Flamboro Downs' first media "Announcer Idol" competition got underway on Sunday with Darrin Laidman, Morning Show Host at FreshFM 95.3, calling the evening's third race.
Laidman took the mic from track announcer Gary Guy for the $10,000 Preferred 2 Pace in which Woodbine invader Machal Jordan and driver Phil Hudon rallied three-wide off cover at the third quarter mark.
"Now we've got some action," Laidman announced, calling Machal Jordan's winning move. "Moving out on the side there comes number one, Machal Jordan, out of nowhere! He is just boogieing out there."
Machal Jordan drew off "making it easy" for Laidman to determine the winner at the wire. He prevailed by five and a half lengths in 1:57.4 over the snow covered track, which was rated three seconds off.
Machal Jordan paid $5 to win as the favourite. The five-year-old Mach Three gelding is owned and trained Ken Switzer of Georgetown, Ont. Waylon Hanover and J.R. Plante finished second off a two-hole trip while pacesetter Winning Dream and Anthony MacDonald rounded out the top three finishers.
"I wonder if those horses were sweating as much as me for that two minutes to make sure that I represented this amazing experience here at Flamboro Downs," laughed Laidman after the call.
Every Sunday through March 23, a different, local broadcast media personality will step into the announcer's booth and call the evening's third race. At the end of March, fans and patrons will have their say by visiting the Flamboro Downs website to vote for their favourite race call. The winning announcer will receive a donation to the local charity of their choice, compliments of Flamboro Downs and Great Canadian Gaming.
Laidman made his announcing debut for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Hamilton/Burlington.
CHCH News anchor Nick Dixon is the next Announcer Idol contestant and will take the mic for race three on Sunday, January 12.
The evening's second Preferred 2 was captured by another Woodbine invader, My Man Charley ($5.90). Four-time Sunday winner Anthony MacDonald guided the six-year-old son of Mach Three to a 1:57.1 triumph for Flamboro's 2013 leading trainer Victor Puddy.
The Preferred 3 winner, Draconian ($17.90), was also driven by MacDonald. The Randy Van Meer trainee prevailed in 1:59 flat.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.