It has been announced that there will be a new race caller for the 2019 season at Vernon Downs.

The Jim Moran broadcast booth will feature a ‘new voice,’ as ‘The Natural’ Rich Mattei will proceed the efforts of Scott Warren at the central New York oval for the majority of the season.

Mattei, 27, currently resides in Morristown, New Jersey with his girlfriend, Joelle, and has merited much respect within the industry in recent years. He has held numerous responsibilities throughout east coast tracks some of which include, working the teletimer, charting races, photo finish photography and even assistant race secretary. However, his calling within the sport certainly has been calling and announcing the races.

His start began at an early age when he would try his hand at calling race replays from Monmouth Park and eventually garnered the attention of Ellen Harvey while at one of Tom Durkin’s race announcing workshops. Through this connection, he proceeded to develop his craft while calling the baby races at Gaitway and ended up taking an opportunity via Kelly Putaski and Pete Szymanski at Ocean Downs calling races. It was during his first call at Ocean Downs where Mattei inherited his coveted moniker ‘The Natural’ from Mike Bozich. Mattei states, “Bozich gave me a high five and said ‘You're a natural;’ so he has been calling me that ever since and it has stuck throughout the industry.”

In recent years, Mattei has become a familiar voice and face as he has assisted in handicapping for the ‘Post Time with Mike and Mike’ radio show during live remotes, as well as handicapping the Meadowlands Racetrack card on TVG – compliments to Dave Brower – and covering the Harrah's Philadelphia Pick 5 and best bet preview on Facebook live.

Mattei credits numerous individuals within the industry and is "very grateful towards Scott Warren, Jason Settlemoir and Jeff Gural, for giving me this opportunity to accomplish my true goal in life as being an announcer.”

From Labour Day weekend until the conclusion of the 2019 racing season, multiple voices of the industry will be heard at the ‘Miracle Mile,’ including director of racing Scott Warren, USHWA Rising Star of the Year winner Ray Cotolo, Tioga Downs announcer John Horne, and who knows who else may step into the Jim Moran broadcast booth.

(Vernon Downs)