Omakau trots: your guide
COMMENTATOR Justin Evans could be forgiven if his voice gets a little bit scratchy when he calls race 11 at Omakau this afternoon.
The Mosgielbased race caller has been on something of a commentating marathon leading into his first time calling the Central Otago Trotting Cup meeting.
Evans’ calling duties have meant he has called on consecutive days at Wingatui, Gore, Timaru, Motukarara, Kurow and Riverton.
Despite his gruelling postChristmas schedule, the race caller admitted he would not want to be doing any other job.
“It is certainly taxing but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
Evans has maintained a high standard of calling despite the pressures of remembering horses’ names and delivering accurate and entertaining calls to an audience of thousands both at racecourses and on television over such a long stretch.
During his sevenmeeting run, the caller is yet to forget a horse’s name or botch a race finish.
Race meetings do not solely make up all of the long hours Evans has put in recently.
Travelling to racecourses and analysing form for his prerace television commitments also take up chunks of his day.
Evans was able to prepare his selections leading into his busy run but is now juggling analysing race fields around his travel commitments.
“From Gore onwards that has been the trickiest aspect.
“I am a form nut and I like to do lots of homework because I think it helps my calling.
“And that has been testing because I have either been on the road or calling and found myself trying to catch up.”
Being a television personality and commentator in racing does not mean Evans shares the kind of glamorous and luxurious travel arrangements made for cricket or rugby callers.
He has flown to just one of his recent meetings and has driven to each of the others including today’s races.
“It is basically doing form, getting up, calling the meeting, driving and doing more form.”
Driving back to home base means Evans has been able to see his family during his busy run, but just on a few occasions.
Tomorrow will be Evans’ first day without having to call races since Boxing Day.
He then calls at Roxburgh on Monday and Cromwell on Wednesday before heading to the West Coast for three meetings.
The commentator has a week off after that but joked that he will most likely spend that time catching up on race replays to keep on top of his form commitments.
Alongside Evans, television staff and camera crews, race officials, trainers, drivers and jockeys are also kept busy by the many race meetings around the lower South Island.
Leading driver Blair Orange is among them.
He has driven at Gore, Motukarara, Reefton, Alexandra Park and two meetings at Westport before today’s Omakau meeting.