes etc.)* Live and pre-taped interviews of racing and industry participants for simulcast programming as required* Analysis and handicapping of Woodbine Mohawk Park’s racing and hosting/delivery of that analysis on-air and for websites and social media as required* On cameras and/or voice overs for segments as required (live and pre-produced), hosting of racing events as required, appearances/interviews on radio and social media programs as required* Often required to participate in external broadcast programming (radio shows, podcasts, social media hits) to deliver information to the viewing/listening public* Regularly engage in conversation with members of the betting public and those within the racing and sports industry (in person, via social media and other media platforms)# **SKILLS****Knowledge and Education*** Advanced knowledge of horse racing* Advanced knowledge of wagering and betting* Advance knowledge of handicapping* General knowledge of television hosting and production techniques* General knowledge of social media usage* University or college degree/diploma in a field related to Broadcasting, Television or the equivalent in education and experience* Expert memorization skills* Memorizing all names of all horses in all races on a live card of racing (this includes memorizing silk colours to recognize horses quickly), there can be over 100 horses on a live card and over 10 races on a live card, all requiring memorization to deliver an accurate, exciting and descriptive race call* Need to have an extremely creative and innovative mindset to take live action as it happens and describe in detail what is happening to the public as it unfolds in an exciting and interesting way **Lived Experience*** Previous experience in Standardbred or Thoroughbred racing* Previous experience in a sports environment with a focus on announcing or on-air hosting* Working in horse racing in some capacity with a passion for journalism, communication or broadcasting* Must have the ability to react instantly to a live race, describing that instant action live as it happens and unfolds on-the-fly* Live handicapping – studying wagering data, analytics, past race data, horse body language all to help in their description of the action and help deliver the best information possible* Live-to-air, on-the-fly decision making surrounding information to deliver to the public* Dealing with live-to-air, on-the-fly technical issues with broadcast equipment (microphones, IFB’s etc.) # **WORKING CONDITIONS*** Normal outdoor racetrack environment where there may be temperatures/weather to adjust to, crowd noise to deal* High stress dealing with live television production and describing the action live-to-air* Regular interruptions, multiple demands and time pressure* Standardbred Product – working all nights with few day shifts* Thoroughbred Product – working both days of the weekend with no weekends off April – December unless requested as vacation* Ability to drive to our other track location**Reason for Vacancy:** Replacement **Salary range:** The target hiring salary range for this position is $102,000 to $112,000 CAD. This range is not a guarantee of compensation. Final placement within the range depends on factors such as internal equity, market conditions, and the candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.