ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2016)—There’s a new voice in town. Australian-born Michael Wrona, who was named the Voice of Santa Anita following a rigorous audition process this past winter, is set to handle the full-time announcing duties when Santa Anita’s 23-day Autumn Meet kicks off on Friday, with first race post time at 1 p.m.
“I’m ready,” said the popular Wrona, 50, at Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner Wednesday morning. “It was a great honor to be named the full-time announcer this past spring and I feel much more at home coming into this meet. Kathy (longtime fiancé) and I got married in Lake Tahoe right after the Spring Meet ended in July and we just spent about five weeks in Australia, which was fantastic.
“We’ve closed out our apartment in San Francisco and we’ve finally got everything down here now, so we’re both greatly relieved to be completely moved in and settled. It’s a great feeling and I truly believe we’re in for some world class racing with California Chrome, Beholder and so many other top horses competing here this Saturday and of course, during the two-day Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 4 & 5.”
After making his American racing debut at Hollywood Park in 1990 at the tender age of 24, Wrona’s life has been nomadic by any measure, as he’s taken on assignments in Chicago, Texas, Louisiana, the eastern seaboard and most recently, the San Francisco Bay Area over the course of the past 26 years.
“I’d like to say that I wouldn’t change anything, but that wouldn’t be entirely true,” said Wrona. “While I’ve had a great time everywhere I’ve been and met a lot of great people, I’ve been wanting the stability that this job offers for a long time now. I really can’t put into words how important this position is to Kathy and I at this point in our lives.
“I consider Santa Anita the top track in America and there’s no question the best horses in the world will be competing here over the next six weeks. I can’t wait to get started on Friday.”
And neither can Wrona’s many thousands of fans who will anxiously await his signature “RACING!” when the starting gates spring open for race one.
For more information on Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet and two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 4 & 5, please visit santaanita.com.