Carter excited to call Yonkers Trot Friday

35-year-old harness racing announcer Michael Carter will be calling the Yonkers Trot final this Friday night. He has announced races at several venues in his 17-year career in the business, but this will be a first for him. Harnesslink caught up with Michael in advance of Friday night’s opening leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.

How long have you been in the harness racing business?

I called my first race at 16 years old, but I started as a security guard in 2006 at Colonial Downs. My first full-time announcing job started in 2013 at Buffalo Raceway. Then in December of 2015, I got an opportunity at Northfield Park and that’s when I started there. I was the Assistant Mutuels Manager, and I did some backup announcing behind the main race caller Ayers Ratliff. I left Northfield in 2018 to take a job at the United States Trotting Association. Then in August of 2020, I returned to Northfield Park. My title is Manager/Assistant Race Secretary. In reality, I am Director of Racing Dave Bianconi’s right-hand man. I try to solve any kind of issues before they escalate to him. I am somewhat of a go-between dealing with our team members and the horseman. I am also the backup announcer to Kenny Livengood.

How did you become interested in harness racing?

My dad was a gambler that loved to bet on horseracing. He started taking me to the track when I was three or four years old. He would take my grandfather to the Meadowlands and that’s where he took my mom on their first date. It just kind of stuck with me and when I was 14 or so, I started watching the Hambletonian and the Kentucky Derby every year. I wanted to go to the racetrack, and I enjoyed betting on horses. I took an interest in announcing and started practicing calls watching races on television and it all kind of blossomed from there.

How did the opportunity for you to announce the first leg of the trotting Triple Crown arise?

The regular announcer took some time off and Alex Dadoyan the Director of racing there was looking to fill the month of June and he was having trouble filling Fridays because one of their go-to fill-ins, Peter Kleinhans drives in amateur races at the Meadowlands on Friday nights. So, I jokingly offered to do June 30th knowing that was the night of the Yonkers Trot final and he replied: “do you want to.”? I answered that I would absolutely love to, and here we are. I’m going to call the Yonkers Trot!

It’s easy to see how excited you are. Will this be the biggest race you have ever announced?

Oh, for sure. Previously, I called the 2021 Courageous Lady Stakes at Northfield the night that Test Of Faith won. They had me calling the races that night and Ayers doing paddock interviews. I’m pretty excited to be at a historic track like Yonkers on Friday to announce one of the most important races on the 2023 calendar. Getting to call a big race on a big stage feels great. I’m excited and nervous, but I think if I wasn’t at least a little nervous, I’d be concerned. It helps keep my head in it.

Are there any challenges inherent to calling a race from the Yonkers announcer’s booth?

It’s funny that you ask that because turning for home, there is a point where it is almost like you are looking straight into light. John Hernan told me that you should try to take a picture of the field in your mind when they enter the last turn, so you can anticipate where they could be when they come out of that light, and you pick them up again. So, I put my binoculars down for an instant, glance at the TV when they enter the far turn and make a mental note of who is racing in the top four spots and if anyone is making a move.

Where do you see yourself in five years in this industry?

I want to continue to grow my knowledge of the management side and financial side of the business. MGM has provided me with a lot of opportunity to this point. Brent Reitz, the Vice-President of Regional Racing Operations brought me back in 2020 and I have learned a ton from him and Dave (Bianconi).

You married the love of your life, Kait in 2019. How is married life treating you?

I couldn’t be happier. I am also a girl dad now, with two daughters, Amelia, who is two and Anabelle, who is four months old. I am loving every minute of being their dad!

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink